The Raiders are expected to run the ball a lot under Pete Carroll in 2025, and for that reason many believe they are in play to take a running back early in the draft.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has been linked to the Raiders with the sixth-overall pick and according to a report on Tuesday, they are also believed to be interested in one of the top running backs entering free agency.
“Sources tell PennLive that [Najee] Harris’s return to the Steelers is unlikely. He will likely earn between $8-10 million on the open market, a number the Steelers are unwilling to match,” Nick Farabaugh reported at PennLive.
“Even with a strong market, Harris seems to have several suitors. The Las Vegas Raiders were one team that came up quite often when talking about Harris. All in all, expect Harris to leave Pittsburgh this year in free agency.”
From Ben Johnson to Matthew Stafford, the Raiders have been connected to a lot of popular names over the last few months, so there’s plenty of time for Harris to end up going somewhere other than Las Vegas.
The Raiders have always been a team agents like to use as leverage and with nearly $100 million in salary cap room, that will probably be the case again this year.
According to OverTheCap, only the New England Patriots are projected up have more cap room than the Raiders this year.
For what it’s worth, Harris turns 27 this month and figures to be a popular running back in free agency.
Other notable running backs set to enter free agency are Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, J.K. Dobbins, Jamaal Williams and Nick Chubb.
x: @raidersbeat
I like Najees durability, but he dosn’t excite me as a running back, and I’d pass on him. Dobbins, and Jones are much better options.
Harris, at a good price , would work. Hopefully they ate looking at the RB available in the draft.