Is picking up Najee Harris’ fifth-year option a foregone conclusion?
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t picked up one of their own first-round pick’s fifth-year options in some time. They had none in 2020, and passed on Devin Bush and Terrell Edmunds. While they obviously exercised T.J. Watt’s option, they did not for Artie Burns.
That’s just one player in a five-year period, excluding Minkah Fitzpatrick as a trade acquisition. And they’re obviously not picking up Kenny Pickett’s option, considering they already traded him. So Najee Harris should go into this understanding having his option picked up is no guarantee.