All first-round picks since the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement in the NFL have had a fifth-year option baked into their contracts. All rookie deals are four years by default, but first-round picks have a team option built in that teams can choose to exercise, or not, the offseason following their third year. For the Steelers, they had two decisions to make this offseason by the deadline today at 4 PM ET. They waited until the very last moment, but the Steelers have now declined Harris’ fifth-year option, per Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac on X.
Steelers declined option year on RB Najee Harris, per sources.