Madden Monday: No way Najee Harris gets a Rhamondre Stevenson contract from the Steelers or anywhere else

In Friday’s “First Call,” we outlined why Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris should’ve taken acute interest in the contract extension recently signed by New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson.

As a refresher, Harris was the first player at the position selected in the 2021 draft. The Steelers picked him No. 24 overall out of Alabama. Stevenson went to the New England Patriots out of Oklahoma at pick No. 120.

But, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, the Pats gave Stevenson a four-year extension for $36 million last week, including $17 million fully guaranteed.

Meanwhile, the Steelers didn’t even give Harris a fifth-year option on his first-round entry-level deal, which would have paid him $6.7 million next year. Instead, he’ll be a free agent after 2024 ends, unless he and the Steelers work out a long-term deal at some point before the season starts.

During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast with Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive, I advanced the idea that such a contract is likely leaving Harris licking his chops for what he will get.

Madden disagreed.

“If he is, he’s stupid. He ain’t getting that here. He ain’t getting that anywhere,” Madden retorted.

However, Harris has put up better numbers over his career, rushing for 3,269 yards and totaling 22 rushing touchdowns. He also has 144 receptions for 866 yards and six more scores.

Stevenson has rushed for 2,265 yards and 14 TDs while catching 121 passes for 782 yards and one score. Not to mention that Harris has suited up for all 51 regular-season games of his Steelers career, 10 more than Stevenson.

It’s Madden’s contention, though, that if the Steelers aren’t as inclined to keep Harris as the Patriots are to keep Stevenson, that statistical comp won’t translate on the free-agent market.

“The Pats gave their own guy that contract,” Madden continued. “I don’t think anybody sees Najee Harris as very much. I know I don’t. I can tell you for sure I would not give Najee Harris that contract.”

Meanwhile, on the ongoing topic of the Steelers potentially trading for a wide receiver such as San Francisco’s Brandon Aiyuk, Madden says the Steelers should do it for many reasons. One of them is that he questions if George Pickens can truly be a No. 1 target for the club.

“I don’t think George Pickens can function as a No. 1 wide receiver,” Madden said. “I don’t think he can handle the double-teaming. I just think he will be a mess in that situation. When he is the best receiver by far, he can’t handle it.”

Also, in the podcast, Madden and I discuss the Steelers’ future on “Hard Knocks,” the Pirates’ loss on Sunday, Bob Nutting’s comments about the trade deadline, the Penguins’ decision to re-sign Alex Nedeljkovic and Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

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