> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Najee Harris Presents Intriguing Buy-Low Candidate for Seahawks’ Rebuilt Backfield - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/najee-harris-presents-intriguing-buy-low-candidate-seattle-seahawks-rebuilt-backfield/ - Published: 2026-03-26T18:01:58.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:56:06.000Z - Author: Corbin Smith - Tags: Analysis, Seahawks, Najee Harris, NFL Free Agency \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="3148"\] ![ Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (22) rushes the ball during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/usatsi_27092737-jpeg-format-original.jpg) Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (22) rushes the ball during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images \[/caption\] In the wake of Ken Walker III’s departure to join the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency and Zach Charbonnet’s recent surgery to repair a torn ACL, the Seattle Seahawks continue to take a look at veteran options to reinforce their backfield depth, and the latest visitor to the VMAC may be the most interesting one yet. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Seahawks brought former Pro Bowl running back Najee Harris to town on Wednesday, providing an opportunity to assess his recovery six months after suffering a torn Achilles tendon and undergoing surgery in an injury-marred lone season with the Chargers. Per the report, the ex-Alabama star also has a visit scheduled with the Raiders as he seeks a new home. Prior to the significant injury, the 6-1, 245-pound Harris enjoyed a stellar four year run with the Steelers after coming on board as a decorated first round pick, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in each of those seasons and scoring 26 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 180 passes out of the backfield during that span, adding north of 1,000 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver, showcasing a well-rounded game for a bigger back. Despite those numbers, however, Pittsburgh chose not to pick up Harris’ fifth-year option before the deadline in May 2024, opening the door for him to become a free agent after the 2024 season. He wound up signing a one-year deal with Los Angeles, who envisioned pairing him with incoming first round pick Omarion Hampton to form a dynamic one-two punch. Unfortunately, his brief stint with the team got off to a rough start when he suffered a superficial eye injury resulting from an accident with fireworks on July 4, causing him to miss all of training camp and the preseason. Without a normal camp, the Chargers intended to slowly get him back up to speed early in the regular season, only for that plan to go awry when he went down on September 23, limiting him to just three games before landing on season-ending injured reserve. Compared to other positions, Achilles tears can be incredibly challenging for running backs to bounce back from, especially for bigger bodied backs who generate more force on the tendon due to their size and power. But agent Doug Hendrickson posted an encouraging video of Harris running at a near-sprint on a treadmill on March 23 via X, hinting that he’s on the right track to be able to return for training camp and provide a boost for a team such as Seattle seeking running back help. At this point, particularly given the severity of the injury he’s trying to rebound from, Harris’ days as a feature bell cow back likely are finished. But for a team like the Seahawks that looks poised to deploy more of a by-committee approach until Charbonnet comes back at some point in the 2026 season, assuming he rounds back into pre-injury form, he still could offer substantial value as a bruising short yardage back while also having a proven track record of excelling as a three-down back both catching the football and protecting the quarterback picking up blitzes in the backfield. In his last healthy season with Pittsburgh in 2024, per Pro Football Focus charting, Harris remained an effective battering ram for the Steelers’ offense, forcing 61 missed tackles, tied for the fifth-most in the NFL. While he didn’t rip off many 15-plus yard explosives and posted an average 24.5% breakaway run rate that season, he produced 30 runs of 10-plus yards, tied for the eighth-most in the league. He enjoyed that success while toting the rock on 189 zone concepts versus only 73 gap concept runs. One season earlier, Harris again sat in the top-10 in missed tackles forced (50) and generated 750 yards after contact, fourth-most in the NFL. He also ranked 10th in rushes of 10-plus yards (24), equaling Walker’s total, while producing 14 runs of 15 or more yards, demonstrating underrated explosiveness that often isn’t characterized as a strength in his game. Even with the ratio being closer to 50-50, he still ran the ball 140 times on zone concepts compared to 100 gap concepts. Considering his potential fit with the Seahawks, Harris’ previous success in a zone-centric scheme and long track record of being a dependable, downhill chain moving machine would seem like an ideal match with offensive coordinator Brian Fleury’s system. With Charbonnet out until at least October, his reputation for being a steady pass protector also would be welcomed with the team seeking a replacement on third downs to help keep Sam Darnold upright, and he has soft hands as a checkdown option in the passing game. Of course, Harris’ health remains the biggest question mark, and at 28 years old, age may be a significant factor as well at a position known for notoriously short shelf lives. Stylistically, he won’t be replacing Walker’s talents as a home run-hitting dynamo either, and the Seahawks already signed a 230-pound back in Emmanuel Wilson earlier in free agency, making such an addition almost feel redundant. The team also has high hopes for George Holani, who may be ready to take on a larger role after stepping in nicely for Charbonnet in the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. But quite frankly, while Wilson may wind up being a shrewd signing for Seattle after being stuck in the shadow of Josh Jacobs in Green Bay and Holani has flashed in spurts in his first two seasons, Harris already has proven himself as a perennial 1,000-yard rusher who can handle three-down responsibilities. If his medicals check out and the training staff believes he’s on the cusp of making a full recovery, taking a low-risk flier on him with a one-year deal loaded with incentives baked in would make a great deal of sense. It’s a prime example of a buy-low, potentially win-big insurance policy. If it doesn’t work out and Harris looks like a shell of his former self, the Seahawks can easily move on without being on the hook for much - if any - guaranteed money. And on the flip side, if he rediscovers his Pro Bowl form behind a rising offensive line, checking off several escalators on his contract will be a price the franchise more than happily will pay and his signing could be a under the radar game changer as they try to defend their title.