ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped a bomb on August 17: former Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris is on a free-agent visit with the New York Giants. Talk about a veteran looking for a new home, and honestly, this move could shake up the Giants’ backfield in a big way. We’re talking about a Pro Bowler here, a guy who knows how to grind out yards, and his presence alone changes the vibe in that running back room.
The Skattebo Situation and the Hunt for Depth
The Giants have some interesting pieces already, no doubt. Cam Skattebo is an incredible runner and receiver, a real playmaker, but let’s be real, those underlying injury concerns are always gonna be lurking. He’s good to go *right now*, which is awesome, but any smart team looks at the long game, right? Beyond Skattebo, they’ve got Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary. These are solid guys, but Tracy already had a pass-protection blunder in the preseason opener that got Jaxson Dart rocked. That’s a red flag, plain and simple, and it highlights exactly why adding some extra depth couldn’t hurt. Long-term questions about Skattebo’s health and Tracy’s early struggles? Yeah, a veteran like Harris starts looking mighty appealing.
Najee Harris: From Thousand-Yard Beast to Potential Depth Steal?
Let’s not forget what Najee Harris has done in this league. The 28-year-old spent his first four NFL seasons with the Steelers, and get this: he put up at least 1,000 rushing yards *every single year*. We’re talking 1,200 yards in 2021 with seven touchdowns, then 1,034 yards and seven scores in 2022. He followed that up with 1,035 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023, and then 1,043 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. That’s a serious resume! He then joined the Chargers last season, but his run was cut short by a season-ending Achilles injury after just three games, where he managed 61 yards on 15 attempts. Look, he might not be the highest-upside back anymore after that injury, but he’s a solid, proven veteran. That kind of experience and production doesn’t just disappear, even if the explosiveness isn’t what it once was.
So, what’s next for the G-Men? They’re just hosting Harris on a visit for now, and a contract isn’t guaranteed. But if they pull the trigger, he could step right in as a solid depth addition, potentially even an alternative to Singletary or Tracy on that depth chart. These visits can absolutely lead to contracts, especially when it’s likely for a cheap, one-year deal for a guy with Harris’s history. It’s definitely a situation to keep an eye on, because if the Giants get a four-time 1,000-yard rusher for a bargain, that’s a huge win for their backfield depth.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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