Alabama football: Potential landing spots for Najee Harris in 2021 NFL Draft
Najee Harris comes out of the Alabama football ranks as arguably the best running back in the 2021 NFL Draft but where would he fit best?
When running back Najee Harris joined the Alabama football program, he came to the Crimson Tide with great expectations as a 5-star player with elite talent. Though it was a slow burn, he finally realized his potential. And after winning a National Championship this past season, Harris enters the 2021 NFL Draft in the conversation to be the first running back selected.
Of course, the modern NFL has seen running backs become largely devalued, especially in terms of the draft. Teams that select someone at the position are often ridiculed by the analytics and draft community as it’s not terribly difficult to find an adequate replacement. But when it comes to a top prospect like Najee Harris, there is an argument to be made still that he should be a first-round pick.
But where could Harris end up going once the 2021 NFL Draft kicks off in late April? When you look at his talent and the teams that could use a running back, we’re going to examine five clubs that could end up selecting the Alabama football product. And we start with the reigning Super Bowl champion.
Najee Harris 2021 NFL Draft landing spot No. 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The hope for the Buccaneers entering the 2020 season was that Ronald Jones II could develop into the bell-cow back the franchise drafted him to be. However, that didn’t stop them from bringing in reinforcements, most notably signing Leonard Fournette.
Though the former No. 4 overall pick out of LSU had his struggles in the regular season, Fournette turned it on for a dominant playoff run. But now the Bucs are left with the predicament of whether or not to re-sign him or find another option — an option such as Harris.
For as well as “Playoff Lenny” played for Tampa Bay, it’s hard to argue that Najee Harris wouldn’t be an upgrade. He’s a similar player but with more versatility and upside, making him a better overall weapon. If the Bucs want to strengthen their offense, they could make a luxury pick like Harris at No. 32.