Cardinals 2021 NFL draft profile: Alabama RB Najee Harris
The Arizona Cardinals had an unfortunate end to the 2020 season after losing to the Los Angeles Rams and being eliminated from playoff contention. This season showed a lot of promise for the future of this team.
As the season progressed, it became more obvious what areas were the most concerning. One of them being at cornerback and the other being an edge rusher. However, one area that became a greater concern the season is the running back position. With Kenyan Drake playing under the transition tag and very well headed to free agency, there is not a whole lot of depth in the running back room. Will the Cardinals make a splash and sign one on the market this offseason? Or will they select one early in the draft in April?
This year‘s running back draft class is not that deep. However, one player that would make their offense more exciting is Najee Harris out of Alabama. Harris was one of the few Alabama players that surprisingly decided to return to school for the 2020 season, and it definitely panned out for him, finishing with 1,466 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, which was top-three this season. Harris screams consistency and has solidified himself as an all-around running back these past two seasons. As a pass-catcher, Harris recorded 425 yards and four touchdowns. When Jaylen Waddle went down with an ankle injury, Harris was utilized more in the passing game. He has eclipsed 1,000 yard rushing seasons the past two years in Alabama. He is not only versatile, but he is patient at finding an open hole and does not panic at decision-making, an area where he showed improvement on throughout this season. Harris is the definition of a highlight reel running back. He stands 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds and plows through defenders like it’s nothing at times.
There are not a lot of Alabama running backs that have long-term success in the NFL. Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Shaun Alexander are few of the successful running backs out of Tuscaloosa. Harris has a strong chance to be added to that list and would be a great fit for the Arizona Cardinals’ offense.
Harris does not have any glaring red flags. He has really developed into an explosive power back, and his 2020 season has been nothing short of impressive. He showed off his physicality and explosiveness this season. However, one area of improvement is his pass protection. For example, there are times when Harris will not properly shed through his blocks. Alabama quarterback Mac Jones was fortunate this year to have elite protection. If Harris goes to a team with a below average offensive line, this will be a crucial trait for him to develop.
Najee Harris has been one of the biggest draft risers of this college football season. From being one of the most talented players in his 2017 recruiting class, to being the premier back at Alabama, Harris is just the mold you want in an NFL running back. There is a strong chance we might not see a running back selected in the first round, but anything can happen. If Harris falls out of the first round, he will be a hard player to pass up on for several teams, especially the Cardinals.
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