Las Vegas Raiders favorites to sign Pro Bowl running back

Las Vegas is staying aggressive well after the first wave of 2026 free-agency signings, and the Raiders now find themselves positioned as the front-runners to land former Pro Bowl running back Najee Harris, according to league sources.

Harris, 28, is scheduled to visit the Raiders’ Henderson facility this week, a trip that could culminate in a contract for the Bay Area native. The former first-round pick out of Alabama entered the open market after his one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers expired. Harris’ 2025 campaign ended abruptly in Week 3 when he tore his Achilles, an injury that required a full-season rehab and has kept his market relatively quiet until now.

The Seahawks brought Harris in for a physical two weeks ago, but talks stalled and he left Seattle without an agreement. Las Vegas, however, presents a unique pull: Harris grew up in Antioch, California, and frequently attended Raiders games at the Oakland Coliseum. He has publicly referred to the franchise as “still Oakland” in spirit, a sentiment that resonates with a locker room that embraces its Northern California alumni base.

A healthy Harris would slide into a backfield that already features 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Ashton Jeanty. Coaches believe the duo’s contrasting styles—Jeanty’s breakaway speed paired with Harris’ physical between-the-tackles approach—could give the Raiders one of the AFC’s most balanced rushing attacks.

Medical clearance remains the final hurdle. Team doctors will put Harris through a battery of tests to gauge the strength and elasticity of the surgically repaired tendon. If he passes, contract length and guaranteed money will be negotiated quickly; Las Vegas currently has just under $9 million in effective cap space, enough to add a veteran incentive-laden deal without restructuring other contracts.

Should the visit conclude successfully, Harris would return to the division where he began his career, facing Pittsburgh twice a year and rekindling a rivalry with the Chargers that began when he left them in free agency. For a franchise looking to vault from 8-9 into postseason contention, adding a motivated Pro Bowl runner with local roots—and something to prove—may be the late-offensive strike coach Antonio Pierce is seeking.