Steelers Tender RB Jaylen Warren

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers Tender RB Jaylen Warren

The Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing back their running back.

With an offense that promises a healthy amount of turnover this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers have taken the proper steps towards retaining one of their key pieces.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Steelers have officially used the second-round tender on restricted free agent running back Jaylen Warren, which will cost $5.346 million in 2025 per Over the Cap.

Should Warren agree to an offer sheet with another team in free agency, Pittsburgh now has the right to match that offer.

Should the 26-year-old not sign an offer sheet before the April 18 deadline, however, than his negotiating rights would return exclusively to the Steelers.

If Warren were to sign the tender, he'd remain with the Steelers on a one-year deal and become eligible to reach unrestricted free agency after next season.

With Najee Harris just days away from entering unrestricted free agency himself, tendering Warren was a no-brainer for Pittsburgh in an attempt to preserve some form of continuity in its running back room.

An undrafted free agent in 2022, Warren posted 1,747 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns over his first two years in the league before recording 511 rushing yards and 310 receiving yards across 15 games in 2024.

https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-tender-jaylen-warren

[Northern_Blitz]

I think this was the higher probability outcome here.

Would have been more interesting if they did the original round tender though. See if there was an offer sheet.

This is the safer play. Especially if you intend to replace him after next season.

[papillon]

Its interesting under Khan now, Harris makes the second first round draft pick that the Steelers are walking away from before a second contract. The Steelers never gave up on first round picks before. Wishing Najee well and hoping that Warren kills it as the primary back in the Steeler offense.

Pappy

[Northern_Blitz]

Its interesting under Khan now, Harris makes the second first round draft pick that the Steelers are walking away from before a second contract. The Steelers never gave up on first round picks before. Wishing Najee well and hoping that Warren kills it as the primary back in the Steeler offense.

Pappy

The reason we're walking away from 1st round picks (without options) is because the rules for options changed.

Options used to be a no-brainer for teams. The salaries were lower and the money wasn't guaranteed. That's why we took a risk on exercising Dupree's option.

Now the money on options is fairly high (even for guys who only qualify for the 3rd tier like Najee). And the money is guaranteed 2 seasons down the road.

The only guys we've given 5th year options to under the new rules are guys with multiple 1st team APs (Watt and Minkah). My guess is that we'd still do it for a probowl player, but because we haven't been good at drafting recently we don't have a data point for that.

Maybe we would do it for a QB who only hits the playing time criteria because it's so hard to get to the probowl as a QB. For example, Ben didn't make a probowl in his first 3 years despite winning 41 regular season games, 5 playoff games, and a SB. And there may be more very good QBs in the conference now than there were then (although the AFC had great QBs then too).

FWIW, I think not exercising Najee's option was the right decision. But I also said at the time that it was pretty close to a coin flip IMO. I don't think he'll ever be a play maker. But I wouldn't have really been upset if we did. He's always been very consistently average. If we were a team with other significant play makers, that could be good. I hope he does well for the Chargers unless we're playing them.

Also...get ready to not exercise the 5th year option again after next year. Looks like Jones will join Edmunds and Najee in the playing time only category for options. I have a hard time believing that he'd make a probowl this season (but I'd LOVE it if he did).

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers sign RB Kenneth Gainwell (1 year, $1.79 million): A Grade

I love the cheap contracts we’re seeing today (the details of this move were just released.) Kenneth Gainwell is a quality backup running back who can contribute as a receiver out of the backfield. With Najee Harris gone, the Steelers needed to add a back to complement Jaylen Warren. I imagine they’ll be targeting a running back in the first few rounds of the draft, but Gainwell is a nice insurance policy just in case they can’t land a runner they want.

https://walterfootball.com/freeagentsigninggrades.php

[whatever]

Steelers sign RB Kenneth Gainwell (1 year, $1.79 million): A Grade

I love the cheap contracts we’re seeing today (the details of this move were just released.) Kenneth Gainwell is a quality backup running back who can contribute as a receiver out of the backfield. With Najee Harris gone, the Steelers needed to add a back to complement Jaylen Warren. I imagine they’ll be targeting a running back in the first few rounds of the draft, but Gainwell is a nice insurance policy just in case they can’t land a runner they want.

https://walterfootball.com/freeagentsigninggrades.php

i really like this signing.
i don’t think we need to draft a rb at all.

[Chadman]

Warren & Gainwell will likely split carries- both play quite similar games.

Would like to see a more downhill RB added in the draft- someone like Mafah out of Clemson- just to give a different feel.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Its interesting under Khan now, Harris makes the second first round draft pick that the Steelers are walking away from before a second contract. The Steelers never gave up on first round picks before. Wishing Najee well and hoping that Warren kills it as the primary back in the Steeler offense.

Pappy

Najee was a bit of a Bay area locker room lawyer. I for one am gald he is gone. Gone are is low YPC and YPR for the Steelers offense. He was part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[steeler_george]

Its interesting under Khan now, Harris makes the second first round draft pick that the Steelers are walking away from before a second contract. The Steelers never gave up on first round picks before. Wishing Najee well and hoping that Warren kills it as the primary back in the Steeler offense.

Pappy

It is not just Omar, it is the new way of how NFL teams do business...

Just like short term deals with more guarantees.

[hawaiiansteel]

Warren Sharp
@SharpFootball

Jaylen Warren, Steelers RB1:

1 of 3 RBs to average over 5 yards/touch in 3 straight seasons

his ranks of 48 RBs with 300+ carries since 2022:

#2 in explosive run rate
#6 in yards after contact
#6 in YPC
#6 in success rate

April 18, 2025

[NorthCoast]

Warren Sharp
@SharpFootball

Jaylen Warren, Steelers RB1:

1 of 3 RBs to average over 5 yards/touch in 3 straight seasons

his ranks of 48 RBs with 300+ carries since 2022:

#2 in explosive run rate
#6 in yards after contact
#6 in YPC
#6 in success rate

April 18, 2025

Those numbers likely go down with more attempts. Real question is how far they will drop.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Warren Sharp
@SharpFootball

Jaylen Warren, Steelers RB1:

1 of 3 RBs to average over 5 yards/touch in 3 straight seasons

his ranks of 48 RBs with 300+ carries since 2022:

#2 in explosive run rate
#6 in yards after contact
#6 in YPC
#6 in success rate

April 18, 2025

That was I have been trying to tell you about Warren. He is a bit fumble prone though, but I can live with that as long as he produces big plays. A good #2 back used often when we are inside our own 30 yard line is needed

- JB