Can Jaylen Warren be a bell-cow again, and do the Steelers intend to search out out?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are close to the tip of their trial interval as a result of their working backs are about to earn raises. Each Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren shall be free brokers after this season, although Warren shall be a restricted one. Even when he isn’t on the open market, although, he’ll see a pleasant pay enhance.
A former faculty free agent, Warren has compelled his means into the rotation with Harris over the previous two seasons. He totaled over 1,000 yards from scrimmage final season on 210 touches, 5.5 yards per contact. However can he maintain up throughout 300-350 touches per season? And do the Steelers wish to discover out?
Head coach Mike Tomlin has a historical past of endorsing the precept of the “bell-cow” working again, one single participant on the place who instructions the huge bulk of the workload. Najee Harris was that sort of runner for him as a rookie, however then Jaylen Warren occurred. Instantly, the Steelers wished to share the load, as a lot for Harris’ sake as Warren’s.
However that’s as a result of they’d two proficient working backs—will they’ve two in 2025? Harris shall be an unrestricted free agent in 2025 after they declined his fifth-year possibility in the event that they don’t prolong him earlier than then. And I’m undecided why he would until they’re keen to pay him like a top-10 participant. Warren will become profitable, too.
As a former faculty free agent, Warren solely signed a three-year contract. School free brokers are additionally eligible to signal a brand new deal after two seasons (draft picks should play three seasons). The Steelers are going to present him not less than a second-round tender to guard him. Proper now, retailers are estimating that it’s going to run to about $5 million in 2025.
So, can the Steelers affordably prolong Najee Harris and have a tendency Jaylen Warren to a restricted free-agent tender? As a result of failing that, they must select one or the opposite, and so they may select Warren. However earlier than they do, they must resolve in the event that they consider he can carry the workload alone as a result of that’s what he can be doing till they will discover one other dependable working again.
The Steelers’ 2023 season has been put out of its distress, ending as so many have earlier than in recent times: a disappointing, blowout playoff loss. The one change-up currently is after they miss the playoffs altogether. However with the Buffalo Payments stamping them out within the Wildcard Spherical, they’ve one other lengthy offseason forward.
The most important query hanging over the crew is the quarterback query. Does Russell Wilson make them a Tremendous Bowl-caliber crew, or are they losing a yr? Will he play only one season in Pittsburgh earlier than shifting on, or the Steelers shifting on from him? How will the crew deal with the depth chart?
The Steelers are previous free company and the draft and their roster for the 2024 season is coming into focus. They made quite a few strikes by signings and commerce—and launch. Greater than traditional, they appeared snug creating holes, assured they will fill them. Now that we’ve got so many items of the puzzle, nonetheless, we merely have a brand new set of inquiries to ask.
