Steelers A to Z: As role in offense increases, Jaylen Warren entering important season

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

RB Jaylen Warren

Experience/age: Third season/25

Contract status: $989,000 cap hit for 2024 season, he will be restricted free agent in 2025

The past: As a rookie in 2022, Warren established himself as an NFL player. After making the team as an undrafted free agent, Warren became the complementary piece to starter Najee Harris, helping to lighten his workload.

Warren rushed for 379 yards and totaled 593 scrimmage yards. His role expanded in 2023 to the point that he played nearly half of the Steelers’ offensive snaps. Warren set career highs with 784 yards rushing, 61 receptions and 1,154 scrimmage yards. He also doubled his number of touches – from 105 in 2022 to 210 last season.

Warren’s best stretch came in the middle of the season when he had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, getting 101 yards against the Green Bay Packers and 129 against the Cleveland Browns.

2024 outlook: With a new offensive coordinator calling plays in Arthur Smith, the question is whether Warren’s role will continue to expand this season. Smith liked to deploy multiple backs when he was in Atlanta, and Warren showed last season that he deserved an increased role on the roster.

A bigger role for Warren, of course, would come at the expense of Harris, who has surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in each of his three NFL seasons.

The 2024 season also is important to Warren financially. He is set to become a restricted free agent in 2025, and he potentially cash in with a multi-year deal with the Steelers if he continues his productivity this year.