Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said the dynamic between Warren and third-round pick Kaleb Johnson will be different than that between Warren and former teammate Najee Harris. The 224-pound rookie, drafted 83rd overall, profiles cleanly as a replacement for Harris, but that doesn't necessarily mean it'll be a one-for-one thing with Johnson immediately taking 250-plus carries. Harris topped that number in each of his four seasons in Pittsburgh, despite averaging 4.1 YPC or less every year, in part because he never missed a game and was decent enough at blocking and receiving to stay on the field for some passing downs. Johnson may well prove to be Harris' equal or superior as a runner, but Warren could nonetheless take on a larger role than he had the past few seasons if the Steelers aren't confident in other aspects of Johnson's game. Warren signed a second-round restricted free agent tender a few days before the draft, keeping him under contract for 2025 at $5.35 million -- about the same as what Harris is getting from the Chargers, coincidentally.
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Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said the dynamic between Warren and third-round pick Kaleb Johnson will be different than that between Warren and former teammate Najee Harris. The 224-pound rookie, drafted 83rd overall, profiles cleanly as a replacement for Harris, but that doesn't necessarily mean it'll be a one-for-one thing with Johnson immediately taking 250-plus carries. Harris topped that number in each of his four seasons in Pittsburgh, despite averaging 4.1 YPC or less every year, in part because he never missed a game and was decent enough at blocking and receiving to stay on the field for some passing downs. Johnson may well prove to be Harris' equal or superior as a runner, but Warren could nonetheless take on a larger role than he had the past few seasons if the Steelers aren't confident in other aspects of Johnson's game. Warren signed a second-round restricted free agent tender a few days before the draft, keeping him under contract for 2025 at $5.35 million -- about the same as what Harris is getting from the Chargers, coincidentally.
Warren signed his one-year restricted free agent tender with the Steelers on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Warren received a second-round restricted free agent tender from Pittsburgh in March, which carries a $5.35 million salary for the 2025 season. Signing his tender doesn't necessarily preclude a long-term deal materializing for Warren, but any further negotiations could be heavily swayed by the team's actions, or lack thereof, in addressing the running back position during the 2025 NFL Draft. Coach Mike Tomlin expressed confidence Tuesday in Warren's capabilities of handling lead back duties following the departure of Najee Harris, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com.
The Steelers placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Warren on Monday, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports. The Steelers make Warren's second-round RFA tender official, a move that general managed Omar Khan foreshadowed late February. Pittsburgh had the option to place an original-round tender on Warren, which would have given him a $3.19 million salary for 2025 but made it more feasible for teams to offer him a competitive contract. By issuing Warren a second-round tender, the Steelers effectively guarantee he'll remain with the team this season at the cost of a $5.2 million salary, as any team he signed with would have to surrender second-round draft compensation. Najee Harris is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, and his departure would thrust Warren into the No. 1 backfield spot for at least the time being.
Steelers GM Omar Khan said Tuesday that Warren will receive a restricted free agent tender and likely stay with the team in 2025, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports. The real question is whether Warren gets a second-round tender ($5.2 million) or an original-round tag ($3.19 million). He went undrafted back in 2022, which means the latter wouldn't involve any draft compensation if he signed with another team and the Steelers declined to match the contract offer. A second-round tender, on the other hand, would ensure that Warren stays in Pittsburgh unless he's traded, as no team is going to give up a top-64 pick for the right to hand him a large contract. The second big question is what happens with Najee Harris, who is scheduled for unrestricted free agency after starting his career with four straight seasons of more than 1,000 rushing yards but less than 4.2 yards per carry.
Warren rushed the ball two times for six yards in Saturday's 28-14 loss to the Ravens. He added four receptions on five targets for 19 yards. The Steelers attempted only 11 total rushes for the game as they were chasing points, though Warren was still out-touched 9-6 and out-gained 58-25 by Najee Harris. It was a disappointing close to a primarily disappointing season for Warren, as he was derailed by injury for the first six games of the campaign and then worked behind Harris in most games thereafter. Warren will be a restricted free agent this offseason and should have a strong chance of being retained by the Steelers. With Harris a free agent, it's also possible that Warren will be in line for an expanded role with the team in 2025.
Warren rushed the ball six times for 21 yards in Saturday's 19-17 loss to the Bengals. He did not record a catch on one target. Warren had been chipping into the role of Najee Harris in recent weeks, though he was out-touched 15-6 by Harris in Saturday's loss. His lack of volume was also the result of game script, as the Steelers' running backs accounted for only four total carries in the final two quarters of the contest as they played from behind. Warren will likely serve as the change-of-pace back in Pittsburgh's opening-round playoff matchup against the Ravens or Texans.
Warren (ribs) practiced fully Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports. Warren was deemed a limited participant in practice Tuesday, but the running back's return to a full session a day later paves the way for him to be available Saturday night against the Bengals. As a result, Warren should continue to work in a backfield time share with Najee Harris, a context that has resulted in Warren logging 23 carries and 10 catches over his last two contests, while Harris has recorded 22 carries and two catches in that span.
Warren was a limited participant in practice Tuesday due to an injury to his ribs, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports. Even though the Steelers have a longer turnaround for the regular-season finale after playing on Christmas Day in Week 17, Warren is a bit banged up after he took on 16 touches (11 carries, five catches) in Pittsburgh's 29-10 loss to Kansas City. Provided Warren is able to advance to full participation in practice by Thursday, he should head into Saturday's contest without a designation. While Najee Harris should continue to start Saturday, Warren has out-touched him in the last two contests by 17-9 and 16-15 margins, though negative game scripts were a factor on both occasions.
Warren carried the ball 11 times for 71 yards and caught five of six targets for 41 yards in Wednesday's 29-10 loss to Kansas City. He topped 100 scrimmage yards for the first time this season, but Najee Harris finished with two more totes and three more rushing yards. Warren has seen his workload increase the last two weeks, and while the Steelers lost both games, that can hardly be pinned on the third-year RB, who had a first-quarter TD run wiped out by a holding penalty Wednesday. Warren will look to wrap up the regular season in style in a Week 18 clash with the Bengals.