Najee Harris‘ Steelers future remains uncertain as he is a pending free agent. Regardless of what happens on that front, though, Jaylen Warren will remain in the team’s backfield for at least one more season. 
Warren has received the second-round restricted free agent tender, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. As a result, he is set to earn $5.3MM next season. That figure is fully guaranteed.
A deal allowing Harris to remain in place with the Steelers could be on the table, but at this point it would come as little surprise if he were to at least gauge his value amongst other teams. A tender has been expected for Warren, and today’s news confirms he will be in place for 2025 pending an offer sheet. If the former UDFA were to sign with an outside team and Pittsburgh declined to match the offer, the Steelers would receive a second-round pick as compensation.
Warren saw just 77 carries as a rookie, but over each of the past two years he has played a notable role in Pittsburgh’s ground game. The 26-year-old averaged 5.3 yards per carry in 2023, topping 1,100 scrimmage yards in the process. Last spring, the Steelers elected to decline Harris’ fifth-year option and thus set up a potential 2024 as his walk year. Warren’s production and efficiency took a step back, but his presence will no doubt inform (to a degree) how Pittsburgh proceeds in the backfield overall.
Harris has regularly drawn criticism for his lack of efficiency on the ground, but he has been praised by the Steelers for his durability and consistent production (between 1,034 and 1,200 rushing yards every year to date). Teams could look to add him as a short-yardage specialist on the open market, although Harris has shown an ability to handle workhorse duties with no less than 284 touches each year. Warren would face questions along those lines if he found himself atop the depth chart in 2025.
Pittsburgh’s offense will look notably different with receiver D.K. Metcalf in place. It remains to be seen who will be in place at quarterback for the team in 2025, and losing Justin Fields and Russell Wilson would lead to a much different passing attack. However things shake out on that front, Warren will reprise his role in the backfield for at least one more year.
Insane to me if Steelers let Najee walk.
Dominant big backs like that believe it or not are not a dime a dozen, as we’ve seen time and time again.
Agree. Especially now when you have two deadly wideouts that’ll spread defenses.
Since when is Najee Harris dominant?
Since his rookie year. He’s had 1,000 yards every year as a pro, even though his YPC fluctuates throughout the season.
He’s had some huge games for Pittsburgh. He will not be easy to replace.
In the four years of his career, he’s been second, fifth, sixth, and seventh in rushing attempts. Putting up a thousand yards doesn’t require dominance when you’re getting over 250 carries every single year. If he were such a dominant back with his style and workload, you would think he would be top ten in rushing touchdowns even once in his career. It also means he’s been worked very hard. This is also a very, very strong running back draft class, which makes it all the less urgent to treat Harris like a top tier running back, which he’s just never been in the pros.
Najee is slow af and definitely not dominant
Even if they bring him back, he can’t be the lead back in a run heavy offense again.
He was given a ton of opportunities last season and barely scraped by
He runs hard, but is pretty much just a Zeke at this point
Dominant? He’s big, but he don’t run big. He’s been a Disappointment
After Jones got 10mil yesterday I don’t see Najee coming back to Pittsburgh.
Agreed. They’d have to pay him more than the option which is awful business. I could see them taking a RB with that 3rd round pick or they’ll go by committee with a cheaper FA signing to tandem with Warren
They’re not going to find another dominant back like Najee anywhere.
RB by committee only works when you have a dominant power back in addition to the speed/agility/receiving ability guys.
It only works in San Francisco and to an extent Miami because they have dominant fullbacks and have a unique scheme.
Every other team who successfully did it had a dominant big back bruising the opposing defense and softening them up for the smaller backs.
We’ve seen repeatedly that those guys aren’t actually easy to find. Haskins looked like one in college and flopped in the NFL. Ditto for the guy Bijan Robinson replaced at Texas.
None of the other young big backs seem to be doing anything at the pro level except for Najee.
So you don’t know what the word “dominant” means. Got it.
Pretty much any 2-gear RB they’d draft in the first 3 rounds would be better than Najee..
But OK.
Dominant doesn’t mean what you think it does apparently. 3.9 y/a isn’t dominant. 61 ypg isn’t dominant. The best thing about Harris is his availability.
The stupidity here is incredible. Do you watch games or are you just fantasy football fans? Too often—most often—Harris got the ball at the same time defensive lines were getting him. No, he doesn’t have Warren’s quick burst, but he’s a durable, tough back
I’m betting he makes the Steelers regret not signing him wherever he ends up
There’s no chance Warren is on another team this year. Another GM would have to be drinking heavily to give up a 2nd round pick and have to pay him when this year’s rookie class is strong and will be much cheaper on a rookie deal.
That’s why they applied it.
Najee is very mid.