Backing up Miles Sanders, D’Andre Swift and Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell has waited his turn. The four-year Eagles contributor is set to relocate but without leaving Pennsylvania.
A day after losing Najee Harris to the Chargers, the Steelers are finalizing a deal with Gainwell. The sides have agreed to a one-year deal, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets. Gainwell will be on track to team with Jaylen Warren, whom the Steelers slapped with a second-round RFA tender. Warren is set to make $5.3MM this season; that does not check in too far south of the Harris fifth-year option on which Pittsburgh passed.
The Steelers will be acquiring a running back with fairly low mileage but one that has maintained a second-string role for one of the league’s best rushing attacks. Gainwell has only compiled 280 carries in his four-year career. He holds a career 4.2-yard average and has tallied 721 receiving yards.
No extended stints as a fill-in have transpired for Gainwell, as the Eagles have seen Sanders, Swift and Barkley stay healthy over the past three years. All three parlayed those seasons into new deals, with Barkley’s coming via an Eagles extension. Gainwell has been the constant throughout this period, fending off challengers for the Philly RB2 gig in 2023 and keeping it once Barkley arrived. Gainwell has just four career starts. One of those came in Week 1 of the 2023 season, but after the 2021 fifth-round pick sustained an injury that kept him out of Week 2, Swift took over and never gave back the job.
Pittsburgh certainly could be expected to augment the position further in the draft, as Warren and Gainwell will be due for unrestricted free agency in 2026. For now, a potential Warren-Gainwell partnership has formed. This offseason may bring a big opportunity for Gainwell, who turns 26 later this week. Entering the 2025 season with more than 800 fewer carries than Harris makes this a (likely) low-cost bet on fresher legs bringing upside.
Good move. As an eagles fan I really liked Gainwell. He runs hard and isn’t afraid to mix it up(even as a smaller RB)
I guess that means no 1st round RB. Looks like we’ll be getting a DT then.
Let’s hope so
Decent pickup depending on the money. Pushed RB back down the board a bit allowing for DL focus
Jaylen Warren szn
yet another eagle flies the coup. I truly wonder if Howie roseman knows he’s allowed to sign some players. This is making no sense what so ever
You’re that worried about losing Gainwell? I’d think they drafted Shipley with this in mind, but they can always find another secondary back.
This is exactly why they drafted Shipley.
Just like Gainwell was drafted to replace Boston Scott.
I’ll be interested to see if he’s a quick burst runner, like Warren is. With this line, he’d better be
My impression of Gainwell is that he’s more of a cutter and slasher than a burst guy. But I really like what I’ve seen. He’s runs really hard and is a really good all around back: blocks well, catches the ball well. I question whether he can be a #1, but I’ll bet he’s hungry to prove himself.
Pit oline should be vastly improved next year.
Shortest RB duo in the NFL
I’ll be rooting for Kenny G but I really wanted him to go to a team with a fullback to run behind.
He’s never gonna be a 1,000 yard back unless he runs behind a fullback even though he has that potential. He’s just too small.
Excellent change of pace guy though and a guy who lined up at WR plenty at Memphis.
Yeah, that was my remembrance of Gainwell. Smaller guy. Hey, that’s fine
But again, they really need to upgrade the O-line.
Whether it’s the run game or pass, it’s really among the worst