Steelers looming decision regarding the future of the RB position comes into focus following latest details from insider
The future running back position in Pittsburgh has been as cloudy as ever. Ok, well at least since Le'Veon Bell sat out a whole season. But with their top two backs, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren slated to hit free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers need at least one familiar face in their rotation. And right now, […]
The future running back position in Pittsburgh has been as cloudy as ever.
Ok, well at least since Le'Veon Bell sat out a whole season.
But with their top two backs, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren slated to hit free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers need at least one familiar face in their rotation.
And right now, it looks like they have made a choice…
Steelers to Tender RB Jaylen Warren
Warren is a restricted free agent, which means the Steelers are likely to tender him a right-of-first-refusal offer that will cost them only $3.18 million in 2025. They could still re-sign Harris, who is an unrestricted free agent. Tomlin has long favored Harris, even though his career yards-per-carry average (3.9) is nearly a yard lower than Warren’s (4.8).
– Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Now if you wondering what the right-of-first refusal-tender is, here you are.
Warren, a former undrafted free agent, has three accrued seasons in the NFL, and is labeled a restricted free agent. The Steelers using this tender prevents him from leaving them unless they refuse to match an offer from another team.
In addition, players with expiring contracts that have earned exactly three accrued seasons are considered Restricted Free Agents. In order to use these designations, the team must tender a qualifying offer on a one year contract.
– Over The Cap
So in all likelihood, Jaylen Warren will be back in 2025, but the same can't be said for Najee Harris. The Steelers could franchise tag Harris, but given the fact they declined his fifth-year option for 2025 at a total of $6.79 million, tagging him for $13.6 million doesn't make a lot of sense.
Perhaps a short-term deal could be worked out, but Harris will have suitors on the open market given the historic start to his career and impressive durability as a RB who has never missed a start, much less a game in his career.
It's the first domino to fall in the Steelers' backfield assuming the report is accurate and could have ripple effects on what the team decides to do with Harris and in the 2025 NFL Draft.
