March 12, 2025 is the official start of the league’s new calendar year. Plus, this is when NFL free agency begins. They will need to make a decision this offseason with the Steelers’ round-back.
Najee Harris is set to become a free agent. Pittsburgh is about to close the deal, but Harris is able to leave for another team. Backup RB Jaylen Warren is just finished his final season of his rookie contract and is a restricted free agent in 2025.
Jalen Warren will return to the Steelers in 2025
As expected, Jerry Dulac said the Steelers are expected to limit the kind Jalen Warren. “Warren is a restricted free agent, which means the Steelers are likely to bid him on his first repetitive offer in 2025, which costs just $3.18 million.” #Steelers…
– Steelers Depot7⃣ (@steelersdepot) February 18, 2025
With Najee Harris going to become a free agent, keeping Jaylen Warren is a priority for the Steelers. Harris has the opportunity to leave Pittsburgh and sign another team. In that case, Warren will have the opportunity to become a full-time starter in 2025. Jerry Durack of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette said the Steelers could offer Warren a deal worth $3.18 million.
That’s more than he made in his first three years as a professional. If Pittsburgh can get him to sign a restricted bid in 2025, he could potentially sign a long-term deal in the future. Over three seasons with the Steelers, Warren has played 48 games and has zero start. Najee Harris is ahead of him on the depth chart. Warren’s strongest campaign to date was the 2023 season against Pittsburgh.
He played in all 17 games in 2023. Warren carried the ball 149 innings for 784 yards and four rushing touchdowns. On top of that, he had 61 catches for 370 yards. The 26-year-old missed two games in 2024 due to an injury. In five of the last six games of 2024, Jalen Warren saw more playing time than Naji Harris. The sign refers to Warren signing a restricted bid and giving him the opportunity to become a starter in 2025.
