Jaylen Warren, in line to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting running back for the first time this coming season, signed a one-year restricted free agent tender on Tuesday with the team.

The contract, worth $5.346 million, ostensibly keeps Warren under team control for the 2025 season. If another team submitted an offer sheet to Warren that the Steelers failed to match, it would cost that team a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which starts Thursday.

Warren, 26, has never started in 48 regular-season and two playoff games for Pittsburgh since he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

He had 120 carries for 511 yards and one touchdown as well as 38 receptions for 310 yards in 15 regular-season games while dealing with injuries last season. His best season was in 2023, when he had career highs with 149 carries for 784 yards, a 5.3 average per attempt and four TDs as well as 61 catches for 370 yards in 17 games.

With former starter Najee Harris leaving Pittsburgh as a free agent and signing with the Los Angeles Chargers, Warren has moved up the depth chart. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, in comments on Tuesday before the team announced the signing, supports Warren as the starter.

“I certainly feel comfortable with his ability to do so,” Tomlin said. “He got hampered by injury some in 2024; he appears to be ready to answer that. I know he’s really excited about his opportunity. I don’t think myself or anyone within the organization question his talents in regards to managing, potentially, that role.”

–Field Level Media