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.