When asked at his introductory press conference if there was any Steeler he hated playing against during tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, Patrick Queen quickly answered. “Mr. Warren.”
He says everyone hates tackling Jaylen Warren, noting how physical he is throughout the game.
Queen won’t have to worry about tackling Warren anymore after signing a three-year, $41 million deal with the Steelers on Friday, making him the highest-paid Steelers free agent signing in franchise history.
Queen’s high praise to Warren just speaks to the amount of respect that the Ravens have for Warren, as Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey both gave him props as well during an appearance on the Punch Line Podcast last month.
“They already have two good backs,” Hamilton said. “Jaylen Warren, that boy be running hard. Respect to him.”
Host Jack Settlemen then asked the two Ravens defensive backs whether Warren or Kansas City Chiefs runnings back Isaiah Pacheco was the harder runner.
“Jaylen Warren be running like if he doesn’t get these extra two yards, something bad is gonna happen,” Hamilton said. “We saw a lot of Jaylen Warren. That one drive against Pittsburgh, at Pittsburgh, he had like 60 of the yards on that drive. He hurdled [Ronald] Darby, spun me, and then scored a touchdown at the end.”
“I tackled him up high,” Humphrey said, starting an amusing back-and-forth about the difficulties of bringing down the Steelers bruising rusher.
“You did tackle him. You had a good tackle. That’s one thing I will give you, you are one of the better tackling corners in the league.”
“I surprised myself when I made that tackle. I think he thought I was gonna go low, and then I didn’t.”
“That was a good tackle. You were hurt after that tackle.”
“I was hurt.”
“I remember helping you up and you were like ‘urrghhh.’”
“That hurt.”
Warren, the team’s second-year former undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State, earned a near-equal share of carries with incumbent starter Najee Harris in 2023. The small but powerful back combined for 1,144 rushing and receiving yards in 2023 — more than double his yards from scrimmage from his rookie year in 2022.
Warren and Harris both ranked top 10 in yards after contact per attempt among running backs with 100+ carries in 2023. On 71% of his rush attempts, Warren gained 2+ yards after contact in 2023. That figure ranked fourth-highest in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
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