What Is Steelers Plan for Jaylen Warren?

As such, some level of reshuffling is inevitable. Harris is set to be an unrestricted free agent, and the Steelers don’t seem eager to offer him a new contract. Warren is a restricted free agent, too.

That gives Pittsburgh the chance to either completely remodel the room, bringing in a new cast of characters entirely. But it may choose to simply find a new complement for Warren. That, of course, requires the team to retain him in free agency.

Steelers insider Gerry Dulac revealed their free agency plan for Warren, suggesting he’s more likely than not to return.

"Meantime, the Steelers are expected to tender an offer to Jaylen Warren, who is a restricted free agent," Dulac wrote. "At the very least, it would be a right-of-first-refusal offer that would cost them $3.185 million in 2025. That would allow the Steelers to match any offer Warren might receive from another team.

"A second-round tender would cost a projected $5.217 million, meaning the Steelers would get a second-round draft choice in return if they would choose not to match any offer Warren might receive from another team."

With the right of first refusal, Pittsburgh could do Warren the favor of letting him test the market, hoping to beat the $5.217 million mark. No team is going to give up a second-round pick for Warren, and it’s not a guarantee he surpasses that, given that Aaron Jones and Tony Pollard earned about $7 million in annual value with superior resumes.

The key to what the Steelers will do comes down to the $2 million difference between the two tenders. With the right of first refusal, a team could overpay for Warren and demand Pittsburgh add another body, perhaps a more expensive investment like a workhorse, early-round back. The second-round tender could be seen as a slight overpay, but also pays for the certainty of Warren in the backfield.

Either way, the Steelers’ backfield will look at least a little different than it did in 2024. How those moves mesh with Smith could decide how successful the offensive operation is for the upcoming season.