Steelers RB Jaylen Warren 'worried about' winning Super Bowl, not extension

Like fellow running back Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, leaving his future with the Steelers up in the air.

On Thursday, the third-year running back revealed he has not had any talks with the team about a potential contract extension. Although, he added that's the least of his worries right now.

"No, and to be honest, I'm not really worried about that," Warren said. "I'm worried about winning a Super Bowl."

The news shouldn't come as a surprise after a report by ESPN's Brooke Pryor in May. Pryor said the organization wants to see how Harris and Warren function in Arthur Smith's offense before making a longer term commitment to them.

Still, the Steelers will have to make a decision at some point on Warren, among several other notable players who will become unrestricted free agents after the 2024 season, and that could cost them a lot more money in the long run.

Warren, 25, has flashed his explosiveness over the past two seasons, rushing for 1,163 yards (5.1 yards per rush) and five touchdowns while also adding 89 catches for 584 yards during the span. That was all while splitting the backfield with Harris.

Pittsburgh will have right of first refusal on his rights for 2025, but Warren will likely want more security after starting his NFL career as an undrafted rookie in 2022.

Warren isn't the first Steeler to be far from a contract extension this offseason, either.

Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward held out the first two weeks of OTAs as he's eyeing further commitment from Pittsburgh while guard James Daniels said he had been informed by the team that he wouldn't be getting a contract extension before the season.

It seems Warren is joining that list of players who could be heading into the 2024 season on the final year of their contracts.