Jaylen Warren’s rise from undrafted free agent to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lead running back is no fluke. His consistent performance over the past few seasons has convinced the Steelers to bet on him long-term despite drafting promising rookie Kaleb Johnson who's waiting in the wings.
Warren first signed with Pittsburgh in 2022 after going undrafted out of Oklahoma State. In his early seasons, he played a complementary role behind Najee Harris, contributing mainly in the passing game through blocking and receiving, while also flashing explosiveness on big plays — something the Steelers had been sorely lacking.
Despite limited opportunities, Warren has proven to be highly efficient, averaging approximately 4.