Steelers Brass Needs To Sign Important Player To Extension In 2024 Before It's Too Late

The Pittsburgh Steelers are known as an extremely loyal organization. That has gotten the franchise far in many instances, but recently, the dedication to holding onto coaches and players alike has come to hurt the team. The 2024 offseason will not see the franchise having too many significant free agents, which means the NFL Draft and external options are likely to be the focal points if the front office wants to improve the inconsistent roster. They will have many options to open up cap space and not too many players are due to earn an extension. However, one contributor needs one before it's too late.

The Steelers reward players who prove that they not only can lead on the field, but have the attributes to be a big-time leader in the locker room as well. General Manager Omar Khan will have a decision on whether or not to pick up Najee Harris's fifth-year option for 2025 and one should expect Khan and co., to decline it. Their franchise running back is on the roster, but it's not Harris.

Jaylen Warren is as humble as they come. He was an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2022 and only signed with Pittsburgh because they offered him the biggest contract. He has been nothing but a professional since and is slowly turning into one of Steelers' fans' favorite players. He is a bowling ball every time he is on the field and even blocks for his teammates when he doesn't have the football, too. What a crazy concept.

Warren is second to only Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions in yards per carry for running backs in 2023 (5.3). He reminds the fan base of the Steelers running backs of old. It's hard not to envision a young Jerome Bettis when Warren is bulldozing his way over defenders. Pittsburgh needs to stay ahead of the curve in an interesting running back market. Harris isn't the future at the position. Warren is, and he's still young enough to be rewarded with a team-friendly extension.

Nothing is necessarily wrong with Harris. He is a talented back, but if his fifth-year option isn't picked up, he will be looking for a rewarding second contract in the NFL. That's not going to come from Pittsburgh. The former first-round pick still averages just 3.9 yards per carry in his career and will certainly get an opportunity elsewhere when the time comes, but getting Warren locked down for an extended period of time will be crucial.

The Steelers needs to figure out their quarterback situation and the offensive line isn't perfect either, but Warren has proven he can excel in an offense that has been rather dormant since he began with the team. A four-year extension for well under $10 million per year could set up the organization perfectly at the position moving forward. Making him the focal point of an offense gets back to the Steeler football of old and will open up a play-action attack that is better than it has been in years.

Warren stepped up ahead of the team's Week 16 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. There was a ton of drama revolving around what seemed to be a business decision by George Pickens in Week 15. The receiver chose not to block for Warren near the end zone because he feared injury. Warren said he would have blocked for Pickens, then they allegedly squashed the beef and the running back leveled Germaine Pratt to allow Calvin Austin III to score in Week 16.

The 2024 season is Warren's last on his rookie deal. He is set to be a restricted free agent after the fact, but there's no reason to open up that can of worms and not communicate to him that he is the guy going forward. The 2024 offseason is going to be the perfect time to give him a respectable long-term deal. Harris will have to see the writing on the wall, but it's time to accept the fact that he wasn't worth a first-round selection.

Steelers Need To Act Sooner Rather Than Later With Extending Warren

Pittsburgh has always been extremely forward-thinking as an organization. Anyone who pays attention to the Steelers knows that Warren is the back of the future. Although the situations differ, the franchise decided to extend Antonio Brown in 2012 instead of Mike Wallace, who was holding out of training camp. "Out with the old and in with the new" is what they say. Warren has the potential to be one of the NFL's top running backs and he needs to be paid in a timely manner so the team gets ahead of what they already know will be coming.

Do you think it would be smart to extend Warren this early in his career? Let us know in the comments below!

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