The Pittsburgh Steelers have not had the best luck in drafting players in recent years. In their first attempt, Omar Khan and Andy Weidl put together the best draft class in recent memory in 2023. The holes that the Steelers created on a woefully depleted roster are getting filled with real long-term answers for the black and gold. Finally, there is a plan on how to replenish the roster, and after one year, it is coming into focus.
Associated Press
Steelers rookies Nick Herbig and Joey Porter Jr. are part of the best Steelers draft class in years.
Broderick Jones is significantly better than Dan Moore Jr. and likely cap casualty Chukwuma Okorafor. Newly minted Steelers Rookie of the Year Joey Porter Jr. is already the best cornerback on the roster. Keeanu Benton seems to be a real answer on the defensive line, and Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington are intriguing talents that are still underutilized by the coaching staff.
The Steelers selected Kenny Pickett and George Pickens two years ago in Kevin Colbert's final draft. Colbert drafted five skill position players with his final seven selections in 2022. Pickens is a huge talent who has generated equal amounts of buzz with on-field heroics and questionable effort. Pickett has struggled in his second season. Colbert's best move in the 2022 draft class might be signing an undrafted free agent, running back Jaylen Warren.
-544x306.jpg "Steelers Jaylen Warren")
Lindsey Wasson / Associated Press
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) tries to get past Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Seattle.
Warren is undoubtedly the best move that Pittsburgh made after round two in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Steelers took two defensive players in that draft. DeMarvin Leal has been hampered by injury and has virtually disappeared from the Steelers rotation, and Mark Robinson is still learning how to play linebacker. Connor Heyward and Calvin Austin III make most of their contributions on special teams. Willie Parker's cousin went undrafted, and Eddie Faulkner, the interim offensive coordinator and running backs coach, was surprised that the NFL passed on him.
“I’m glad they did, I’ll say that,” Faulkner said on Wednesday. “I don’t know. I can’t answer that question. I’ve said it before, Jaylen wasn’t for me in our ratings, wasn’t a guy who was not worthy of being a drafted type running back. I can’t speak on what other people said. I can tell you what I saw on tape.”
The NFL is currently operating on the analytics premise that running backs are a dime a dozen. Pittsburgh's budding star running back is one of the examples that they use to make their point. In the kindest assessment, Warren has played 2021 first-round draft choice Najee Harris out of the feature back role into a tandem role as the team's running back.
Watch Jaylen Warren blow up a Bengal with block. A week after not getting one from Pickens at the goal line. What a team player. Love this guy. pic.twitter.com/vxJFiqclCj
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) December 23, 2023
Steelers' Jaylen Warren Has An Elite Attribute
There is no denying that Warren has a noticeable burst when he is on the field. If Colbert and Mike Tomlin had not tabbed Harris as the feature back in Ben Roethlisberger's final season, it would be interesting to see who would actually get the majority of the reps at the position. Faulkner pointed out that Warren's blocking, which got him noticed in his first training camp during the Steelers' vaunted backs-on-backers drill, was a complete surprise.
"The pass protection element, which you didn't see a lot of him at Oklahoma State might be his strongest suit," Faulkner concluded. "That's saying a lot because he does a lot of things well."
Warren and Harris are a highly effective tandem. Both are fierce runners who do not shy away from contact. Warren is the more elusive of the two, but he is not to be mistaken with a scat back. The pair have dominated the Angry Runs segment on Good Morning Football on NFL Network for most of the year.
NFL.com
Steelers running backs Najee Harris (left) and Jaylen Warren (right).
The Steelers face a significant decision this offseason on Harris's fifth-year option. Warren and Harris are elite together, but the economics of the position may force them to move on from Harris in 2025. Warren's contract expires after the 2024 season and he figures to command a significant raise. How Khan spends the organization's money this summer will be very telling. The team is better with both. Will the business of the NFL allow them to stay together? Stay tuned.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Should the Steelers choose between Warren and Harris or keep them both? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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