The Pittsburgh Steelers are witnessing Jaylen Warren's breakout this season, and it couldn’t come at a better time. The offense has been slow at times, and Warren has been the key difference in keeping the team moving and the hopes of a win alive.
The stats back up his breakout season. He currently ranks third in total yards at running back. If he maintains his current pace, he will have close to 2,200 total yards, elite production for even the best backs in the NFL. He even earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his 188-yard, two-touchdown game against the Colts last week.
While his success will likely come back to earth a little, Warren is finally getting the national recognition that he deserves. Unless an injury strikes, it seems feasible that he will be a top-10 running back this season, and it isn’t unthinkable that he will maintain his ranking by season's end.
While everyone hitches themselves to Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, or even Christian McCaffrey (when healthy), it is now time for the league to recognize Warren as a top running back in the league. At worst, the Steelers clearly have the best value in Warren.
The Steelers have a legitimate case that Jaylen Warren is the most valuable running back in the league
The running back market has recovered a bit in recent years. For the longest time, teams refused to pay the position because runners' bodies broke down quickly, making big contracts big risks.
Platoons have helped lengthen the lives of running backs, but it also damages their value since they aren’t conventional starters. It has only recently been the case that teams have begun paying the position again, and only the truly elite players receive a notable contract.
This wasn’t the case for Warren, as he signed a deal a year ago that averaged out to just under $6 million a season. Far and away, he is the cheapest running back who is producing big numbers.
The aforementioned Gibbs and Robinson top the market at over $22 million a season. Jonathan Taylor, whom the Steelers just beat, is sixth on the list of total yards but is getting paid exactly $22 million per season.
After the highest-paid options, the list is riddled with high-earning backs. Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker are earning almost $15 million per season. Meanwhile, the only name in the top ten who is getting paid less is Bucky Irving, but he is still on his rookie deal.
Warren is outplaying most of these names, and he is doing it for a fraction of the cost. The Steelers have to be grinning from ear to ear right now.
The good times may end this offseason. Warren will be entering the final year of his deal, and assuming he keeps this pace, he will have earned a pay raise. We just saw a similar contract standoff ruin the Steelers' relationship with Joey Porter Jr., and it could also threaten their relationship with Warren.
He also isn’t a spring chicken either. Warren turns 28 this season, so giving a mega deal to a running back that old carries some risk.
That is a future problem to worry about. As for the present, the Steelers have a great player on their hands at an incredible price. He’s proving to be one of the best values in the NFL right now.
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