The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of, if not, the best running back tandem in the NFL. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren each had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage during the 2023 season, and Harris' yards were almost entirely on the ground. However, due to the fact that the Steelers declined his fifth-year option, Harris could end up losing snaps and touches to Warren in 2024. They were almost 50/50 in terms of snap count in 2023, but could the balance swing in favor of the younger, smaller running back with less wear-and-tear on his body?
Ray Fittipaldo made an appearance on the Rothman and Ice show on 97.1 The Fan and talked about the risks of giving Warren that extended workload.
"Jaylen Warren has been a guy who's been on the come-up. He's a guy who's been productive when he's gotten those opportunities. The thing that you have to ask yourself if you're Omar Khan and you're contemplating a deal like this is, 'Can he handle a big workload?' He's a smaller guy; he's 5'8". He's put together, but he's only 5'8". Sometimes, those guys get injured more often than the big guys, the 6'2", 230-240-pounders like Najee Harris, who has been remarkably durable."
Over the course of his career, Warren has shown off his toughness numerous times. Despite his short stature, he has quickly made a name for himself as a guy that is not afraid of contact and will run anyone over. He has made an appearance on Kyle Brandt's segment, Angry Runs, and he has developed a reputation for being a human bowling ball.
Of course, it is much easier to hit like that, as well as take hits, when you don't play the majority of the snaps. If Warren does have an increased workload, that just leads to more hits, and it causes an increased risk for injury. However, it is not just all black-and-white. There are multiple factors that come into play with something like this along with his size.
Steelers' Questions On Jaylen Warren's Usage
The first question is if Warren does see an increased workload, how much of an increase would we see? Harris has still proven to be a high-end running back while having a very slight majority of snap counts, so he still needs his regular workload. Will Warren have a very slight majority, like a 51/49 percent split? Would they actually make him the feature back with more of a 60/40 split?
How much sense does it actually make to increase Warren's workload? As mentioned before, Harris still needs his share of touches and snaps. In 2023, the chemistry between Harris and Warren was amazing, and they complemented each other very well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and the Steelers may not have a reason to break it.
There's also the question of how Cordarrelle Patterson will fit into the picture. Even though he will primarily be the return man, he has proven to be a capable backup running back with the Atlanta Falcons. If the Steelers could get him some touches, both Warren and Harris could end up getting some much-needed rest throughout the season.
Even if Warren can handle a significant increase in snap count, it may not make sense for it to happen. The Steelers already have a high-quality blueprint in place for the 2024 season, so there's not much of a reason to give him a major boost in touches and snaps. If they stick to what works, there shouldn't be a problem getting production from a healthy running back core.
