Mina Kimes: 'Jaylen Warren is the best back' on the Steelers roster

Mina Kimes expects Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren to have a big 2024 season. While appearing on ESPN NFL Live, the NFL analyst gave high praise to Warren when talking about the new-look Steelers offense.

“Jaylen Warren is the best back on their roster. He’s not just more explosive than [Najee Harris], he’s one of the best backs in the NFL,” Kimes said. “I think he’s so complete, so good at forcing missed tackles, he’s good in pass protection, he can catch passes.

“For Pittsburgh, I think this year they are going to run it back with Warren and Harris, but next year I suspect they’ll hold on to Jaylen Warren and draft a back in the later rounds.”

"Jaylen Warren is the best back on their roster. … He's not just more explosive than Harris, he's one of the best backs in the NFL." 😤 @minakimes in response to how the Steelers are reshaping their offense. pic.twitter.com/CshoWtBBOy

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 2, 2024

Kimes said this as the Steelers announced they are not picking up the fifth-year option on Harris despite rushing for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. As strong as Harris has been for the Steelers, Warren is starting to come into his own as he rushed for 784 yards and four touchdowns on 149 carries. He has also caught 30 passes for 370 yards in 2023.

Jaylen Warren’s breakout game against the Packers

One of the games that stood out for Warren was when he rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown against the Packers last season. “I mean it was cool,” Warren said at the time, per Yahoo Sports.  “Like I said I said yesterday, as long as we got the W, that’s that’s all I care about.”

Warren signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after playing for Oklahoma State. In his rookie season, Warren rushed for 379 yards and one touchdown on 77 carries.

Before the 2022 draft, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com shared his thoughts on Warren. “Wrecking ball on wheels who plays with the type of pace and power that makes tape study a lot of fun,” Zierlein wrote. Warren is a self-assured competitor who proved he could handle the workload and spotlight of the Big 12.

“He’s decisive, with an ability to cut at full speed. However, he lacks burst and agility to expand his runs too far outside. He’s a momentum runner who is much tougher to tackle with every step he takes, but he needs it blocked up, as he lacks the ability to create for himself early in the run. He’s talented in the screen game and has a chance to compete for a backup role.”