Player
Jaylen Warren
RB
Warren's 2025 breakout validated the Steelers' decision to let a high-profile back walk — his trajectory from bit player to 1,000-yard workhorse is one of the steepest UDFA ascents of his era.
4-year career arc: undrafted backup → emerging starter. The 2025 1,001-yard year was his breakout in a workhorse role.
TrendWarren regular-season production by year
| Year | Weeks | Att | Yds | TDs | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 16 | 77 | 379 | 1 | 28 |
| 2023 | 18 | 157 | 822 | 4 | 63 |
| 2024 | 16 | 122 | 517 | 1 | 42 |
| 2025 | 17 | 223 | 1,001 | 6 | 41 |
Rushing yards by year
| Season | Yards |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 379 |
| 2023 | 822 |
| 2024 | 517 |
| 2025 | 1001 |
Why it matters. Warren's 2025 breakout validated the Steelers' decision to let a high-profile back walk — his trajectory from bit player to 1,000-yard workhorse is one of the steepest UDFA ascents of his era.
His 4.70 career YPC is top-10 among undrafted RBs since 1990 with 400+ carries.
RareCareer regular-season totals through 2025
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Weeks Played | 67 |
| Carries | 579 |
| Rush Yards | 2,719 |
| Rush TDs | 12 |
| YPC | 4.70 |
| Receptions | 174 |
Why it matters. YPC is the cleanest signal of a runner's skill independent of volume. Sustaining 4.70 across 579 NFL carries as an undrafted player is the kind of anomaly scouts miss at the college level.
His 2025 223 carries was nearly double his 2024 workload — and his YPC held at 4.49 vs 4.24.
ComparisonWarren volume vs efficiency
| Year | Att | YPC |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 122 | 4.24 |
| 2025 | 223 | 4.49 |
Why it matters. Most RBs see YPC erode under heavy usage; maintaining 4.49 with 223 carries signals the kind of contact balance and vision that doesn't break down at volume.
Warren's clutch-quarter YPC of 5.64 towers over his overall 4.49 — he gets better when it matters most.
SplitWarren 2025 carry splits by leverage
| Situation | Carries | YPC |
|---|---|---|
| Q4, score within 8 | 83 | 5.64 |
| All other | 140 | 4.54 |
Why it matters. Clutch-split YPC is harder to fake — defenses know the run is coming in late close games. Warren's 5.64 in those moments signals genuine contact ability, not just volume stats.
His 2025 6 rushing TDs led the Steelers — matching the TD pace Najee Harris set every year in Pittsburgh.
MilestonePIT lead-RB rush TDs by year
| Year | Lead RB | TDs |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Najee Harris | 7 |
| 2022 | Najee Harris | 7 |
| 2023 | Najee Harris | 8 |
| 2024 | Najee Harris | 6 |
| 2025 | Jaylen Warren | 6 |
Why it matters. Red-zone TD production is the clearest measure of a team's trust in a back. Warren replicating Najee's pace in year one as starter is the strongest validation the Steelers could ask for.
He went undrafted in 2022 — and now has more career rushing yards than 15 of the 23 RBs drafted that year.
Anomaly2022 RB class career rush yds (top picks vs Warren)
| Player | Pick | Career Yds |
|---|---|---|
| James Cook | 63 | 4,886 |
| Kenneth Walker III | 41 | 3,931 |
| Breece Hall | 36 | 3,398 |
| Jaylen Warren | undrafted | 2,719 |
| Tyrion Davis-Price | 93 | 127 |
| Isaiah Spiller | 123 | 137 |
Why it matters. Draft capital is a proxy for expected NFL value. Warren beating 15 of 23 drafted peers at the position is statistical evidence the 2022 evaluation process badly underestimated him.
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