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Steelers $5 million running back shockingly named breakout candidate for 2025 NFL season

Steelers $5 million running back shockingly named breakout candidate for 2025 NFL season

Yahoo4 days ago
The Pittsburgh Steelers' running back room looks a bit different this season after the departure of Najee Harris and the additions of Kaleb Johnson in the draft and Kenneth Gainwell in free agency.
The one member of the group returning from 2024 is Jaylen Warren, who is expected to have a breakout 2025 campaign, according to Bleacher Report's Moe Moton.
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"Unless Johnson looks incredible in training camp and the preseason, Warren figures to get the first crack at being the Steelers' lead ball-carrier. He has never recorded more than 15 carries in a game, but that could change this year," Moton wrote.
Though Warren has the path to be the No.1 running back in the Steelers' offense, it's hard to see him having a breakout season.
The Steelers used a third-round pick in April's draft on Johnson for a reason, as the Iowa product figures to be the running back of the future and could receive the bulk of the carries for a majority of his rookie campaign.
Warren has a ton of promise in the receiving game and should be a nice change of pace back in Arthur Smith's unit. However, Johnson is primed to be the starter, which would make it tough for Warren to post prolific numbers in his fourth season.
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