How will the Steelers divide the labor between Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle?
The Steelers lost Kenneth Gainwell in free agency, but in turn signed Rico Dowdle to replace him for similar compensation. While Gainwell signed a $7 million APY deal, Dowdle will earn $6.125 million APY here. Their pay is similar; however, their skill set is not, and Pittsburgh will have to work that out.
In reality, Dowdle is earning more per season than is Jaylen Warren, whom the Steelers signed to an extension last offseason. Both had 1,000-yard seasons in 2025, as did Gainwell, though Dowdle did it just through rushing yards. Of the three, he is the most experienced runner, and the least experienced receiver.
Given that, it would seem obvious that the Steelers would lean toward a heavy rushing approach for Rico Dowdle. He is a bigger back with whom new HC Mike McCarthy has experience. Despite changing teams, he is also coming off consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
But even with the change in coaching staff, Jaylen Warren is a player Pittsburgh has liked for a long time. And he produced last year, over 1,200 yards from scrimmage and 8 touchdowns. With all the rancor over the Steelers losing Kenneth Gainwell, even with Dowdle as a substitute, it seems many forget.
By the end of last season, the Steelers saw Warren and Gainwell split snaps pretty evenly, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they did the same with Warren and Dowdle. But would Dowdle be the Steelers’ primary ball carrier? He is coming off two consecutive 230-plus-carry seasons. Warre recorded 211 carries last year, his first time with 150 or more carries in a season.
The Steelers didn’t sign Rico Dowdle to a contract of this size to back up Jaylen Warren, though. However they work it out, I think it’s obvious that they expect to use both fairly heavily. There’s still Kaleb Johnson, but he may well be stuck on the backburner.
The Steelers exited the playoffs in the first round yet again, a pattern going back to 2017.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are facing another long, long offseason. No doubt we will see many changes, but none will top Mike Tomlin resigning.
The NFL has crowned its latest champion, but for us and the Steelers, we have been in offseason mode. That’s what happens when the team you coverloses by the middle of January all the time, but you’ve been around, so you know that already. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
Recommended for you