Steeler notes: No extension talk for Jaylen Warren; Jeremiah Moon comes from rival Ravens

He’s the other heavily used Pittsburgh Steelers running back who is in the final season of his contract. And while Najee Harris’ feelings aren’t known because he has remained (publicly) silent, for Jaylen Warren, it’s more because he’s politely declined to speak on it.

Warren spoke for several minutes after the season’s final Steelers organized team activities session Thursday. But his least-expansive answer came on when he was asked if there had been any discussions between he and the Steelers on a contract extension.

“No,” Warren said, “and, to be honest, I am not really worried about that. I am worried about winning a Super Bowl.”

An undrafted free agent in 2022, Warren is in the final season of a modest entry-level contract that will pay him $985,000 this season. He is scheduled for restricted free agency next spring, meaning the Steelers would retain his rights if they made him a qualifying offer.

Warren last season played 48% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps. Harris, the 2021 first-round pick, played 53%. The two shared the field periodically.

The Steelers last month declined Harris’ fifth-year option for 2025, meaning he is set for unrestricted free agency next March. Harris will make $2.44 million in 2024. He has not spoken to media throughout OTAs.

Both sides of the rivalry

Jeremiah Moon joined the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in May 2022. An outside linebacker, he had been with that organization since — appearing in eight regular-season games — before being placed on waivers in January.

The rival Steelers picked him up, and now Moon is fighting for a roster spot as a depth option on defense and special-teamer.

“I am definitely enjoying it here,” Moon said from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, “I’ve been able to learn from the (outside linebackers), Alex (Highsmith) and T.J. (Watt) and all the guys who have been here. It’s nice to learn new things, and I definitely feel I can fit into this defense and on special teams. I am just here to help any way I can.”

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Moon played collegiately at Florida. All of his regular-season pro experience came last season: 99 snaps on defense and 142 on special teams, including a presence during the regular-season finale against the Steelers in which he had a tackle for loss of Warren and, on a separate play, forced a Warren fumble.

Moon finished last season with two forced fumbles and 12 tackles (six solo). He said there are similarities to the ways the Steelers and Ravens operate and in how they use their edge defenders.

“We’re dropping (in coverage) and rushing. It’s the same,” Moon said. “I love my coaches. They have been showing me out a lot, especially with the playbook and sharpening up my skills and everything. You just learn bits and pieces from different people and just keep moving forward.”

Moon is competing for the No. 4 OLB spot behind starters Highsmith and Watt and second-year backup Nick Herbig.