Jaylen Warren Blasts Steelers 2023 QB Leadership: ‘Night and Day Difference from Last Year’

Live from the draft party at Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren made a noteworthy comment in regards to the quarterback position during an appearance on Cam Heyward’s Not Just Football podcast.

“Oh it’s a night and day difference from last year, the leadership speaks volumes,” Warren said when asked what it’s like having Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in the facility, via Steelers fan @Mazursky8895 on X.

Jaylen Warren when asked “what’s it like having Fields and Wilson in the facility” on Cams podcast, live from draft party:

“Oh it’s a night and day difference from last year, the leadership speaks volumes”

— Baku 🐧 (@Mazursky8895) April 27, 2024

Some took Warren’s comments as throwing shade at Kenny Pickett, but it might just be a reflection of having a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion in the building. There’s no doubt about it, however, the Steelers are in a better place at quarterback with Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen compared to last year’s group of Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph.

Pickett revealed in his introductory press conference with the Eagles that he felt like he handled his departure from Pittsburgh the right way. Pickett was reportedly upset that the Steelers misled him and signed Wilson to be their presumed starter.

“I think the communication is what it is. It was behind closed doors. I’m confident with the way I handled it,” Pickett said.

Ultimately, Pickett feels like it was just time for a fresh start after playing seven years in the city of Pittsburgh, accounting for his Pitt tenure. He’ll now get the chance to play for the franchise that he grew up rooting for in Ocean Township, New Jersey.

Pickett reportedly refused to dress as the emergency third quarterback in Seattle in Week 17, Steelers Now confirmed at the time. Mark Madden of 105.9 The X first reported that Pickett did not want to be dressed. Pickett strongly denied that was the case.

Mitch Trubisky also never got on the same page with his receivers and was ultimately benched. The Mason Rudolph heroics were just a little too late. It was definitely a tumultuous year for the quarterback room, and awkward with Pickett sidelined/benched once Rudolph led the team to a three-game winning streak down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson had a bad rap in Denver and Seattle for lacking leadership and not being a good teammate. Nothing of such has been showcased in Pittsburgh so far, however.

Wilson sat next to Steelers offensive lineman Spencer Anderson at the Penguins game a few weeks ago. Anderson was a seventh-round pick out of Maryland last year and is not a marquee name on the roster. That action by Wilson is a far cry from the reports out of Denver that he was out of touch and didn’t relate with anyone in the locker room.

Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth also gave Wilson props for organizing an offseason workout in San Diego. Freiermuth, Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson attended the workout.

“That was big time,” Freiermuth told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “He invited us to San Diego and a couple of us went there and got to work out and run routes and get to know each other. That’s big. The relationship on the field is big but building that off field is a big thing. It’s that trust you can bring over to the football field.”

Wilson tweeted at every Steelers draft pick. He also called first-round selection Troy Fautanu. The leadership in the QB room definitely appears night and day from last year, as Warren alluded to.