We weren't expecting that. With the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson. And nobody could have seen this coming.
After the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf early in the 2025 offseason, landing Johnson seemed impossible without a second-round pick, as most draft analysts projected Johnson would be off the board early in the second round. Instead, the productive running back fell all the way to the middle of the third round.
Just like we've seen Omar Khan and Andy Weidl do in their first two NFL Drafts, they took one of the top players on the consensus board, and Steelers fans should be excited.
Though Johnson clocked in at a disappointing 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, he plays much faster on the field, and his long speed is legitimate. At 6'1'' and 224 pounds, Johnson has the frame to carry the load, and his production at Iowa was off the charts. As a 21-year-old junior in 2025, Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns on an impressive 6.4 yards per carry.
Johnson will step right in and fill the void left by Najee Harris, who joined the LA Chargers in free agency. On my board, Johnson was a straight-up better prospect coming out of school, and his skill set is perfectly suited for the Steelers' wide zone scheme.
Still, this pick will be met with controversy. As the Steelers' front office was dishing out high-fives for the Kaleb Johnson pick, Shedeur Sanders was sitting at home, waiting for a call from Pittsburgh. It never came. Shedeur's slide continues, and it makes you think that most teams don't want the distraction at this point.
But don't let the fact that the Steelers passed on Sanders take away from the excitement of this pick. Pittsburgh got a good one in Johnson.
The Pittsburgh Steelers continue BPA approach with Kaleb Johnson pick
Before his disappointing 40 time at the NFL Combine, Kaleb was considered one of the best running backs in a loaded 2025 RB class, and he was never supposed to be here at this point. If you put on his Iowa film from 2025, you'll understand why.
While Johnson has build-up speed and isn't elite behind the line of scrimmage, he builds a head of steam and profiles as an ideal zone runner. Johnson is a silky-smooth runner with excellent contact balance and long speed to run away from defensive backs in the open field. This is exactly the type of player this team has been looking for at the position.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson will work in tandem with Jaylen Warren in the backfield, but he could be the workhorse back for Pittsburgh by 2026. Johnson was arguably the best remaining player on the board when the Steelers were on the clock.
Khan and Weidl are doing their best impression of Eagles general manager Howie Roseman by just taking the best players on the board while they are on the clock. And fans should be eating it up.
