The Pittsburgh Steelers looked to fix their rush offense by drafting another physical running back in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Kaleb Johnson is expected to directly replace Najee Harris and keep up the chemistry that he had in the running back room. There has been some debate on if he is too much of a Harris clone or not, but time will tell for sure. At very least, it's better to get an exact replica of him in the third round than in the first round.
While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Steve Palazzolo talked about Johnson's abilities. Instead of comparing him to Harris, he spoke about another NFL running back that he mimics.
"I never really watched Kaleb Johnson and was like, 'Man, poor guy's going to have to run at Indy and show everyone how slow he is,' explained Palazzolo. "He plays fast, so I don't care about his 40 time. That dude is tough to tackle. The way he runs the zone game reminded me of Joe Mixon, where he's just really smooth, good feel for when to cut it upfield, and then he's just tough to tackle. Some of the runs he had against Ohio State, that loaded National Title team, it was unbelievable, so I was really impressed by Kaleb Johnson. I thought he was going to go in the second (round)."
Instead of being seen as a back like Harris, Palazzolo likens him to Joe Mixon, who has a very good blend of athleticism and power. In every year that he played double-digit games, Mixon had at least 30 receptions to go along with many 1,000-yard rushing campaigns. He topped out at 60 receptions in 2022 and 1,205 rushing yards in 2021.
The running back position is one full of wear and tear, but Mixon has been much more durable than many players at his position, which resulted in him getting a third contract from his new team, the Houston Texans. The Steelers have to be happy that he is no longer with the Cincinnati Bengals, especially with how weak their run defense was in the back half of 2024.
If Johnson can truly be a Mixon-like back, then the Steelers won't have to show their hand with their rotation of rushers. He could be a three-down player that makes opposing defenses prepare for everything. Even then, he won't be expected to wear out his body on every single play, with Jaylen Warren and even Kenneth Gainwell playing with him in the backfield.
Steelers' Potential Running Back Dynamic
The Steelers could potentially have more chemistry with Johnson and Warren than they did when Harris was on the team. The former undrafted free agent is still better as a receiver and a pass blocker, but he could help mentor the rookie and show him exactly how it's done. Johnson is already an all-around player, but that doesn't mean he can't learn some extra skills to make him more valuable at the next level.
However, Warren has only been signed to a one-year restricted free agent (RFA) tender, so he could be on the open market after the 2025 season. Johnson is the only running back on the roster currently that will be on the team through at least 2026. The Steelers will have some big decisions to make, but a lot of that stems from how well the rookie learns. If Johnson can be a threat out of the backfield like Mixon, Warren is more expendable.
