The pick is in.
The 2025 NFL Draft is Omar Khan’s third year as the Steelers’ general manager and as in past years we evaluate the value of each pick. Based on projections for each player by draft outlets as well as our own reports we want to see if the pick’s value is above or below how they were ranked coming into the draft.
Round 3 (Pick 83) – Kaleb Johnson RB Iowa
We all know that running back was high on the Steelers’ list of wants in this draft. They brought nine in for pre-draft visits, including Johnson.
Daniel Jeremiah had him ranked 53rd in his Top 150 but did not have a write up on him.
Lance Zierlein’s profile of Johnson at NFL.com gave him a 6.21 grade (will eventually be average starter) with a round projection from the second to the third.
He opined, “Johnson is built like a bruiser, but his style is more finesse, preferring to win with tempo and decisiveness. He keeps his runs on time and on track while allowing blockers to do their job. He’s not overly aggressive, but he has the size and strength to break tackles and grab extra yards at the finish. He runs with below-average creativity and cut quickness but has consistent linear play speed to pop chunk runs. He can catch, but his three-down value takes a hit because of his struggles in pass pro. Johnson’s traits and running style make him a projectable fit in a two-back system with the upside to take on a bigger chunk down the road.”
Dane Brugler had him listed 44th overall in his draft guide, The Beast. He was the No. 3 running back and had a second-round grade for him.
His profile states, “Despite consistently facing stacked boxes (Iowa ranked 130th out of 133 FBS teams in passing offense in 2024), Johnson shined on outside zone.
He is at his best when he can quickly read and set up his blocks and anticipate backside/frontside lanes to find yardage that isn’t there (No. 2 in the FBS with 21 carries of 20 yards or more in 2024). He tends to run upright, giving defenders a large target, but has the build and determination to be a bruiser as a forward-leaning, north-south runner. Overall, Johnson isn’t a dynamic, make-you-miss athlete, but he is a patient and powerful one-cut runner with the instinctive vision to crease the defense using run angles and foot quickness. His play style is reminiscent of DeMarco Murray with a three-down skill set to thrive in a zone-based NFL scheme.”
CBSSports.com had Johnson as its 103rd player on their board and the No. 6 running back. It gave him a grade of 79.73 (reserve/backup).
“Kaleb Johnson is a big, north-south runner with plus speed once he reaches the second and third levels. He has more build-up speed than true burst but isn’t sluggish at the hand-off. Occasionally flashes a skip move in the hole, but lateral agility isn’t a big part of his game. Instead, he relies on patience, letting his blockers create lanes before hitting the accelerator.
His vision is outstanding — he slithers through tight creases on zone plays as if the game is unfolding in slow motion. He’s best in a zone-blocking scheme, preferring to stay frontside and follow his blocks with a great feel for when to cut back. However, he has a tendency to bounce poorly blocked runs outside, which might work against slower defenses but will be far less effective in the NFL.
Johnson has old-school power back traits, running behind his pads and being a tough tackle, though his contact balance isn’t elite. He wasn’t heavily used in the passing game in college, which limits his three-down upside. Overall, he has a feature-back build, plus speed and veteran-like vision and patience. While he lacks elusiveness and high-end contact balance, his mental strengths help compensate. Best in a zone-blocking scheme where his vision and smooth cutting ability can shine. “
Our profile on Johnson by Jonathan Heitritter gave him an 8.5 grade (2nd Round – Future Quality Starter).
He analyzed his play by saying:
“Kaleb Johnson is a young, gifted back who is riding one season of high-end production, but he has the full package when it comes to size, burst, strength, vision, and the pass-catching capabilities that you also look for in a feature back. He would do best in a run-heavy, one-cut system where he gets more of a runway to hit full speed as he approaches the line of scrimmage. He can operate in the shotgun as well as a back who can run through you or away from you.
When looking for a pro comp for Johnson, Melvin Gordon III came to mind as another big, physical former Big Ten running back from Wisconsin who possessed many similar traits that Johnson shows on tape. Gordon’s timed speed wasn’t outstanding, but he played fast and was a strong runner who was tough to bring down. He was drafted in the first round back in 2015, and I foresee Johnson likely going in the first two rounds come April.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be looking for a feature back should Najee Harris leave in free agency. Given that Johnson has similar size but is a far more explosive runner (had a higher breakaway rate in 2024 than Ashton Jeanty), he could be the ideal back the Steelers look for should Harris not re-sign, or they fail to bring in a notable replacement in free agency.”
Each of the evaluations essentially was a second-round grade other than CBS Sports. This pick is not only a position of need, but he is a particularly good fit for Arthur Smith’s outside zone running scheme. He has the size to be an every down back and will be a good addition to the Steelers’ offensive backfield.
Based on the ratings above, this pick is a very good value one.
