Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers had several weaknesses they needed to address. Through the first three rounds, they’ve done a good job of doing that. In Round 1, they took Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon. In the third round, they selected running back Kaleb Johnson. While they desperately need a quarterback, those two players make their team better. Steve Palazzolo of The 33rd Team also had high praise for Johnson.
“His style reminded me of Joe Mixon,” Palazzolo said during his podcast Check the Mic’s livestream of Day 2 of the draft. “The smooth, ‘Hey, you just picked up 14 [yards].’ He’s probably a better tackle-breaker than Mixon. But just the smooth way that he can pick up 10, pick up 14, and just put his foot in the ground and get where he needed to go.”
Mixon has been in the NFL since 2017, usually being one of the league’s best backs. In eight seasons, he’s posted five thousand-yard seasons. He’s also made two Pro Bowls. Steelers fans will likely be familiar with Mixon from his time with the Cincinnati Bengals. Last year, he got traded to the Houston Texans but remained a solid player.
Johnson and Mixon are not the same player. That’s not the point Palazzolo is making. However, some aspects of Johnson’s game could remind someone of Mixon. That smoothness is a good example. Johnson is a bigger running back, but he’s got a good burst in his game.
Arthur Smith stated that he believes Johnson will make the Steelers’ offense more explosive. Mixon has done that with both the Bengals and Texans. It isn’t hard to find him ripping off a huge run. Even last year, his longest run was almost 60 yards.
That kind of weapon would do wonders for the Steelers’ offense. They’ve been slow starters for years. Perhaps Johnson could inject some life into them if that continues to be an issue. That was one thing Najee Harris lacked.
Johnson has garnered a lot of comparisons to some great NFL running backs. However, it’s important to temper expectations. Johnson hasn’t taken a snap in the NFL yet. While he profiles as a good player, what he actually does on an NFL field will paint a fuller picture. He was great last year at Iowa, though. If he can bring that same attitude to the NFL, hopefully, he’ll be as good as Mixon is one day.
