With the 83rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson. Johnson had one of the most productive seasons in Iowa program history despite an anemic offense overall. The selection was announced by Steelers’ Hall of Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann.
Measuring in at 6010 and 224 pounds, Johnson ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. His overall athletic profile isn’t elite, but he has good burst and maximizes his opportunities with patience and great contact balance.
He broke out in 2024 with 240 carries for 1,537 rushing yards and 21 rushing TDs with another 22 receptions for 188 yards and two TDs. He led the Big Ten in yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns on his way to a consensus All-American selection.
Johnson was in for a pre-draft visit, continuing a strong trend of the Steelers drafting from their pool of visitors.
In one of the best RB draft classes in years, Kaleb Johnson has been viewed by many as one of the top five options. While the Steelers used visits on several smaller, speedier backs, Johnson is a better fit compared to what the Steelers usually look for in big-bodied backs.
Our scouting report noted his play strength, short-yardage ability, patience, and blocking skills while also knocking him for his long speed and a shorter track record of success. Here’s an excerpt from our report.
“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.”
We gave him a second-round grade and loosely compared him to Melvin Gordon III.
He makes an ideal candidate to pair with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell with a diverse set of skills in the team’s running back room.
Check out our full scouting report on Kaleb Johnson below.
