The Pittsburgh Steelers added another piece to their running back room in Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson with the No. 83 overall pick Friday night, and Johnson is already excited to team up with Jaylen Warren.
“I feel like, just in general, just the relationship with the players and, just overall, learning from Coach [Eddie] Faulkner, Jaylen Warren. Me and Jaylen Warren, we are going to be very good together. You know, I can’t wait to work. And I’m just ready to work. I’m excited right now,” Johnson told reporters during a conference call via transcript provided by the team.
Johnson has the same size and downhill running style as Najee Harris, but he was more explosive in college. He played in an Iowa offense whose run scheme is similar to Arthur Smith’s and as an impressive zone runner, Johnson should be able to make an immediate impact with the Steelers.
Along with free agent addition Kenneth Gainwell, the Steelers now have three very capable running backs who play off each other well. For the Steelers, Warren is also entering the last year of his contract, so selecting Johnson gives the team some insurance if Warren leaves in free agency after 2025. But the two of them complement each other well, as Johnson provides a size element that Warren doesn’t have, while Warren is better as a pass blocker and receiver.
Arthur Smith praised Johnson’s explosiveness and said it’s an area where the Steelers want to improve. Warren has shown the ability to provide some chunk runs, and he has Pittsburgh’s longest run since 2021 with a 74-yard touchdown scamper in 2023. Having two running backs who can provide long runs and provide some home run ability will be important for Pittsburgh’s offense to become more explosive, and the two should thrive together.
Kaleb Johnson is the ideal running back to add to Pittsburgh’s backfield with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, and he’ll be able to learn a lot from the two of them. All three will play a role for the Steelers this season, and adding Johnson immediately upgrades Pittsburgh’s backfield. He and Warren have the potential to be a really solid duo for what the Steelers want to do.
