Summary

Kaleb Johnson was selected in the 3rd Round (#83 Overall) of the 2025 Draft. Johnson is a highly productive college running back with strong statistical credentials, speed, vision and versatility. His strengths make him an intriguing young asset. His principal challenges lie in the transition to the NFL: earning touch volume, adjusting to faster/stronger defenders, improving contact productivity, and eliminating situational mistakes. In the right environment and with steady development, he has the tools to be a significant contributor; if his adaptation is slower, he may settle into a secondary role.

Strengths

• Production & big‑play ability: In 2024, Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry at Iowa. He has shown the ability to break long runs (his long in college of 75 yards) and create big momentum plays. Hawkeyes Athletics

• Vision, patience & burst in space: Johnson has shown good patience in the backfield, seeing lanes develop, then hitting the gap with explosiveness. He also contributed as a receiver: in 2024 he had 22 receptions for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns, demonstrating versatility. Hawkeyes Athletics

• Versatility & return experience: At Iowa, he also had experience returning kickoffs (led the team in 2022 with 13 returns for 325 yards) which shows his value beyond just the standard running back role. Hawkeyes Athletics

Weaknesses

• NFL transition & production lag early on: As a rookie with the Steelers, Johnson’s usage and production have been limited so far: e.g., 17 carries for 43 yards in first six games (average ~2.5 yards per carry). Pittsburgh Steelers

• Early errors: A major special teams error (a kickoff mis‑play) in Week 2 led to a touchdown for the opponent and raised concerns about in‑game awareness and NFL situational adjustment. SI

• Pressures of being behind established backs / role clarity: With more experienced backs ahead of him on the depth chart, Johnson may have to earn his touches rather than stepping in immediately as a feature back. His role in special teams and as a returner has been temporarily curtailed following the error, which reduces one avenue of early contribution. SI

• Strength / contact finish & inside power runs: While his college production was excellent, one concern is how he translates his game to the NFL’s more physical defenses: finishing runs through contact, breaking tackles consistently, and navigating inside power lanes. Some of his early NFL carries have not produced big gains, which may indicate he’s still adjusting to line‑of‑scrimmage speed and defensive strength.

Fit & Outlook

Johnson projects as a high‑potential young running back who could become a meaningful contributor if he continues developing. His best path likely includes starting as a rotational back or complementary piece, while continuing to refine his skills, build trust, and increase workload. Johnson will be used in a variety of roles: outside zone runs, receiving situations, perhaps gadget or return‑type plays (if special teams ‑‑ regained). If he develops his power, contact balance, blitz pick‑up, and maintains his explosiveness, he has the upside to grow into a more featured role. However, given the current cap on touches and early production, his near‑term ceiling may be somewhat limited until he fully adapts. He’ll need to demonstrate consistency, sound situational awareness (especially on special teams), and physicality at the line of scrimmage to elevate his role.