PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It may be the 2025 impact player you haven’t heard of that visited Steelers headquarters on Thursday. It’s a running back from Iowa, who could be a second-rounder and a longshot to be around at pick 83.
Kaleb Johnson was fourth among Power Four running backs in 2024 with 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns (Iowa single-season record) for a team that doesn’t score a lot of points. His Hawkeyes team was 72nd in FBS is scoring last year, but that was up from 132nd (or second-to-last in FBS) in 2023. A lot of that thanks to Johnson who ran for nearly 11-hundred yards and 18 touchdowns more in 2024 than he did in 2023.
He has more size than what the Steelers have in their backfield right now. Johnson is 6’1”, 224 pounds and named an All-American along with being the Big Ten Running Back of the Year. There are also some notes to explore from his senior season:
· showed explosion with a 75-yard run and a 72-yard reception (Iowa’s longest pass play of the season)
· 21 rushes of 20-plus yards and 6 of 40-plus yards
· 9 touchdown runs of 25-plus yards
· Scored at least one touchdown in each of his last 12 games
· Returned kicks in his first two seasons averaging 16.3 yards per return
He ran a 4.57 at the NFL Combine, which is in the bottom third. Among his weaknesses, according to NFL.com, is lateral agility and third-down protection, but explosive, decisive carries with active feet are among the positives.
In NFL.com Chad Reuter’s initial three-round mock draft, Johnson went to the Bears at pick 72 and then in the updated version to the Browns at pick 67, same result for the Walter Football mock draft. CBS Sports Chris Trapasso has Johnson to the Bears at pick 39 of the second round. Pro Football Focus to the Chargers at pick 57 and another mock to New England with pick 38.
After the 21st overall selection, the Steelers currently don’t draft again, because of moving a second-rounder to Seattle for receiver DK Metcalf, until pick 83.
Is Johnson a reach in the first round? Find a mock draft with Johnson in the first 32 picks, it’s nearly impossible. But if you are waiting for the Iowa star late in the third round, he may not be around.
Along with Johnson, Texas receiver Matthew Golden, Florida State corner Azareye’h Thomas and Pitt tight end Gavin Bartholomew (local, doesn’t count against max number of 30 players allowed) made visits Thursday.