The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a rocky offseason, marred by lingering quarterback uncertainty and minimal offensive upgrades. Though names like DK Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth may give fans hope, the most impactful addition to the offense may be a lesser-known name: rookie Kaleb Johnson.
Selected in the later rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson could prove to be the hidden gem Pittsburgh needs, especially with a system that fits his skill set perfectly
Why Kaleb Johnson Could Ignite Pittsburgh Steelers Offense
ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently highlighted Johnson as one of the NFL Draft’s “perfect fits,” citing his explosive skill set and compatibility with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s outside-zone scheme.
“Johnson is at his best in the outside zone game,” Bowen wrote for ESPN. “A foundational part of coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense. He presses the edges and is good at finding cutback lanes to get north-south with the ball. At 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds, he can also push through arm tackles for explosive plays.”
Johnson’s college résumé speaks for itself: 1,537 rushing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6.4 yards per carry in his final season at Iowa. He also recorded 21 runs of 20+ yards—second-most nationally behind Ashton Jeanty. That kind of explosiveness is rare, especially for a back of his size.
In Pittsburgh, Johnson is expected to split time with Jaylen Warren, but there’s already talk of him emerging as the early-down back. His role could expand even further in a passing game that uses screens and swing passes to get backs into space.
Given the current uncertainty at quarterback amid rumors of Aaron Rodgers being a potential trade target, the Steelers may rely heavily on their ground game. If that’s the case, Johnson could quickly become the focal point of the offense.
The vision of a thunder-and-lightning backfield with Johnson and Warren evokes comparisons to Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit, a pairing that gave the Lions one of the NFL’s most balanced and dangerous rushing attacks in 2024.
If Johnson delivers on his potential, he could not only stabilize the offense during a transitional period but also become a long-term building block. The Pittsburgh Steelers may not have made the flashiest offseason moves, but in Kaleb Johnson, they might’ve landed a future star.
What’s your thought on this? Could Kaleb Johnson prove to be one of the breakout Rookies for the 2025 NFL season? Let me know in the comments.
