in 83rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Iowa RB Caleb Johnson. Johnson had one of the most productive seasons in the history of the Iowa program despite the crime of anemia overall. The selection was announced by Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann.
The Steelers will select Iowa RB Caleb Johnson in the third round for the 83rd overall pick. #Steelers #nfl
– Steelers Depot
(@steelersdepot) April 26, 2025
Measured at 6,010 pounds and 224 pounds, Johnson ran a 40-yard dash in the NFL combine for 4.57 seconds. His overall athletic profile is not elite, but he has a good burst and maximizes his opportunity with patience and great contact balance.
He broke out in 2024 with 1,537 rushing yards and 21 rushing TDs on 240 carries and 21 rushing TDs with 22 receptions for 188 yards and two TDs. He leads the Big Ten in yards, rushes for a touchdown, hurrying for a touchdown Consensus National Selection.
Johnson took part in pre-draft visits and continued the strong trend of the Steelers drafting from a pool of visitors.
In one of the best RB draft classes for many years, Kaleb Johnson has been considered by many as one of the top five options. The Steelers used some small, fast back visits, but Johnson is a better fit compared to what the Steelers normally look for in a big-bodied back.
Our scouting report focused on his play strength, short yard abilities, patience and blocking skills, knocking him for his long speed and short achievements of success. Here is an excerpt from our report.
“Kaleb Johnson is a young talented back riding one season of high-end productions, but he has the full package when it comes to the features of the pass-catch feature, which also returns to the size, burst, strength, vision and functionality.
We gave him two rounds and compared him roughly to Melvin Gordon III.
He makes the ideal candidate to pair with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in the team’s running back room.
Check out the full scout report for Kaleb Johnson below.
