Kaleb Johnson NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for Pittsburgh Steelers RB

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson with the No. 83 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Kaleb Johnson's rushing success revolves around patience, vision and finishing power.

Johnson navigates the defensive front with a well-paced run style and approach. He presses the line of scrimmage and sifts through the front seven with quick and light footwork. He is an efficient runner with better fluidity and movement skills than most RBs with his frame.

Johnson is a swift and decisive runner in gap/man scheme concepts. He maneuvers well in tightly confined spaces. He combines vision, patience and nimble, active footwork to make efficient cuts to spring into the open field.

Kaleb Johnson Highlights

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Johnson is well-built and has the height and weight to handle an NFL workload. He is a volume running back who thrives with a high number of touches.

Johnson runs behind his pads, finishing with power and a forward lean. He runs with good contact balance downhill, breaking arm tackles for yards after contact. He runs with an explosive burst and reaches top speed with urgency. He should carve out double-digit 10-plus-yard runs in the NFL.

Johnson is a functional receiving option out of the backfield. He catches the ball with soft and reliable hands. He is a shallow and flat receiver who uses screens to get the ball to him in space.

Johnson has average speed. Once he reaches top speed, it caps quickly. He won't outrun pursuit angles in the NFL. Johnson lacks the twitch and suddenness for a sharp change of direction to be a one-cut runner. In the passing game, he does not run a robust or polished route tree to get creative with his passing usage.

In conclusion, Johnson is a good to adequate starting running back in a versatile offense scheme. He is more adept and suited for gap/man scheme runs, where he can attack downhill and maneuver through congestion. His functionality in the passing game makes him a good screen option to counter heavy-pressure defenses. Johnson is a lead-caliber running back who could routinely score double-digit rushing touchdowns in the NFL.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 225

HAND: 9⅝"

ARM: 33"

WINGSPAN: 78½"

40-YARD DASH: 4.57

POSITIVES

— Good combination of vision, patience, and toughness as a ball-carrier.

— Well-proportioned and sturdy muscular build.

— Explosive and urgent burst through the line of scrimmage.

— Running style and build make him an ideal short-yardage/red-zone back.

NEGATIVES

— Lacks the twitch and suddenness to be a highly effective one-cut runner.

— Average top speed. Reaches it quickly but lacks a third gear.

— Does not run a polished route tree out of the backfield.

— Hand placement and punch timing in pass protection.

NOTES

— Born Aug. 14, 2003

— 3-star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2024 First-Team All-Big Ten; Big Ten Running Back of the Year; ranks sixth in rushing in program history

— 2022 honorable mention All-Big Ten

GRADE: 7.7 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 39

POSITION RANK: RB3

PRO COMPARISON: DeMarco Murray

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson