{"id":53031,"date":"2025-06-03T02:47:45","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T02:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=53031"},"modified":"2025-06-03T02:47:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T02:47:45","slug":"steelers-rb-kaleb-johnson-labeled-rookie-to-watch-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=53031","title":{"rendered":"Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson Labeled ‘Rookie to Watch’ in 2025.."},"content":{"rendered":"
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson with the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.<\/div>\n
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The\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0lost starting running back Najee Harris in free agency to the\u00a0Los Angeles Chargers, so they went into the 2025\u00a0NFL Draft\u00a0looking to fill the hole that he left behind.<\/p>\n

And that is exactly what they ended up doing.<\/p>\n

In a recent article by\u00a0PFF, they list some key players in every team’s starting lineup. For the Steelers, they label former Iowa running back and 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson as a “rookie to watch”.<\/p>\n

“The third-round pick enjoyed a massive breakout at Iowa in 2024, placing fifth in the nation with 1,060 yards after contact,” PFF wrote. “And while Pittsburgh struggled to protect the\u00a0quarterback\u00a0last year, the team managed to rank ninth in PFF run-blocking grade. If\u00a0Aaron Rodgers\u00a0doesn\u2019t sign with the Steelers, Johnson should receive a ton of touches in his rookie year.”<\/p>\n

Johnson is currently listed as the team’s backup running back, but he could easily overtake Jaylen Warren if he makes the most of the opportunities that he is given.<\/p>\n

In his final season with the Hawkeyes, the 21-year-old running back racked up 1,537 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, both of which led the\u00a0Big Ten\u00a0Conference. He was also able to show his versatility a bit with just under 200 yards and a couple of touchdowns through the air.<\/p>\n

If he can make the most of the snaps he is given early in his rookie season, he can prove that the Steelers got a steal in the third round of the draft.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson with the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0lost starting running back Najee Harris in free agency… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":53032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nSteelers RB Kaleb Johnson Labeled 'Rookie to Watch' in 2025.. - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=53031\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson Labeled 'Rookie to Watch' in 2025.. - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson with the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. 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