Steelers' Arthur Smith Opens Up About Expectations For New Running Back Kaleb Johnson

The Pittsburgh Steelers added depth to their running back room with the 83rd pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Steelers selected Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson. Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith prefer a run-first offense, and the addition of Johnson at 83 while Shedeur Sanders was still on the board is the perfect example. Johnson played in three seasons while at Iowa, with his senior year being the best. During his final collegiate season, Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns, leading the Big Ten.

The Steelers' running back committee will now consist of Johnson, Jaylen Warren, and Kenneth Gainwell. Each of these players has their strengths that they will bring to the offense. They will be great complements to each other, as they all do something different. 

With the departure of Najee Harris, Johnson brings size to the Steelers' backfield. Johnson and Harris are comparable in size, with both being over 6'0" and 220 pounds. During his final season at Iowa, Johnson had 240 carries, so he is not afraid about carrying the workload. He will be able to step in from day one and pick up the carries Harris had in 2024. Now, it's no guarantee that Johnson will have 200-plus carries as a rookie, but he wouldn't have any problem doing so. 

Johnson isn't quite as patient a runner as Le'Veon Bell was, but he is patient. Johnson will allow his blockers to do their jobs and wait until a lane is open before trying to hit the hole. Johnson also isn't the quickest running back when getting in and out of cuts, but when he is in the open field, he is explosive and can make defenders miss. 

Warren and Johnson will complement each other well because they offset each other's shortcomings. Warren is a great pass catcher and pass blocker. Johnson is also a very good option out of the backfield as a receiver, but he lacks protection abilities. 

Warren will most likely take the bulk of third-down plays simply because he is the better pass protector of the group. Steelers Offensive Coordinator Smith was asked during the post-pick press conference how Warren and Johnson will pair together. 

"That just depends on where Kaleb is at, and one thing Jaylen does, which is extremely valuable, is how much you trust him in protection and those critical possession downs," Smith said. "Doesn't mean a young guy can't do it, but sometimes they can take something off his plate early on. Everything is new to him. The rookie years are long for these guys, and obviously, if something happens to Jaylen or somebody else, that means his role can expand."

Smith continued speaking a little bit about the team's newest ball-carrier. He specifically mentioned that there is a specific component of Johnson's game that will bring a ton of value to the offense.

"So, you know you've got 17 games, obviously we're hoping to play more than that, but there's a lot of carries to divvy up... We're really excited about where Jaylen is at coming into this spring, as well, and where Kaleb will hopefully add an explosive element to the offense."

Warren is coming off a season where he took the fewest number of carries between Harris and himself. Warren had 120 carries for 511 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Warren's number should double next season as he enters the 2025 campaign as the Steelers' top back. Johnson's number will probably be identical to that of Warren last season, but as Smith said, anything could happen that would allow Johnson more touches throughout the year. 

Warren and Johnson could make for an exciting one-two punch for the Steelers offensively. Warren and Johnson both bring explosiveness to the offense, and can open up the passing game for whoever the play-caller will be come the start of the season.

Steelers Looking To Be More Explosive Offensively

The Steelers' defense has been the heart and soul of this team, but with these offseason moves, Pittsburgh is looking to even that out on the offensive side of the ball. The acquisition of DK Metcalf and drafting Johnson in the third round should let Steelers fans know this team is intentional about being better offensively. 

The Steelers still need to address their situation at quarterback, but whoever they enter the 2025 season with will have a plethora of playmakers to get the ball to. What do you think of the Johnson pick? Let us know in the comments below!

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