The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason has left a lot to be desired, especially given colossal uncertainty at quarterback and few upgrades on offense.
While the Steelers might be hoping that Aaron Rodgers makes his way to Pittsburgh and that DK Metcalf and Pat Freirmuth represent enough firepower in the passing game, it might be running back Jaylen Warren’s running mate who could make the biggest impact on offense.
Why Kaleb Johnson Could Ignite Pittsburgh Steelers Offense
ESPN’s Matt Bowen put together a list of the “perfect fits” for the incoming rookies across every round of the NFL Draft, including running back Kaleb Johnson landing in the Steelers’ backfield.
“Johnson is at his best in the outside zone game,” Bowen writes 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 had 21 rushes of 20 or more yards in 2024, which was the second most nationally behind Ashton Jeanty. He’ll share the backfield with Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh, but he could emerge as the early-down runner. In the pass game, Johnson will see targets on screens and swings.”
At six feet and 225 pounds, the former Iowa standout rushed for 1,537 yards with 21 touchdowns while averaging a whopping 6.4 yards per carry.
There’s a legitimate possibility that pairing Johnson’s explosiveness, in a zone-based system, with Warren could build out a duo that could be as electrifying as Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit.
Perhaps, as the Steelers navigate an uncertain quarterback situation, Johnson could become not just the focal point of the offense in 2025 but a building block for the offense for years to come.
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