It didn't take long for dozens of NFL veterans to find themselves in the hot seat. As the Pittsburgh Steelers' front office was busy dishing out high-fives for landing another impressive draft haul, there were players on the roster who were sweating bullets during the 2025 NFL Draft.
One in particular went from a safe bet to carve out a role on the roster to an instant afterthought.
After selecting Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon in Round 1, the Steelers had a long wait until their next selection with the No. 83 overall pick in the third round. When the pick finally rolled around, nobody expected Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kaleb Johnson to be on the board for Pittsburgh, and the front office quickly snatched him up.
Johnson slipped in the NFL Draft after posting a disappointing 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but his performance on the field suggests he plays much faster. Thanks to Johnson's remarkable size profile (6'1'', 224 pounds), outstanding ball security, and perfect wide zone fit, Johnson is expected to carve out a significant role from day one.
This is bad news for one running back in particular.
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell was instantly put on the hot seat with the Kaleb Johnson selection
Cordarrelle Patterson isn't making the team. But we already knew that he was going to be the odd man out. Based on the pre-draft interest the Pittsburgh Steelers expressed in the running back class, this team was always going to draft a running back. We just didn't know which one.
However, the Kaleb Johnson selection changes things. Johnson is a better running back than anyone the Steelers could have imagined they would be getting in Round 3, so he's going to have an instant impact on the roster. The early expectation is that Johnson will form a two-headed monster in the backfield with Jaylen Warren.
This is bad news for Kenneth Gainwell.
Before the NFL Draft, things were looking bright for Gainwell. The former Philadelphia Eagles running back made his way to the Steelers' roster during the free agency period, and it looked like he would have a chance to carve out a role beyond being a kick returner. But all of a sudden, Gainwell isn't even guaranteed to make the final roster.
The combination of Johnson and Warren in the backfield is going to dominante the team's total carries, leaving little opportunity for Gainwell to make his mark if he does stick around. Barring an injury, the Super Bowl-winning running back instantly becomes a distant third option in the backfield.
Now, Gainwell has to hope the Steelers make it through the summer without adding another running back who could be a threat to his job. The tides can shift quickly in the NFL, and Kenneth Gainwell is already on thin ice before we ever got to see him perform in a Steelers uniform.