For the second time in as many days, the Pittsburgh Steelers have traded away a former high draft pick. One day after sending offensive tackle Broderick Jones packing his bags for Dallas, the Steelers have traded running back Kaleb Jonson to the Green Bay Packers for a measly 2028 sixth-round pick.
After a disappointing rookie season, Johnson really needed to impress this summer with the Steelers. Sadly, between training camp and the preseason, Johnson did nothing to catch the eye of the coaching staff. Now, less than a year and a half after hearing his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson finds himself on a new team.
Fans will want to blame former head coach Mike Tomlin and his previous staff for not giving Johnson a big enough opportunity as a rookie or for failing to put him in situations to succeed. And, obviously, Johnson didn't live up to his hefty third-round billing.
But the only person we should be blaming right now is general manger Omar Khan.
Pittsburgh Steelers GM deserves blame (not praise) for Kaleb Johnson trade
As a rookie last year, Johnson carried the ball 28 times for just 69 yards (2.5 yards per carry). And in ten games, he pitched in just one reception for nine yards. As a return specialist, Johnson was equally ineffective—returning eight kicks for 190 yards (23.8 yards per kick return). He also had a costly special teams mistake early in his rookie season that resulted in a touchdown for his opposing team.
While Johnson isn't void of blame, the person responsible for the Johnson draft pick has to take accountability.
Despite the lack of a second-round pick because of the DK Metcalf trade, Khan used a valuable third-round selection on a scheme-specific wide-zone running back who lacked top-end speed, didn't have receiving chops, and struggled as a blocker.
Essentially, Khan spent his second selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on a one-dimensional, one-speed running back who, in college, relied solely on explosive plays to make him effective. We had doubts from the beginning that this would translate to the NFL stage... and our doubts proved justified.
Johnson ran a 4.57 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine, and there were lingering questions about his long speed. After just one season in the NFL, Johnson showed that he lacks the speed and acceleration at the pro level that made him an effective runner in college.
While some Steelers fans praised Khan for getting anything out of a Kaleb Johnson trade, we can't be so quick to forget that Khan is the one who spent three times the draft value to acquire him with a third-round selection just a year ago.
An 83rd overall pick is a player who should stick around the roster and earn a starting role by year two or three, at the latest. And sometimes, third-round selections become pivotal pieces of the roster (like Alex Highsmith).
Johnson's skill set didn't translate well to the NFL, but he's the same player he was at Iowa. We need to blame the general manager, who missed on the talent evaluation and pigeonholed himself into selecting a linear running back without a second gear.
Omar Khan messed up with the Kaleb Johnson selection, and he needs to start answering for some of the bad early-round draft picks in just his first four draft classes.
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