When Kaleb Johnson slipped to the 83rd overall pick in the third round of the NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers fans had a reason to celebrate. Johnson's upright rushing style and wide zone fit made him a less-than-ideal fit for every team, but the combination of his frame and film from the 2024 season makes for some fascinating NFL player comparisons.
At 6'1'' and 224 pounds, Johnson has prototype size to carry the load as a bell cow back, and his smooth running style and ability to shed arm tackles should get fans excited. When you combine this with the fact that the 21-year-old ran for over 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2024, leading the Big Ten in both categories, you have an intriguing running back.
Johnson's biggest pre-draft knock was his 4.57 timed speed, but if you can get past his poor 40 time, you can see the potential. Based on size, athletic traits, scheme fit, and play style, here are my high-end, low-end, and most likely NFL player comparisons for Kaleb Johnon.
NFL player comparisons for Pittsburgh Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson
Low-end NFL comp: Tyler Allgeier
Johnson's floor is relatively high. At the very least, he's a big running back who knows where to go with the football and can get what's blocked for him. If he falls short of meeting expectations with the Steelers, he could be something similar to Arthur Smith's former running back in Atlanta, Tyler Allgeier.
Allgeier is a wide-zone runner who stands at 5'11'' and 224 pounds. The BYU product ran a 4.60 at the 2022 NFL Combine and wound up being selected by the Falcons in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. But when given a big opportunity as a rookie, Allgeier took advantage of respectable blocking en route to 1,035 rushing yards during his rookie season.
Allgeier isn't a needle-mover, and he's more of a good scheme fit than an irreplaceable asset for his team. After his rookie season, he became a second-string running back to Bijan Robinson in Atlanta. At worst, the Steelers could determine that Johnson is just an average back and that he's best in a committee approach.
High-end NFL comp: Todd Gurley
I know this comp feels high, considering the reputation and production Todd Gurley once had, but this was the first player that came to my mind when I was grinding Kaleb Johnson's film during the pre-draft process.
Gurley, a Georgia product, had nearly identical size entering the NFL (6'1'', 222 pounds), and was tailor-made for a wide zone offense. Gurley was also a bit of an upright runner and, though he didn't due any testing during the pre-draft process because of an injury, NFL Draft Scout had his hand time at a 4.52 40-yard dash (which is just 0.05 faster than Johnson).
It's highly unlikely that Johnson wins Offensive Rookie of the Year or earns two First-Team All-Pro honors, but having a pair of seasons with over 1,200 rushing yards and at least 13 touchdowns isn't impossible. Gurley only had average efficiency (4.2 yards per carry and a 46.5 percent success rate) during his NFL career.
If everything goes swimmingly for Johnson, he could show shades of Todd Gurley in the NFL. Two other high-end player comps based on size, play style, scheme, and athletic profile are Larry Johnson and Arian Foster. Again, he's unlikely to hit this ceiling, but these players are worth mentioning.
Most likely NFL comp: Joe Mixon
My most likely NFL player comp for Kaleb Johnson will be deemed as too high for some, but I'm going with Joe Mixon. At 6'0 3/4'' and 228 pounds, Mixon fit the profile of a workhorse back, but he tested as a below-average athlete and didn't wow anyone with his speed.
Mixon is known for his ability as a wide zone runner, and his running style, in many ways, matches what we see from Johnson, though Mixon is a more proven receiver from the backfield.
Mixon has found excellent production as a starting running back in the NFL and has even earned a pair of Pro Bowl honors, but with a career average of just over four yards per carry and a modest success rate, it's a reasonable expectation that Johnson could match his efficiency in the NFL.
Mixon has always been considered a good (but not elite) starting running back, and Johnson could follow in his footsteps by being a long-time bell cow back in the AFC North.