When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kaleb Johnson with the 83rd overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, fans were ecstatic. The Iowa Hawkeyes star was the leading rusher in the Big Ten in 2024 and profiled as a workhorse back in the NFL. But Johnson just revealed a flaw in his game that could cost him early snaps.
Johnson spoke to the media during rookie minicamp on Friday, where he laid out his goals for the 2025 season. Though he has Offensive Rookie of the Year aspirations on his mind, Johnson wasted no time in addressing his weakest area that requires the most improvement.
“Pass blocking, that’s my main thing, Johnson told the media. "That’s what I want to work on. I’m going to work on it every day. After practice, just going over there with the bag right there and hitting it with Coach Faulkner. Just learning, and learning from Warren, too, because he’s one of the best dudes in the league right now. I told him, let’s do it. Let’s work after every practice and do it. He’s with it, and I’m down to go,” Johnson said.
The good news is that Johnson doesn't lack the frame, power, or motivation to get better in this area. What he lacks is experience. In Iowa's run-heavy offense, Johnson was seldom asked to protect the quarterback. Instead, his focus was on carving up defenses with explosive plays that helped lead to 1,500 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.
Kaleb Johnson's biggest flaw is something the Pittsburgh Steelers are guaranteed to fix
Kaleb Johnson spoke highly of Pittsburgh Steelers running back coach Eddie Faulkner. Faulkner and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith know the importance of keeping the quarterback upright, and it will be Johnson's job to do just that or risk losing snaps to Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell early in his career.
Warren is a compact running back at 5'8'' and 215 pounds, but he packs a pop in pass protection that can routinely dislodge free rushers off their feet. Combine this with his impressive receiving ability, and you have one of the better third-down backs in the NFL.
While Johnson didn't come out and say he intends to supplant Warren (nor did we expect him to), we can assume this is the goal for the rookie. At 6'1'' and 224 pounds, Johnson has an ideal frame for a three-down running back at the NFL level, and his inadequate pass protection may be the only thing holding him back from being the lead back in Pittsburgh.
Thankfully, this can (and will) be corrected with technique, coaching, and repetition. Once Johnson figures out his assignment as a situational pass protector from the backfield, there will be nothing keeping him off the field. We can all appreciate the self-awareness from Kaleb Johnson while still being excited about what the Pittsburgh Steelers running back will offer this team in 2025 and beyond.