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Steelers Rookie Predicted for Breakout Season in 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Dible | Last updated May 22, 2025 8:59 AM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't land any of the top skill position players in the 2025 NFL draft, but they may have landed one of the highest value picks of the proceedings on Day 2.

Pittsburgh parted ways this offseason with running back Najee Harris, now a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, and replaced him with Kaleb Johnson out of the University of Iowa via the No. 83 overall pick.

Johnson was occasionally projected as a first-round selection early in the draft process after putting up 1,537 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns along with 22 receptions for 188 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns during his final campaign in the Big Ten.

The versatile 21-year-old back, who stands at 6-feet tall and weighs 225 pounds, is expected to prove himself among the most productive rushers coming out of one of the top running back classes in recent NFL history.

Mike Clay of ESPN predicted on Wednesday, May 21, that Johnson will rush for 947 yards, finishing third among all rookies in that statistical category, and add seven touchdowns on the ground (eight scores total).

"The 2025 rookie RB class is one of the best we've seen in a while; it includes 25 draft picks, the most for the position since 2019," Clay wrote. "Johnson will likely be the primary ball carrier in Pittsburgh."

Clay projected that Ashton Jeanty of the Las Vegas Raiders and Omarion Hampton of the Los Angeles Chargers will be the only two rookie running backs to out-gain Johnson during the upcoming season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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