Steelers' New Weapon Kaleb Johnson Was Seriously Turning Heads At Rookie Minicamp

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of another bizarre and uncharacteristic offseason. As they haven't won a single playoff game in over eight years, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin are desperate for answers. The franchise seems set on looking to add their next franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft held in Pittsburgh, PA, but they've continued to make interesting moves on the offense in recent weeks. Despite the bleak circumstance at the quarterback position, the Steelers now have two more offensive weapons: DK Metcalf and Kaleb Johnson. 

The Steelers needed more talent on the offensive side of the football in 2025. Last season, the team's receiving group was their clear weakness, given that there weren't any consistent options behind George Pickens, who now isn't even on the roster. The fan base fears the Steelers will face the same exact issue in 2025, but with Metcalf at the top of the depth chart. 

Pittsburgh also was in need of an overall upgrade with the running backs. Najee Harris has also played his last season with the Steelers, which meant Jaylen Warren would need a backup, or another back that could potentially split the workload with him. It didn't end up working out between Harris and the Steelers due to the lack of explosion and production on offense. Arthur Smith is a huge advocate for an effective rushing offense, and Ray Fittipaldo, a Steelers insider for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, said Johnson looked like a back in rookie minicamp that is ready to go.

"At rookie minicamp last Friday, he was the first guy that stood out to me," Fittipaldo said on Wednesday morning. "I saw him going through drills, he was all rocked up. I'm like, 'Okay, give me the roster. Who's number 20?' And it was Kaleb Johnson. He looks every bit the part of an NFL football player."

The Steelers dove into the draft knowing their need of a running back. The 2025 draft class at the position was much deeper and filled with serious talent compared to other drafts, so how early or late they planned on selecting a running back was uncertain. They wound up landing Johnson late in the third to their surprise, and it may have been a huge steal. 

"There's a reason they went out and got Kaleb Johnson in the third round. They had him higher than a third-round pick. They were surprised when he was still there. So they're excited about him."

Johnson caught a lot of attention from Pittsburgh reporters at rookie minicamp, including Fittipaldo. Johnson was impressive both on the field and with his words during interviews. He has a great deal of confidence in himself and set some huge rookie season goals. 

Johnson and Warren could be gearing up for an explosive 2025 season under Smith's offense and behind an offensive line that should take big steps this season. 

Johnson had a big senior season with Iowa and was highly recognized for his ability to create big plays down the field. The Steelers were lacking in that aspect with Harris as the lead back over the last four seasons. Knowing the quarterback play likely won't be anything spectacular in 2025, the offense is going to have to be led by strong performances by the running backs. 

Steelers May Seriously Struggle On Offense Again In 2025 

Whether the starting quarterback for 2025 is Aaron Rodgers or Mason Rudolph, neither of them are seriously in a position to put up big numbers with the Steelers. The Steelers are currently relying on Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, and Robert Woods to be the top receiving targets behind Metcalf. Of course there's tight end Pat Freiermuth, but the uncertainty at both the quarterback and wide receiver positions does Pittsburgh a disservice. 

If Rodgers is the team's starting quarterback in 2025, then the Steelers absolutely need to add another receiver to have any shot of having a threatening offense. Dan Orlovsky recently said the Steelers have one of the most depressing offenses in the NFL.

What kind of rookie season do you think Johnson will have with the Steelers? What about how the rest of the 2025 offense will perform? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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