"Unknown": Future Of Steelers' Promising 2025 Draft Pick In Doubt With Mike McCarthy's Arrival

There will be plenty of decisions that new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike McCarthy, will have to make in the coming weeks and months. When it comes to the roster, he will have help from the two top front office members in Omar Khan and Andy Weidl. It is a good thing that key executives remained in place, because the fresh staff can lean on those individuals to get some pivotal information on returning players. It won't come as a shock if the depth chart looks very different once the 2026 regular season rolls around, specifically because of the surprising regime change.

In the NFL, a lot of different decisions can come off as surprises when a new head coach comes to any given city. McCarthy could have a certain vision that doesn't include multiple players, regardless of their contract status. Shocking cuts or trades could be on the table if McCarthy, Khan and Weidl all agree that the organization can live without specific contributors.

In a mailbag posted to social media, Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly was asked several questions from fans curious about his opinion on and knowledge of several different topics. Someone was wondering if Kaleb Johnson may or may not fit into the franchise's future plans. Unfortunately for the 2025 third-round selection, his status is a bit murky, even if he's just entering year two.

"They better hope, but that is unknown right now," Kaboly wrote. "[Mike] Tomlin and his staff drafted him for a specific reason. Maybe McCarthy and his staff don’t view Johnson through the same lens? It sure would be a step back if he doesn’t live up to his draft status because that would be then Roman Wilson and Johnson in back-to-back years. That sets teams back."

Johnson never really got a chance during his rookie campaign. He had an absolutely unacceptable gaffe against the Seattle Seahawks back in September, and never really earned the trust back from the coaching staff.

That shouldn't directly affect the rest of his career, but Kenneth Gainwell's emergence gave him no chance to prove himself, and if Gainwell is re-signed, Johnson could certainly be looked at as expendable.

It will get even more interesting for Johnson if Pittsburgh drafts a running back. There are a lot of different scenarios that may suggest McCarthy doesn't see the ball carrier fitting in long-term. It would be very quick of the franchise to give up on him, but it is a new head coach in town, which means absolutely anything could take place throughout the roster construction process.

If Gainwell signs elsewhere and the Steelers don't invest in the position high in the 2026 NFL Draft, then it may paint a much clearer picture for Johnson. It would be good to see him receive an opportunity, but it is unknown if that will occur. There's also no way to tell if he was selected in 2025 because Tomlin came to like him, or Khan and/or Weidl did. That could also be very relevant soon enough.

Steelers Do Need More Explosive Running Plays Consistently

Gainwell and Jaylen Warren were a great duo in 2025, and fans are hoping that the team does everything it can to make sure that can be continued moving forward. However, if it is not, the running back position will be something to keep an eye on. Warren is under contract, but that is when Johnson could receive more opportunity; or, the new regime could decide there is a better player to serve as the second ball carrier on the depth chart.

Do you think that the Steelers are going to move on from Johnson? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation