Kaleb Johnson had a rookie season to forget with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Iowa product might not have a chance to salvage his career with the team that drafted him. Selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson was supposed to be one of the better running backs in a class loaded with talent at the position. Joining a wide-open depth chart headlined by career backup Jaylen Warren and journeyman Kenneth Gainwell, the rookie had the opportunity to make an immediate impact as a Day 1 starter.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Despite the opportunity, Kaleb Johnson saw little playing time as a rookie and looked lost in his limited action. Appearing in 10 games without making a start, the running back finished the season with just 69 yards on 28 attempts (2.5 yards per attempt) and no touchdowns. He also had one of the biggest gaffes of the season when he misplayed a kick return and essentially gave the Seattle Seahawks a free touchdown.
Kaleb Johnson earned himself a spot in Mike Tomlin’s doghouse last year, and while the longtime Steelers coach isn’t around anymore, it doesn’t sound like he’s making a positive impression with the new staff. According to Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Johnson is “not assured” of a roster spot and could lose his job after just one season if he does not impress in the offseason.
Releasing a third-round pick after one season isn’t unheard of, but it certainly isn’t common. Perhaps all the scouts were wrong on Kaleb Johnson, but chances are there’s at least one team willing to surrender a conditional late-round pick for his services.
Steelers Could Trade Kaleb Johnson; 3 Suitors Emerge
New Orleans Saints
Nobody will trade for Kaleb Johnson and make him a starter, but he has the potential to be a low-risk, high-reward RB2. With this in mind, Johnson is a perfect fit for the New Orleans Saints. Alvin Kamara is slowing down, and the team spent big on Travis Etienne as a free agent. This backfield belongs to the former Jaguar now, which makes Kamara one of the most expensive backups in football. While he is a legend with the franchise, the Saints could easily move on from the expensive Kamara and replace him with a cost-effective RB2 like Johnson. New Orleans did a good job of digging itself out of salary cap hell last year, but it could still save plenty of money with this move.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have one of the worst running back rooms in the league, so they might as well take a shot on Kaleb Johnson. As of this posting, veteran David Montgomery and second-year running back Woody Marks are battling for the starting job. Marks did an adequate job as a rookie, but needs to make a serious leap to be a true three-down starter. Montgomery, meanwhile, is on the older side and looked like he was slowing down as Detroit’s backup last year. He probably can’t handle a full workload anymore, so Houston might as well bring in Johnson and hope a change of scenery can bring out the best in the Iowa product.
Baltimore Ravens
This would be a true sign that the Pittsburgh Steelers do not believe in Kaleb Johnson. The Baltimore Ravens have one of the game’s best running backs in Derrick Henry, but he is human (probably) and can’t possibly do this forever. This team needs to find someone with long-term potential, and Johnson could be an intriguing low-risk, medium-reward option. Intra-divisional trades are rare, but the Steelers could consider this move if the Ravens are making the highest – or only – offer.
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire – Imagn Images
