Participant: RB Kaleb Johnson
Inventory Worth: Bought
Reasoning: The Steelers changed veteran RB Najee Harris with Kaleb Johnson, by way of the third spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft. Whereas he’ll compete for taking part in time with Jaylen Warren, he ought to be a big contributor instantly. Quite a lot of his recreation mirrors properly with OC Arthur Smith’s philosophy, and he has future starter potential.
If the Steelers knew they might draft Kaleb Johnson within the third spherical, would they’ve given Jaylen Warren a second-round tender? Now that we now have the current veteran transactions out of the best way, we are able to return to introducing the draft class.
Having tackled first-round decide Derrick Harmon already, we’re as much as Kaleb Johnson, the Steelers’ third-round operating again. With no second-round decide, they made him their second choice and prioritized the place. By most estimates, Johnson represented good worth. Projections had him going earlier within the draft, within the second spherical.
After addressing their highest precedence on their board within the first spherical, the Steelers went all in on operating again with their second decide. Clearly, the standard of the draft class helped drive that dialogue. However that additionally helped inform their resolution to maneuver on from Najee Harris and signal solely Kenneth Gainwell. They knew they might land someone like Johnson exterior of the primary spherical, and so they did.
The massive criticism with Kaleb Johnson is his 40-yard sprint time, however he clearly performs quicker than he exams. For his or her half, the Steelers described him as an explosive again. He isn’t going to idiot anybody into pondering he’s Bijan Robinson, however he can transfer sufficiently sufficient.
Extra importantly, no less than for the current, Johnson matches what the Steelers need to do within the operating recreation. Even perhaps higher than Jaylen Warren does, which raises an necessary query. Will we see the Steelers shift to Johnson over Warren in speeding conditions because the season progresses?
With the brand new league yr underway and the Steelers turning their roster over, it’s as soon as once more time to “take inventory”. It took some time, however we lastly noticed a few of that change the crew talked about after the season ended. Definitely, the transfer to commerce for WR DK Metcalf qualifies as a change, to not point out the accompanying contract.
There may be nonetheless an extended approach to go earlier than we all know what this Steelers crew goes to appear to be. The mud is settled on each free company and the 2025 NFL Draft. What different strikes would possibly the crew make, maybe surprising acquisitions or departures? In the event that they traded for one participant, they might actually commerce for one more, or commerce one away. It is a Steelers crew ravenous for postseason success, however how determined are they for a playoff win in 2025?
