ESPN’s latest 53-man roster projection for the Pittsburgh Steelers just dropped, and it’s a shocker: Kaleb Johnson, their third-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, is predicted to be cut from the squad. We’re talking about a guy the Steelers picked high, a player everyone had real hopes for, and now he might not even see a second season in the Steel City.
From “Bellcow Hope” to Roster Bubble
When Pittsburgh snagged Johnson out of the University of Iowa, where he was a prolific running back, the vision was clear. They were banking on him to make an immediate impact, to grow into that bellcow back who carries the load. That’s a big investment for a third-round pick, and it speaks volumes about what they saw in his potential. But now? ESPN’s prediction has the Steelers moving forward with Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, and Travis Homer as their three running backs. That leaves Johnson out in the cold, a truly disastrous outcome for a player they were really counting on just a year ago.
The Rookie Year Numbers Are Hard To Ignore
Honestly, Johnson’s rookie season didn’t scream “bellcow.” He played in 10 games, but the production wasn’t there. We’re talking 28 carries for just 69 yards. That’s a paltry 2.5 yards per carry, folks. He barely saw action in the passing game, targeted just twice and catching one for nine yards. To top it off, he had a costly kickoff return fumble that definitely stung Pittsburgh in a game. The scouting report wasn’t kind either: he “never looked like he had the burst to make plays.” He’s a big dude at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, but the explosive plays just weren’t there on the field.
Johnson is still super young, only 22 right now and turning 23 in August. So yeah, there are folks out there who will still see the raw potential in him. But if the Steelers are already pulling the plug on a third-round pick, it means his time there is over almost before it began. This could be a situation where he just needs a change of scenery to find his footing, but man, what a tough break for his NFL career hopes right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply