Kaleb Johnson: 2025 Player Profile

Emily Nyberg

Kaleb Johnson

Age: 21

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 224

Career Stats: 35 G/508 ATT/3,019 Yds/29 Rec/32 TD

24' Stats: 12 G / 240 ATT / 1,725 yds / 22 Rec / 23 TD

College YPC: 6.4 YPC

College Dominator Score: 48.9%

Athleticism Score: N/A (-)

All Time Athleticism Rank (N/A)

Combine Scores:

40 Time (4.57-19th) Broad Jump (N/A)

NFL Next Gen Grade: 76 (Good)

FITTING THE NFL MOLD

Ideally, a RBs height will be between 5'9" and 6'1" and he will weigh somewhere between 200 and 230 lbs. Johnson is pushing the mold about as far as he can as he is about as tall as successful RBs get and is on the heavy end as well. The two greatest predictors of NFL success for RBs in the combine are the 40 Yard Dash and the Broad Jump. These test a players speed as well as their lower body explosiveness. Johnson did not test well finishing 19th in the 40 and didn't participate in the broad jump raising some concerns about his athleticism. NFL.com rates his athleticism score as a 64 which is 28th among this year's RB class. His speed score puts him in the 73rd percentile further showing concerns.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

Johnson will be coming into the NFL fresh as he had just 537 touches in his college career and only 262 last year. NFL teams raise red flags when a player has 700 or more carries in college or 300+ carries in a season. He has an elite YPC (6.4) showing that the lack of usage was not due to lack of talent. Johnson also shows good ball security as he had no fumbles in the 2024 season.

WATCHING THE TAPE

   Johnson looks so much faster in game than he tested at the combine. He is twitchy and able to juke and spin his way around defenders. He bends his way around defenders as well staying just out of arms reach. It looks like he greases himself prior to games the way defenders slip off of him. He is very hard to take down in empty space as he is able to start and stop on a dime and knows how to use angles to put defenders at a disadvantageous position. His testing concerns are valid, but I'm just not seeing these issues when I watch his tape.

THE LANDING SPOT

   I hope Johnson kept his socks, because he is staying in the black and yellow after being drafted to Pittsburgh. He should instantly slot in as the 1B to Warren to start the season. Warren is a smaller back who isn't built to be a workhorse, and Pitt doesn't want him to be one. Harris saw 50% of the snaps and Warren saw 45% so we can expect to see a pretty even split again this year.

WHERE TO DRAFT HIM

   In redraft leagues, Johnson should be drafted somewhere in the round 5 to round 8 range. He's a flex RB who has the potential to be an RB 2 by the end of the season. In dynasty rookie drafts, Johnson is a later round 1 pick.

Player Comp

   Arian Foster