This Steelers Draft Pick Viewed As Pittsburgh’s ‘Best Value’ Selection

The Steelers made the most of their lone Day 2 selection, an NFL writer believes.

Pittsburgh selected running back Kaleb Johnson with its third-round pick (No. 83 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Steelers didn’t own a second-rounder after they traded it for DK Metcalf, limiting Mike Tomlin’s team to two top-100 selections.

The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo credited Pittsburgh for taking the Iowa running back. DeFabo even labeled Johnson as Pittsburgh’s “best value pick” from draft weekend.

“Johnson was (Dane) Brugler’s No. 3 back and No. 44 player, so when he fell to the third round, Pittsburgh quickly grabbed the effective outside-zone runner, making for a fantastic schematic fit,” DeFabo wrote. “On a team that already has the 5-foot-8 Jaylen Warren and 5-foot-9 Kenneth Gainwell, Johnson rounds out the room with a bigger runner and addresses an important need for a team that ran the ball fourth most in the NFL last year. The perfect scheme fit makes him extra valuable at this spot.”

One might argue Pittsburgh’s sixth-round selection of quarterback Will Howard presented some value, as well. Multiple draft analysts like Howard’s fit in the Steel City, especially if those in Pittsburgh fail to agree with veteran Aaron Rodgers.