The Shedeur Sanders (and Aaron Rodgers) waits continue. As owner Art Rooney II offered another optimistic stance on Rodgers’ eventual commitment, Pittsburgh again passed on Sanders. 
The team chose Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson at No. 83 overall. This is only the Steelers’ second pick of the draft, as the team had traded its second-rounder to the Seahawks in the D.K. Metcalf deal.
While the Steelers continuing to punt on their QB need is probably more newsworthy at this point, Johnson is poised to become a key player for the team (and wear a similar uniform). The ex-Hawkeye joins a Steelers squad that has two veterans (Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell) on one-year contracts.
The No. 3-ranked running back on Dane Brugler’s The Athletic big board, Johnson nevertheless lasted until the early third round. He represents the Steelers’ biggest RB commitment since their 2021 Najee Harris first-round pick. Warren is tied to a second-round RFA tender, while Gainwell signed for less than $2MM. As Harris moved to Los Angeles on a one-year deal, the Steelers have fully retooled in the backfield. It remains unknown who will be handing these RBs the ball, however.
Johnson led the Big Ten in rushing last season, averaging 6.4 yards per attempt and scoring 21 touchdowns on the ground. That helped him earn consensus All-American honors in 2024 and cement his status as one the most highly rated backs in a strong draft class. Despite a lengthy wait, Johnson could see plenty of playing time early in his NFL career. Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to loom regarding how the Steelers will proceed under center.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Credit where due…they haven’t reached or bought into hype and made two really good picks to address their two biggest needs.
If Milroe is there for them in the 4th, they should take him. That would be a reasonable swing for the fences at that point.
Agreed. Poor sheduer lol