Throughout the primary two days of the 2025 NFL Draft, ESPN’s longtime NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has been incredulous on the shocking fall of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
That fall continued Friday evening as Sanders fell out of the second and third rounds, resulting in him being obtainable to open the day on Saturday in Inexperienced Bay. With that fall for Sanders, the Pittsburgh Steelers handed on the Colorado star at No. 83 total, as an alternative going with Iowa working again Kaleb Johnson, including a big play-maker to the backfield for the Black and Gold.
Johnson is a participant that Kiper believes shall be good within the Steelers’ offense below coordinator Arthur Smith, however in his post-Day 2 recap for ESPN.com, Kiper referred to as it a dangerous decide as a result of the Steelers handed on his No. 1 quarterback for the second time.
“Kaleb Johnson goes to be actually good within the Steelers’ offense, and No. 83 was a great spot to get him. Or not less than it might have been if the Steelers already had a quarterback. Pittsburgh should really feel actually assured that it’s going to signal Aaron Rodgers,” Kiper writes concerning the collection of Johnson and why he’s questioning it. “As a result of if that doesn’t occur, I don’t see this workforce being aggressive within the AFC North. And it makes me query going out and getting DK Metcalf for a premium decide a little bit bit.
“The Steelers at the moment don’t have a short- or long-term resolution below middle, so this appears dangerous at finest.”
Sure, the Steelers don’t have a short- or long-term resolution at quarterback on the roster proper now that appears totally viable for the media to simply accept, contemplating Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the one quarterbacks on the roster.
However workforce president and proprietor Artwork Rooney II acknowledged Friday night on Steeler Nation Radio that he believes they might get phrase from 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers quickly, and that in the event that they add a quarterback within the draft they envision one that may sit and develop in 2025 with out having to play.
Sanders doesn’t precisely sound just like the QB3 materials this season behind most probably Rodgers and Rudolph.
So, the Steelers caught to their board and added a working again in Johnson who suits Smith’s scheme fairly nicely and is coming off of a dominant 2024 season.
Johnson flourished in a zone scheme at Iowa. He’s one other huge, bodily working again who suits nicely into the Steelers’ zone dashing assault below Smith. Johnson was excellent in 2024, dashing for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries. He additionally caught 22 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns, displaying he can do all of it.
Even when the Steelers don’t have a quarterback proper now that appeases Kiper, there’s nothing dangerous in regards to the Johnson decide. He was largely thought-about a second-round expertise, with many putting him inside their high 50. The Steelers obtained him close to the tip of the third spherical and wanted a real No. 1 working again after shedding Najee Harris.
It’s an ideal match between workforce and participant and may pay dividends instantly.
