With Josh Jacobs being placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List, the Green Bay Packers needed to make a move to add a running back. Before the news broke about Jacobs, the Packers made a low-risk, high-reward trade by sending a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Kaleb Johnson, the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Johnson's rookie season was an utter disappointment with the Steelers. The former Iowa Hawkeye rushed for 69 yards on 28 carries and appeared in just 10 games.
By making this move it gives the Packers a running back stable of MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and now Johnson. A room short on experience, yet booming with potential.
A former three-star recruit out of Ohio, Johnson finished his career at Iowa with 2,779
rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns. During his final season with the Hawkeyes, Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards and set the program record for rushing touchdowns in a season (21). He also added two receiving touchdowns.
Unlike Lloyd, Johnson doesn't have home run speed. He's not going to be the type of player to rip off explosive runs. He clocked a 4.57 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine and that speed matches the tape.
Johnson is a patient runner with good initial quickness. He has alert eyes and quick feet to press the hole and make decisive cuts. There will be no wasted movements when Johnson gets the ball. Every move has a purpose and at Iowa he did a good job of dragging defenders for extra yards.
As a pass catcher, Johnson was reliable at Iowa and Matt LaFleur shouldn't have to worry about taking him off the field on passing downs. He's alert in pass protection and is willing to meet oncoming defenders to protect the quarterback.
By sending a future sixth-round pick for Johnson, the Packers are taking a low-risk on a player who was a Top 100 pick a year ago. A change of scenery could do wonders for the former Hawkeye, who could be a natural fit in LaFleur's running scheme.
Aaron Jones was 5-9 and 208 pounds when he was coming out of UTEP. He also ran a 4.56 40-yard dash. When Lloyd was coming out of USC, he measured in at 5-8 and 220 pounds. He clocked a a 4.46 40-yard time. When Jamaal Williams came out of BYU, he was 6-0, 212 pounds and clocked a 4.59 40-yard time. Coming out of Iowa, Johnson was 6-1 and 224 pounds and clocked a 4-57 40-time.
On paper, the duo of Lloyd and Johnson has a chance to be every bit as good as the duo of Jones and Williams once was for the Packers.
If Lloyd can stay healthy and Johnson can overcome the mental side of the game, the Packers the pair of former Top 100 picks could form a nice one-two punch at running back to help take some of the pressure off Jordan Love and the passing game.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers trade for former All-American running back Kaleb Johnson
