Why the Slide Series
This series was created a number of years ago in response to questions about why certain well-known prospects went unselected in NFL drafts. For these articles, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player and/or the reasons other teams passed on that prospect. The positive response to “Why Undrafted” and questions from readers about why prospects were drafted lower than the media’s expectations led us to create the parallel series “Why the Slide?”
Both series are back this year. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.
The Expectations
For a lot of the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson was expected to be an early-round pick. Johnson was one of the best running backs in college football in 2024 and was a devastating runner in the Big 10. In 2024, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry for 1,537 yards with 21 touchdowns. He has 22 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns to go along with zero fumbles. Some draft analysts were even projecting Johnson to be a late first-round pick at the end of 2024. However, the hype cooled during the draft process, and Johnson ended up sliding well into the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The ‘Why’
According to team sources, Johnson slipped for a couple of reasons. On the field, teams felt there was a lack of physicality with him as a runner. While Johnson is a big back, he does not run angry or go through defenders violently. There were also off-the-field concerns related to Johnson’s maturity.
The Pittsburgh Steelers ended Johnson’s slide, and that was a landing spot that made a lot of sense for him. I had mocked Johnson to the Steelers in the third round consistently, as it seemed like a good fit. The Steelers allowed Najee Harris to leave in free agency, and Johnson is a good scheme fit for Pittsburgh. It might take some time for Johnson to learn the playbook and become trusted to protect the quarterback in blitz protection, but from a talent perspective, he has a better skill set than veterans Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. Both of them could be good rotational receiving backs to rotate with Johnson as the featured runner, taking the bulk of the carries. While Johnson may be disappointed he slid, he is on the fast track to be a starter and has a great opportunity to establish himself as an effective pro player in Pittsburgh.
Fantasy Football Rankings - May 10
2026 NFL Mock Draft - May 6
NFL Power Rankings - March 28
NFL Picks - Feb. 9
