Losing Isiah Pacheco to an injury for more than a month revealed that the Kansas City Chiefs need to add depth to their running back room. The 2025 NFL draft features several prominent running backs who could come off the board as early as the second round.
Iowa Hawkeyes standout Kaleb Johnson is a thickly built 225-pound running back with superb vision and contact balance. He uses precise footwork to make quick decisions and pick the right gaps. Johnson patiently presses close to the line of scrimmage while the run lane develops before fearlessly accelerating into the hole.
Johnson makes the most of his size by breaking through arm tackles, churning his legs through contact, and finishing plays falling forward. He makes defenders miss in open space with stiff arms, spin moves, and head and shoulder fakes. Johnson makes surprisingly sharp cuts and side steps for a running back with his size.
Kaleb Johnson is the man #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/bw1fCiK7dJ
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) September 21, 2024
Johnson lacks the elite speed to erase pursuit, but analysts underrate his second-level burst. He challenges linebackers with his mid-play acceleration and uses his excellent open-field vision to set up blockers or find cutback opportunities.
Johnson’s agility puts a cap on his creativity. He struggles to make defenders miss in tight spaces and lacks the lateral explosiveness for sudden jump cuts. Johnson keeps his quarterback clean in pass protection but doesn’t have much experience running routes.
