Could Johnson share the backfield with Tyrone Tracy?
The New York Giants might not need a running back after the emergence of Tyrone Tracy in 2024. However, the running back class in the 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be as stacked as the 2024 wide receiver class.
But where wide receiver carries high value in the draft, partially due to high contracts in free agency, running back value is still depressed despite a resurgence on the field. It will be fascinating to see how the NFL regards runners in this year’s draft.
Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson would be the top back in almost any other class following a dominant junior season. But the depth of talent this year could drive Johnson down draft boards a bit, though he’s still unlikely to make it out of the third round.
Could he be the best player available when the Giants pick on Day 2, and perhaps join Tyrone Tracy in the backfield?
Prospect: Kaleb Johnson (2)
Games Watched: vs. Iowa State (2023), vs. Wisconsin (2023), vs. Iowa State (2024), vs. Ohio State (2024)
Red Flags: Ankle (2023)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot (estimated)
Weight: 225 pounds (estimated)
Strengths
Best traits
- Vision
- Play strength
- Downhill running
- Patience
- Tempo control
Johnson is a good-sized and athletic running back with great vision and feel behind the line of scrimmage.
Johnson is a one-cut downhill runner who understands his blocking schemes and does a great job of setting up and following his blockers. He runs with great tempo behind the line of scrimmage and does a fantastic job of altering his pace and pathing to manipulate defenders. Johnson’s vision allows him to track and anticipate first and second level defenders, and he has very good spatial awareness to get skinny and just avoid being tackled.
He has a very smooth transmission, easily shifting gears and altering his speed throughout his run. Johnson is very good at being slow to the hole, allowing his blocks to develop, then planting a foot and exploding through the hole. He uses similar alterations in his speed or stride length and frequency to force poor angles from defenders. And while he isn’t a true “burner” in the open field, Johnson has access to a second or third gear to accelerate and pick up chunk yardage at the second and third levels.
He has enough play strength and competitive toughness to grind out tough yardage and carry smaller defenders when necessary, though teams likely won’t look at him as a power back.
Johnson is a good receiver who should be a threat out of the backfield and as an option in the screen game. He generally presents a good target for his quarterback, extends to pluck the ball out of the air, and secures it before turning upfield.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Agility
- Cutback ability
Johnson’s biggest weakness as a runner is a relative lack of agility. He’s a good athlete overall, but he is very much a linear, downhill runner. Johnson is pretty easily stopped if he has to turn his pads more than 30 (or so) degrees off parallel to the line of scrimmage. Likewise, he lacks the agility to make defenders miss in a phonebooth and is not a natural cut-back runner.
Not only can that lead to tackles for a loss if defenders clog his intended running lane, but it also limits his scheme diversity a bit. His contact balance is also a bit suspect. It isn’t “bad”, however there are a few too many instances of him being tripped up by shoelace tackles – usually when he’s in the process of cutting. He can survive incidental contact, but lacks elite contact balance to regain his feet on the move.
Game Tape
(Johnson is the Iowa running back wearing No. 2)
Projection
Johnson projects as an important player in an active backfield rotation.
He should emerge as a high-volume RB2 with a relatively even split of the carries as a rookie, though he’ll need to improve his pass protection to push for a starting job. There are instances where he appears unsure of himself as a pass protector.
Johnson would be best as the downhill component for a Spread or West Coast team that uses the passing attack to lighten the box. He isn’t necessarily limited to running between the tackles; he has enough speed to win the edge in off-tackle runs and is genuinely great at executing counter runs. Johnson is best going north-south rather than picking between a menu of running lanes.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes
Final Word: A Day 2 value
