Kaleb Johnson NFL Draft Scouting Profile

The Chicago Bears are a team that is looking for a lot of different types of talent in this year’s 2025 NFL Draft.
You might expect them to be looking for offensive and defensive line help, almost exclusively, but there is a need for this team that might surprise some. That need is at running back. With new head coach Ben Johnson utilizing running backs differently than what the Bears did last year, and to great effectiveness, the team is going to want a back that can get through the line quickly and get up the field in a hurry.

D’Andre Swift is not that kind of back and we saw that last season. He just didn’t work well going through the line, up the middle, and was more of a guy that you have to take outside with the ball and run special plays with. The Bears are kind of “stuck” with him due to his contract, but they can make something work with him.

Enter another running back, a guy like was described before, that could get through the open holes in the line and get up the middle quickly.

That guy just might be available at some point in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Who is that player?

Iowa Hawkeye Kaleb Johnson might be available in the second round where the Bears have two of their picks ready and waiting to use.

But is Johnson someone that would be worthy of a pick in the second round? Could the Bears get him there or will he be gone by the time the Bears decide they could use his services?

The following is a scouting report on Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson.

Measurables

More recent numbers show that Johnson stands at 6’ 1” and weighs 224 pounds. Now, sticking with the most important measurables for the running back position, speed seems to be what Johnson struggled with a bit at the combine. His official number, in the 40-yard dash, was 4.57 which is a little slow for a number one running back. This likely dropped him out of the first round, for now.

The former Hawkeye junior did not participate in any other drills other than the 10-yard split which he did in 1.62 seconds. Not participating in the other drills may have hurt his draft positioning a little bit.

Pros

Having watched Johnson play many times throughout his career with the Hawkeyes, it’s easy to see what he has to offer a team. The first thing that you would notice about him is his size. He’s a bigger back and has had great production and played against some top competition having been a Big Ten back.

Some of the other positive things that Johnson does is that he sees the field well and allows blocks to get set before bursting through the hole. While his combine numbers may not have been terribly impressive in terms of speed, he does have the ability to get flying fast and has solid “football speed”.

Johnson broke a lot of arm tackles in his time at Iowa showing a lot of power and ability to get through would-be tacklers. Another thing about him is that he tended to get much stronger as the game went on. While getting a hot start is important, finishing strong is just as important. Especially when you are trying to hang onto a lead.
Catching passes is something that Johnson can do and is great in the screen game. He’s got some nice moves and can cut effectively.

Cons

Every player has a downside and Johnson has a few things that he might need to do to improve. He will run upright at times. He also struggles to think ahead and go to the next option should his primary running lane become blocked. Johnson shows a little indecision that way. He must also work on his pass-protection skills because he’s not a great pass blocker. His technique needs development, and he should be able to learn more in the NFL.

Johnson’s burst is nice, but his long-haul speed isn’t all that spectacular. Johnson’s ability to thrive and contribute to the passing game is held back by his inability to run down the field routes. Finally, his overall combine workout was decent but his 40-yard dash wasn’t impressive. Johnson will need to improve upon that, if possible, in his pro day and individual workouts. If he can’t improve upon that number, he might slip further in the draft.

Why He Could Fit with The Chicago Bears

If the new head coach comes in and wants to install something on offense, like what he had in Detroit, he’s going to need another running back. Now the Bears are interested in a handful of running backs. They include Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty. However, perhaps they shouldn’t spend a first-round pick on a running back. They need to hold off and wait until at least the second round and maybe even later.

Maybe.

But Kaleb Johnson is an attractive prospect for sure. He might be someone that the Bears take some interest in as the pre-draft process takes shape. He would instantly be the best running back on their roster and would give them a better offense quickly.

Final Words

The Bears will likely not take a running back in the first round. However, they might use one of their two second-round picks and grab a guy like Johnson if he’s available. Johnson is going to hope that he works his way towards being a first-round pick. Right now, he’s a mid to late second-round type. He promises to have a strong career with the right team.