Updating Steelers depth chart from Day 2 selections of the 2025 NFL Draft

There were a lot of questions as to how the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 draft would play out in the first round. Would they move up to grab a player they wanted? Would they trade back rather than settle for what they needed most with who was remaining? Would the Steelers reach for a quarterback in a weak class? Instead, the Steelers held pat at 21 and selected defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, a player they did not want to miss out on by trading back.

On Day 2, the Steelers didn’t have pick in the second round, so it was a long wait. When the Steelers made in to pick 83, they stuck with their pick, the only one of the night, and drafted running back Kaleb Johnson from Iowa.

Now that the selections have been made, it’s time to check out the Steelers depth chart at each position. The depth chart for offensive tackles has already been covered from Day 1 and can be seen HERE. To split things up better, Day 2 and Day 3 will be done separately.

Note: The depth charts for players added as undrafted free agents (UDFAs) will not be included, but if a UDFA was part of a position group of a drafted player they will be included.

After drafting Kaleb Johnson on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL draft, the Steelers currently have seven running backs on the roster. The current projected depth chart at running back for the Steelers is as follows:

Running Back

• Jaylen Warren
• Kaleb Johnson
• Kenneth Gainwell
• Cordarrelle Patterson
• Jonathan Ward
• Aaron Shampklin
• Evan Hull

The Steelers have already stated that Jaylen Warren is going to be there top running back coming into training camp for 2025. This is a wise move for the Steelers as he’s coming into his fourth season and is ready to show what he can do with an increased workload. But rookie Kaleb Johnson is going to be a good compliment. I went as far as to move Johnson into the number two spot on the depth chart. Being more of a short yardage back than anybody else on the top of the Steelers depth chart, Johnson will get carries during his rookie year.

I went ahead and dropped Kenneth Gainwell to the third RB spot simply because he is new to the Steelers and can be utilized in numerous ways. I think all players on the top three of the depth chart will see significant action this year.

When it comes to the fourth player, Cordarrelle Patterson, it’s gonna be a tough road to make the Steelers roster. First, he has to even make it to training camp. Patterson very well could be a cut which would save a little bit of salary cap space, but not so much the Steelers would have to make the move now. But if Patterson asked the Steelers to be released to catch on somewhere else, I’m sure they would honor his request. I can see it going either way, but unless there’s an injury it’s gonna be tough for Patterson to get back on the roster in 2025, especially with Gainwell also being a kick returner.

If the next two names on the list, Jonathan Ward and Aaron Shampklin, both sounds familiar it’s because they’ve been on the Steelers practice squad. They very well could end up there again this year with the Steelers, and it wouldn’t hurt to have the extra legs there as it is a position that could see injuries pop up throughout the season. Whether or not Ward or Shampklin can impress enough to make the practice squad again will be the big question. But after the Steelers used a Day 2 pick on a running back, it’s going to be tough for either of them to find a spot on the 53.

As for Evan Hull, he signed a futures contract in January after finishing 2024 on the Colts practice squad. While he could end up fighting for a practice squad spot, he is likely nothing more than a camp body as he has only had one NFL rushing attempt for 1 yard in 2023.

While this is likely the Steelers depth chart at this time, there are plenty of things that could change between now and the start of the 2025 regular season. Does this depth chart look accurate as of today? How soon do you project Johnson to get significant carries? Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below.