The Pittsburgh Steelers have made bold moves following the 2025 NFL Draft. The team has begun signing undrafted free agents, and may have uncovered some hidden gems. One rookie in particular is speculated to have the potential to unseat Connor Heyward for his spot on the team. Heyward was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and had a promising first two years with Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, everything from his receptions to his receiving yards dropped in 2024, however. Now, Heyward is on the hot seat, and a promising young rookie could be looking to beat him out for his roster spot in this year's training camp.
South Dakota Athletics
JJ Galbreath runs the ball during his time with the South Dakota Coyotes.
On Thursday, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic appeared on 93.7 The Fan and discussed some of the Steelers' undrafted free agent signings. DeFabo named tight end JJ Galbreath as a promising prospect who could be the one to potentially take Heyward's job. DeFabo highlighted Galbreath's athleticism as a distinct advantage when fighting for a roster spot during camp.
"He's got some athleticism, and we know that Arthur Smith loves the tight end position, so I think that's going to be an interesting camp battle," said DeFabo. "Obviously, Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington are going to make the team at tight end. But they're a very different kind of tight end. JJ Galbreath is more the form of Pat Freiermuth, where he's not especially big and strong, but he's athletic. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities that guys like Connor Heyward could be in competition with JJ Galbreath."
It's a glowing review of a player that went undrafted, however there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about Galbreath as a prospect. It's unclear if the Steelers signed Galbreath specifically because they were losing faith in Heyward, or if Pittsburgh simply wanted more depth at the position. Regardless, it sets up what is sure to be an exciting competition deeper into the offseason.
Charlotte Heyward / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Brothers Cam and Connor Heyward are thrilled to be the latest family connection on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Galbreath was a three-year starter for the South Dakota Coyotes. He recorded 1,355 yards on 93 catches and had 12 touchdowns over his four-year long college career. Galbreath stands at 6-foot-3, 231-pound and put up a stunning performance in the pre-draft process, with a 4.67-second 40-yard dash, a 4.20-second shuttle, 6.82-second three-cone, 38-inch vertical and a 10-foot-3 broad jump.
The Steelers have gotten considerable value from Heyward for a sixth-round pick. However, they may have been hoping for more, or simply are satisfied with the contributions made to the team and now feel it's time to move on.
It would make sense that the Steelers signed Galbreath at a time in which the tight end lineup in Pittsburgh is thin. Although getting a new tight end wasn't a pressing enough issue for the Steelers to draft one, signing Galbreath shows that the team is committed to strengthening the position and possibly adding depth to their roster.
Sports Pulse
Steelers' JJ Galbreath during his time at South Dakota.
Steelers Have Moved Quickly To Sign Undrafted Free Agents And Bolster Their Offense
On Saturday, after the last round of the draft concluded, the Steelers signed other free agents alongside Galbreath, including wide receivers Roc Taylor and Ke'Shawn Williams. Pittsburgh has spent much off its offseason building up its defense, but one of the most noteworthy additions on offense is former Seattle Seahawks star DK Metcalf. Between adding to both the tight end and receiver rooms, the Steelers are showing their commitment to bringing in more playmakers for 2025.
Pittsburgh may simply want to stockpile as many offensive weapons as possible, so that once they do have starting quarterback locked down, they will have plenty of high-quality targets to throw to. Galbreath is one of the Steelers' latest additions to the growing offense, and just one of many more prospects to come that will try to make a name for themselves in the Steel City.
Do you think Galbreath could take Heyward's roster spot? What do you think Galbreath will be able to achieve as a Pittsburgh Steeler? Let us know in the comments.
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