Steelers Likely See Christian McCaffrey Traits In Navy RB Eli Heidenreich

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just wrap up their 2026 draft class with another depth pick. They may have found something real at the very end of it. In the seventh round, Pittsburgh took Navy running back Eli Heidenreich, and this isn’t your typical 'camp body' style selection. There’s already a different level of intrigue around this one, both because of who he is, and what he brings. Late-round picks usually come with low expectations, but this feels like a swing on traits the Steelers clearly believe in.

Leading up to the draft, Heidenreich revealed he was invited to Day 2 and Day 3. As it turns out, the Steelers took him 230th overall. Inside the building, there seems to be a belief that Heidenreich brings a skill set that mirrors one of the most complete backs in football, Christian McCaffrey. 

That belief isn’t just coming from inside the Steelers’ building either. Plenty of people around the league are starting to say the same thing, whether it’s evaluators, analysts, or even the RAS system that flags his athletic profile. One of the first to really put it out there was Kyle Brandt, who didn’t hesitate to call Heidenreich the "Navy Christian McCaffrey" while speaking on Good Morning Football. 

"Look at this, this is really stunning," Brandt said. "What is not to like about the so-called Navy Christian McCaffrey? This guy does everything. He set receiving records for Navy... he played all over the field. They lined him up at running back and often motioned him out to wide receiver and in the slot... there's all kinds of buzz and all kinds of celebrity."

When that kind of comparison starts making the rounds this early, especially for a seventh-round pick, it’s worth paying attention to.

That doesn’t mean that Heidenreich will become anywhere near the superstar back that McCaffrey is, but when you start looking at the measurables, the testing, and the versatility, it’s not hard to see why the comparison comes up. He’s not just a runner. He’s someone who can impact the game in multiple ways, and those kinds of players don’t usually fall into your lap in the seventh round. On top of that, the testing pre-draft was very close as shown in the graphic above.

Then you add in everything else that comes with him. Heidenreich isn’t just a traits bet, he’s a Naval Academy product, which tells you a lot before he even steps on the field. The work ethic, the discipline, the toughness, all of it is already built from within him. On top of that, he’s a hometown kid who joins the hometown head coach Mike McCarthy's roster. That matters when you look at the culture McCarthy has started to build. For a team that still leans heavily on identity and culture, this pick checks a lot more boxes than people might realize at first glance.

Steelers' RB Room Gets A New Addition

Pittsburgh added Rico Dowdle in free agency to pair with Jaylen Warren, and those are expected to be the two headliners in the backfield. Behind them, second-year running back Kaleb Johnson will be looking to redeem himself and remind fans why the team drafted him in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. That likely makes it difficult for Heidenreich to earn meaningful action in the running game early on.

Still, there are clear paths for him to carve out a role, if he makes the final roster. He could make an impact on special teams right away, and his versatility gives the Steelers options in the passing game, especially out of the slot, which he showed consistently in college. It’s a really intriguing pick for Pittsburgh, and Steelers fans will be watching closely to see if he ever gets the opportunity to show off those McCaffrey-like traits.

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