Steelers Land Hidden Gem Tight End Dubbed Best UDFA Fit

The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up an exciting 2026 NFL Draft where they added 10 rookies to the roster. Perhaps the most exciting part for Steeler Nation was seeing 70% of those picks used on the offensive side of the football. After the draft, the Steelers also signed six undrafted free agents to complete their rookie class.

Of course, there is no telling how difficult it will be for those UDFA players to make the roster or earn meaningful snaps. However, just look at Jaylen Warren as proof that it can happen. Arif Hasan’s research shows that undrafted free agents have just a 9% chance of making a final 53-man roster, meaning many of those six players may never become known names in Pittsburgh. Still, a few could emerge as diamonds in the rough, and fans would be wise to see whether Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy struck gold in the UDFA market.

NFL analyst Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic noted that the Steelers may have landed one of the better UDFA tight ends in USC’s Lake McRee. While making the final roster will not be easy, Pittsburgh’s offseason losses of Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward open the door for depth at the position. That creates a realistic path for McRee to compete for a roster spot and potentially surprise during camp.

"Injuries were a factor throughout McRee’s career, but his work as a run blocker is hard to ignore — he gets after it with strong hands and a desire to finish," Baumgardner said. "Despite being a relatively average athlete, he’s a well-balanced player who hangs on to the football and likes to do the dirty work."

For McRee, the opportunity in Pittsburgh is clear, but nothing will be handed to him. He will need to prove he can translate his physical, blue-collar style into consistent NFL production during training camp and preseason action. Still, with the Steelers searching for reliable depth at tight end, his skill set gives him a legitimate chance to stand out in a crowded UDFA group. If Baumgardner’s evaluation holds true, McRee could quietly emerge as one of the more intriguing under-the-radar additions from Pittsburgh’s 2026 rookie class.

McRee is certainly an interesting prospect that Steelers fans should keep an eye on. He stands 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, and with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington set to lead the tight end room, Pittsburgh is likely looking for another big-bodied option to develop as depth further down the depth chart. While he is not a very fast athlete, he plays with toughness and physicality as a run blocker, which is similar to Washington’s style. From a personnel standpoint, it makes sense why the Steelers would want to take a chance on him.

Steelers Have Interesting Battle At TE Brewing For Rookie Minicamp

However, concerns about his medical history likely played a major role in him going undrafted. McRee suffered an ACL injury in 2023 and also dealt with nagging issues in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Those injury concerns aside, Pittsburgh also signed Arizona State tight end Chamon Metayer as a UDFA, which immediately creates competition for a roster spot. In 2025 for the Trojans, he recorded 30 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns.

Ultimately, McRee is a developmental tight end with slight upside if he can stay healthy. If he shows durability and consistency in camp, he could carve out a role in a crowded but unsettled Steelers tight end group.

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