Steelers Get Promising Outlook As Rookie Is Compared To Hall Of Famer

The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in 10 new players through the 2026 NFL Draft, and there is a ton of reason for excitement when looking at the roster of rookies. The top two picks in Max Iheanachor and Germie Bernard are expected to make an impact right away, while the Steelers also added a developmental quarterback in Drew Allar. However, the fan favorite has certainly been Gennings Dunker, who the team drafted near the end of the third round. His red mullet and blue-collar attitude blend perfectly with the city of Pittsburgh, and there is a chance he could be on the field right away.

Dunker mostly played tackle at the college level, but he is going to be playing guard for the Steelers at the NFL level. Pittsburgh currently has an open spot at left guard, and Dunker should be firmly in the competition for that starting role. It will likely come down to him and two experienced veterans in Brock Hoffman and Spencer Anderson. One of the more experienced guys may get the first shot at the position, but Dunker should play at some point in 2026. Bob Pompeani and Charlie Batch were discussing the situation at left guard during a reaction to the 2026 schedule, and Batch mentioned how Dunker reminds him of his former teammate.

"Dunker has all the physical attributes that you want for a guard," Batch said. "He understands he has an opportunity to start at this point. Man, he reminds me so much of Alan Faneca. When you just look right at him. If he can turn a career into Faneca, the Steelers fans will be very happy with this selection."

This should give fans in Pittsburgh plenty of reason for optimism. Alan Faneca is one of the best offensive linemen in the history of the NFL, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. He was a staple of the Steelers throughout the early 2000s, and it would be a privilege if Dunker had a career anywhere close to what Faneca's was.

Dunker reminds Batch of Faneca, but the two offensive linemen have different paths to the league. Faneca was drafted by the Steelers in the first round with the 26th overall pick back in 1998, while Dunker is a third-round pick. That means he has fewer expectations being placed on him, and it probably means he has a little more work to do to crack into that starting lineup. 

Faneca played in the NFL for 13 seasons, and he was named an All-Pro in eight of them while being voted to the Pro Bowl in nine of them. Those numbers are remarkable, and he was a part of the team that won Super Bowl XL for the Steelers. He is known as one of the best guards in the history of the league, and his former teammate sees a little bit of that in Dunker.

Steelers Fans Will Be Clamoring For Gennings Dunker To Be On The Field

There have been some mixed opinions regarding Dunker. Some believe he is going to be a heck of a player in the NFL, while others view him as nothing more than a depth piece or a swing tackle. The transition to guard may take a little bit of time, so it is something that fans will have to be patient with, but he should be considered for the starting role. He is such a fan favorite that if he does not land the job and it goes to someone else, there might be chants for Dunker at Acrisure Stadium whenever things are not going well.

The battle for the left guard spot is going to be reported on all summer long, and it could come down to the end of training camp. 

What do you think about this comparison from Batch? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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