The Pittsburgh Steelers made a lot of noise during the 2026 NFL Draft. Part of that was because the city was hosting the event, and then the franchise was embarrassingly jumped over in the first round and had its top prospect stolen from right under them. The organization entered the event with 10 selections. General Manager Omar Khan used two of those picks to maneuver the draft board, and 10 players wound up being selected by the Steelers. The last one has become a fan favorite as fans hope that seventh-round pick Eli Heidenreich can find a way to make the final roster.
Joseph Maiorana / Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan standing on the field during warmups prior to an away game against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2024 season.
Heidenreich is a versatile player out of Navy, and it is not often that skill players get drafted out of the service academies. He was at the draft in person as he was invited to be in the green room for the second day of the event, which is when most thought he might come off the board. He stuck around until the seventh round where he was eventually drafted by Pittsburgh. He played both running back and wide receiver during his time in college, and his versatility plus his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands caught the eye of the Steelers.
There have been some debates about whether or not Heidenreich will even be able to make the roster in Pittsburgh. He would have to find a way to contribute on special teams while also carving out a role for himself on offense. On a recent episode of The Ross Tucker Podcast, Greg Cosell explained his high expectations for Heidenreich.
"I think he's gonna play, because he can do a lot of things for you," Cosell said. "He's big, he's physical, he's a movable chess piece. Again, he may play 18 snaps a game, but I think there's going to be a place for him in the context of his offense."
Cosell essentially thinks that Heidenreich is too versatile to keep off the field, and he thinks there will be some sort of role for him within the offense. That will be interesting to see, as he does not have an easy path to making the roster. Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are locks to be on the final roster, and Heidenreich would likely have to outperform Kaleb Johnson and Travis Homer.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers running back Eli Heidenreich on the field during rookie minicamp in 2026.
The receiving ability of Heidenreich is very intriguing, especially coming out of the backfield. He also lined up out wide and in the slot in college, and he should be expected to do that for the Steelers as well. He is not a true running back, but a do-it-all type of offensive weapon. That is the interesting quirk about his path toward making the roster. If he proves he can be efficient on the ground, as a sort of receiver, and as a returner or in a different role on special teams, there is no way he could be cut.
Steelers' Eli Heidenreich Has Already Received Some Absurd Comparisons
The main comparison that has been used to describe Heidenreich's playing style is All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. That is some high praise for a player that has never played a snap in an NFL game, but it should give Pittsburgh fans some reason for optimism.
Kym Fortino / San Francisco 49ers
Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace runs toward San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.
There is a very, very small chance that Heidenreich comes close to the amount of success that McCaffrey has had in the league, but the possibility is fun to consider. The Steelers should give him a chance to contribute at least a little bit in 2026, and that way the franchise can have a better idea of what he can do at the professional level.
What do you think fans should expect from Heidenreich in 2026? Let me know on X, @brogannoey and follow us for more news!
#SteelerNation