Steelers' Seventh-Round Pick Could Become A Dynamic Part Of The Team

The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the next phase of their 2026 offseason activities after finishing up Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp. They are installing a brand new system under Head Coach Mike McCarthy and have been hard at work getting up to speed with his expectations, scheme, and culture. Among the challenges that a new coaching staff will bring, Pittsburgh has 10 rookies who are looking to make their mark on the team. After the organization decided to stockpile picks, the youth movement is clear in the Steel City. 

The front office focused most of the draft on adding pieces to the offensive side of the ball. Of the 10 total picks, only three were on defense. The first defensive pick was not made until the third round, and another was not picked until the sixth round. Many found this baffling based on the defense's performance in 2025, but by adding in free agency, the Steelers felt comfortable with their unit. A mix of savvy veterans and budding youth highlights a defense that has plenty of talent to bounce back. 

Among those defensive players selected was seventh-round pick safety Robert Spears-Jennings. The University of Oklahoma product was among the fastest players coming into the 2026 NFL Draft, and fell to the Black and Gold late into the event. With one of the Steelers' weaknesses being their safety room, Spears-Jennings could have a path to making the team and being effective. Steelers beat writer Christopher Carter discussed this on an episode of the North Shore Drive podcast. 

"I do think that if he makes the roster, it's because he showed up on punt coverage, on kick coverage, on those types of things. And if he can show like, 'Hey, I can get down the field quickly. I can beat blocks. I can hold my lane. I can make tackles,' you do those things, they'll find a way to keep you around. And then maybe he does become the fourth safety option on this team because with a 4.32 40-yard dash, that's pretty good speed that you want to have on your roster somewhere," Carter said.

Spears-Jennings' blazing speed is primarily the reason the Steelers drafted him. He'll be a factor on special teams, something that he did in college, and could be a huge factor there. 

The safety worked his way up the ranks at Oklahoma, starting as a reserve his freshman year and playing special teams. He made such a mark that he found himself as a part-time starter by his sophomore season, before locking down the spot his junior year. From then on, he solidified himself as a full-time safety for the Sooners. His quickness and tenacity earned him a selection in the draft, and now, it's up to him to prove himself worthy of a roster spot. 

It's always a long battle for a seventh-rounder to make an NFL roster, but with Pittsburgh, it presents itself as a unique opportunity. The team lacks depth at this position and lost some key special teamers in the offseason. With that blazing speed, his ability to cover kicks will be needed, especially with the dynamic kickoff rules that the NFL has incorporated into the game. 

The Steelers Could Have An Issue At Safety

The franchise added plenty of players that filled weaknesses from 2025, but safety was one of the spots that felt like it was being patched often. Now that starter DeShon Elliott is back, and the team signed Jaquan Brisker, it seems like things will be better, but both projected starters lack elite coverage skills. The Steelers have been clear however, that they'll adapt to a new look with their safeties and to new NFL trends, but the two are much better in the box. 

The Steelers will have to hope that the two will be good enough in coverage to prevent plays over the top, a thing that happened often in 2025. The scheme will have to reflect the skills of the two safeties in hopes of limiting splash plays. If this doesn't happen, it could be something that opposing offenses expose.

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