Steelers' Rookie Is Being Overlooked Despite Potential To Compete For Starting Job

The Pittsburgh Steelers are just a few weeks away from their trip to Saint Vincent College, where they will begin 2026 training camp. With the public spectacle around the corner, fans will get to see new players in action before the preseason. The practices are a little different for the Steelers this time around however, as they are now under new leadership, with Mike McCarthy serving his first season as the organization's head coach. Training camp this year should be a very interesting watch, seeing how the team operates under a new staff and getting eyes on potential position battles. 

One of the most exciting parts of training camp is seeing the rookies in NFL action. The Steelers aren't expected to have much contribution from their rookies during the regular season early on however. Only Germie Bernard and Riley Nowakowski at this point seem like they could earn significant playing time come September. That expectation could change at Saint Vincent, where the rookie offensive linemen will also finally get the pads on.

Pittsburgh selected only two offensive linemen in the 2026 NFL Draft, with Max Iheanachor being their first-round pick. Iheanachor is going to battle for the starting right tackle spot with Dylan Cook, but the consensus is Cook will be the starter in Week 1. Though Cook will likely get the initial nod, Iheanachor can still take the Broderick Jones path to stardom, not having to wait long. 

Naturally, Iheanachor has attracted all the buzz being the team's first-round pick, but the other offensive lineman selected has become extremely overlooked. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently wrote an article about the eight most overlooked rookies who could generate buzz in training camp. Knox listed third-round pick Gennings Dunker, believing Dunker could potentially make a case as a starter as well.

"While Iheanachor should get a lot of attention in training camp, fans should not sleep on third-round pick Gennings Dunker. Dunker, a former Iowa tackle, is a 6'5", 319-pound mauler who regularly flashed for the Hawkeyes with tremendous playing strength and competitive toughness. In Pittsburgh, he's expected to kick inside to guard," Knox wrote. "Pittsburgh is looking to replace Isaac Seumalo, which is why McCormick switched sides for the early offseason. McCormick is likely to earn one of the two starting guard jobs, but Dunker has the tools and intangibles needed to compete with Anderson and Brock Hoffman for the other."

Dunker has a tough road to becoming a starter, having to battle with Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman. The former Iowa Hawkeyes standout is still a raw player and will have an uphill battle all season, but he can absolutely still compete for a starting spot with a strong training camp. As for Anderson and Hoffman, neither player is guaranteed to be with the Steelers after the season concludes, as both have expiring contracts. 

Anderson has been the offensive line's sixth man, only filling in when needed as a starter. He has played admirably when called upon, but not well enough to give the organization enough confidence to be the surefire starter. Hoffman played under McCarthy with the Dallas Cowboys and had a role similar to Anderson's. He has primarily played center, but can also play both guard spots, making him a prime contender for the starting right guard spot in Pittsburgh.

Steelers' Dunker Is Part Of Team's Long-Term Answer On The O-Line

Because Anderson and Hoffman were not locked in for the foreseeable future, the organization decided to use a third-round pick on Dunker. He may have been a tackle in college, but his skill set and playstyle project him as a much better guard. 

His physical style and pass-protection technique should make his switch to the inside a smooth one, perhaps fast-tracking his path to becoming a starter as a rookie. 

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