The Pittsburgh Steelers accumulated 12 draft picks ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Steelers brass utilized the compensatory draft formula to maximize the number of picks it could get. The Black and Gold used 10 of those 12 selections on players, a rather large draft class that includes quite a few mid-to-late round guys. Pittsburgh had three picks in the third round, where it drafted three individuals who are considered project players. The team also ensured each of its late-round picks was versatile.
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Steelers 2026 draft class during rookie minicamp.
The draft strategy was unique and involved players who will be in line for the future. However, with training camp coming up, there are questions about who will make the team.
The group has a few players who will be a part of the Steelers' plans in the near future, but some will have to wait their respective turns. Pittsburgh strategically chose some players who will make an immediate impact, and some will slot in sometime in the future.
First-rounder tackle Max Iheanachor is a key example of a player who has the intangibles to become a solid starting tackle, but with the depth at the position, he'll have some time to develop. A player who will be in the team's immediate plans, though, is wide receiver Germie Bernard, who should be a big part of the Steelers' aerial attack right away. He is considered a NFL-ready talent.
Typically at the professional level, a team's first few picks are near locks to make the team, but as players are drafted in later rounds, it is more difficult to find a roster spot. Pittsburgh had two seventh-rounders and a sixth-round pick who many believe would have to really fight in camp to carve out a role on the team. With 10 draftees looking for a spot, it seems like it would be difficult to keep all 10, but Steelers writer Brian Batko believes it's possible.
"This 10-man group has both versatility and specialization working in its favor," Batko wrote. "Of course, the five players drafted in the top three rounds are almost certainly ticketed for the roster. Among the five taken on day three, though, a few have the skill sets to fill more than one role on game days, and a few have a trait that makes them stand out... In recent years especially, the Steelers tend to trust their front office's evaluations, keeping each of their first 21 draft picks for at least a season on the active roster (or injured reserve)."
This is great news for fringe players like Eli Heidenreich, Gabriel Rubio, and Robert Spears-Jennings, who have all been involved in speculation about whether or not they can find their way onto the team. However, Pittsburgh has notably kept their draft picks on the team, which is something to consider. All three have a unique skill that attracted the Steelers to drafting them, though the positions they play could make it difficult to make the roster.
To start with Heidenreich, he's considered a Swiss Army Knife who can play special teams, running back, and wide receiver. This was an interesting pick considering the front office used a premium fourth-rounder on a similar player in Kaden Wetjen, who was the best return specialist in college in 2025. Heidenreich's versatility makes him so intriguing, but with another player from the same draft class with similar skills, this could be an interesting development.
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Steelers rookie Eli Heidenreich works out during team rookie minicamp in May of 2026.
As for the other two, Rubio was not invited to the combine, but Pittsburgh liked his size and ability to stop the run so much that they picked him in the sixth round. The defensive line is deep, and this will make it hard for him, too. Spears-Jennings will have to show off his speed and ball skills, as well as become a factor on special teams to make the roster.
These are all difficult situations for each of these 2026 late-round picks, but considering the Steelers' history, they might have a leg up on some other players at their respective positions to make the team.
Steelers Have To Make The Right Choices With These Rookies
It's a huge change for the whole team: a new head coach, a different way of handling training camp, and new schemes on all three sides of the ball, but the new coaching staff will have to decide if keeping all 10 rookies is really what's best for the squad. Roster cutdowns and position battles will be in full swing, and the storylines are plentiful in training camp. Now it's a matter of production for these rookies.
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