The Pittsburgh Steelers had a very strategic approach to the 2026 NFL Draft. General Manager Omar Khan played the compensatory pick game and ended up making out really well. The team held a total of 12 selections as the big event approached, and finished off taking 10 rookies after a couple of trades were made during the weekend. The front office will now trust the coaching staff to develop these players in the hopes of having several of them for a long time. However, the reality is that when only 53 individuals can be on the roster, keeping 10 first-year guys around isn't very reasonable.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stands on the field surface and looks off into the distance as the team participates in a 2026 training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
A lot of the early-round selections should have no problem landing on the roster and even contributing in some instances. With that said, someone like Eli Heidenreich will have a very tough time getting the good news come cutdown day. The practice squad is often a place where these rookies will land, with the possibility of being elevated later in the year.
The Steelers' sixth-round pick in Gabriel Rubio has barely been talked about with a lot of the attention focusing on others from his class. One of the main reasons for this is due to the incredible amount of depth that Pittsburgh has on the defensive line. It has always been looked at as a very tough situation for the big man, because injuries seemed to initially be his only shot at cracking the roster.
The Notre Dame product is proving that he does indeed belong in the NFL. He wasn't even invited to the Scouting Combine; however, the Steelers saw something in him that made using a sixth-round pick on him worth it. Now, he is emerging as a surprise contributor and the decision-makers might not have any choice except to keep him around.
Mike McCarthy is impressed by Steelers 6th-rd pick rookie DT Gabriel Rubio pic.twitter.com/L5Ua9FHUIc
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 19, 2026
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo was recapping Friday evening's preseason loss and made sure to note that Rubio is no longer just a camp body. He is getting closer and closer to making a name for himself.
"Defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio continues to exceed expectations. The 6-5, 321-pound sixth-round pick can play and is making a strong push for the 53-man roster," DeFabo wrote.
Pittsburgh is already set up very nicely on the defensive line and Rubio impressing it just another reason to be excited about what the group could do in 2026. While he won't necessarily be slotted as a starter anytime soon, finding quality depth in the sixth-round shouldn't go unnoticed. The Steelers are known for drafting and developing, which is why Rubio's strong play is extremely riveting and encouraging.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio kneels on the playing surface while the team gets together for stretching prior to a 2026 training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Roster decisions are not always easy. A new wrinkle in 2026 is also the quarterback room. If the Steelers decide to keep all four of the signal-callers, someone is going to be kicked off at first. Right now, someone like Rubio could be a guy who is slightly worried about that development. Khan and co. will have some difficult choices to make moving forward.
Credit should be given when and where it is due, which is why Rubio is currently rising in the grand scheme of things. There's nothing more satisfying for an organization than successfully landing a solid role player later on in the NFL Draft. Time will tell if the defensive lineman can continue to work his way up on the depth chart as the regular season and big decisions loom.
New Steelers Coach Deserves Credit For Rubio's Emergence
Pittsburgh went off the beaten path and hired a formal rival in Domata Peko to run its defensive line. When a rookie like Rubio performs well, it often can be contributed to his positional coach. The unit did need a fresh voice after several years with Karl Dunbar, so fans of the Steelers should pass along some recognition to the one leading the way on that front.
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