The 2026 NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh! This draft season, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital, and their fit with the Steelers.
One of the 2026 NFL Draft cycle’s most consistent risers, Rutledge entered boards as an early Day 3 target and turned into a first-round sleeper by mid-April. Could he be the next early-round offensive line investment
for the Steelers?
The basics on Keylan Rutledge
- Position: Offensive guard
- Class: Senior
- Size: 6’4, 316 pounds
- Age: 22
- Projected draft round: 2
Offensive stats via PFF
Keylan Rutledge scouting report
Keylan Rutledge was one of my earliest “my guys” in this year’s draft process, and it’s been fun to watch him steadily climb up boards over the last couple of months. I’m not an offensive line savant, but Rutledge checked some easy-to-appreciate boxes: mauling run blocker, high-end athletic testing, translatable strength and mobility on tape. This guy’s probably good!
(Right guard; No. 77 in all clips).
The Rutledge hype really took off after the NFL Combine, where the Georgia Tech guard turned in an impressive 9.53 RAS with agilities. Despite coming from a smaller college program, his testing was NFL-caliber and he turned in a strong game in 2025 against a highly-touted Georgia team.
Georgia Tech’s run game leaned heavily into gap concepts, which required Rutledge to pull quite a bit. There, he was able to show off his athleticism. He was consistently on time and effective leading runners to the hole or sealing off the back side of runs.
As a run blocker, Rutledge isn’t the greatest lane-clearer you’ll ever watch. His pad level can get a bit high which can lead to subpar drive. But his initial pop is outstanding, and he latches and steers defenders well without drawing too many penalties.
When asked to make blocks on the second level of a defense, Rutledge explodes off the snap and finds work well in space.
Rutledge also possesses the ideal demeanor for a guard, constantly bullying his blocking assignments into the ground, even if it’s a bit behind the play. He blocks through the whistle and displays great upper body and core strength.
While Rutledge’s gap scheme background has led to some questioning how he’ll fit in a more zone-heavy NFL, his tape on zone runs shows he’ll be just fine in any scheme in the pros. His ability to seal off lanes and move upfield are pretty clear strengths to his game.
In pass protection, Rutledge comes with a few more questions. His occasional lapses pad level and balance can lead to him getting jolted back at the snap, but I never saw him get forklifted all the way back into the quarterback. His recovery strength and overall anchor are fantastic.
Still, Rutledge is vulnerable to more athletic interior rushers who take advantage of his narrow pass blocking to get around him. But his agility testing and overall mobility stand out enough that I’m convinced a good NFL coach will be able to improve some of his shortcomings in those areas.
The other mild concern around Rutledge is that he was exclusively a right guard at Georgia Tech, but one of his focuses at the Senior Bowl was proving he could hold up at all three interior spots. He generally received glowing reviews moving around, with some chatter surrounding a move to center.
While Rutledge certainly isn’t without some questions in his draft profile, he largely projects as one of the top guards in the class. He can contribute fairly early while still having plenty of room for growth.
Strengths
- NFL-ready build with solid length
- Plus athlete for position; high-end puller, explodes out of stance
- Ability to cut off blocking targets in space
- Strong anchor and recovery
- Finishes blocks with nasty demeanor
- Has shown some ability to be scheme and position versatile
- Hands have good initial pop; great combo blocker
Weaknesses
- Occasional lapses in balance and body control lead to him getting pushed around
- Lateral range could use some work; can be beaten with speed, finesse moves in pass protection
- Stalemates in run blocking a bit too often; needs to consistently lower pad level
- Nearly all of college experience at right guard in a gap-heavy scheme
What others are saying about Keylan Rutledge
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Rutledge is a burly, experienced right guard with excellent contact pop and a rugged field demeanor that will appeal to offensive line coaches. He excels as a drive/combo blocker, where he displaces defenders, but he has the athleticism to operate in all run-blocking concepts. He understands technique but suffers from occasional rough patches due to inconsistent balance and body control. His pass protection range is average, and edge leakage could be a concern against NFL athletes. Rutledge has the toughness to earn a role as a good backup with starting potential.
Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report
Firm presence on base, angle-drive and overtake blocks to cover up his target, and enough leg drive to solidify lanes when defenders reach into gaps. … Excellent competitive toughness and effort with a nasty demeanor as a finisher. … Inconsistent positional leverage in pass protection creates soft edges due to setting too flat or too far against loose/wide rushers. … Upright playing style with wide hand-placement leads to quick stalemates, which force him into recovery mode to regain leverage. … PRO COMPARISON: Dylan Fairchild.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
An old-school, throwback blocker, Rutledge has the strength, movement skill and demeanor NFL coaches desire at the position (NFL scout: “If the ACC had a Royal Rumble, (I’d) bet on this guy to be last man standing.”). His big, assaulting hands are a vessel for transferring his power and controlling defenders. However, his inconsistent bend and on-the-move adjustments lead to faltering angles.
Keylan Rutledge’s fit with the Steelers
Rutledge is expected to go somewhere around the Steelers’ second-round pick at No. 53 overall, and he’s one of the few guards to have a top-30 visit with the team. As a result, he’s one of the players I have circled the most on Pittsburgh’s draft board.
However, the Steelers need a left guard, not a right guard, at the moment, meaning Rutledge will have to prove his versatility to the team. But he should fit Pittsburgh’s offense better under Mike McCarthy than he would’ve with Arthur Smith due to the former’s expected implementation of more gap/power runs.
Rutledge’s strengths and weaknesses would probably give the Steelers a player similar to their other starting guard in Mason McCormick — maybe not a star, although Rutledge has plenty of upside — but a reliable long term starter. Especially on a rookie contract, that’s a valuable player to have in the NFL.
TL;DR: Rutledge is a well-built, mobile guard with a mean streak and good anchor strength. Some finer details of his technique still need to be smoothed out, but he brings a nice mix of experience and upside on Day 2.
What are your thoughts on Georgia Tech offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
