The Steelers made a whopping 10 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but there’s a chance not a single rookie is starting on offense or defense Week 1. That makes this yearly exercise of predicting which rookies will play the most particularly difficult.
But it’s always a guessing game, isn’t it? Let’s dive in:
1. OG Gennings Dunker
There are three players in the Steelers’ recent draft class who are expected to play heavy snaps in 2026. While second-round receiver Germie Bernard might be the first one to rotate in on offense, Dunker
probably has the earliest shot at becoming a full-time starter. I like his chances of leapfrogging Spencer Anderson at right guard earlier than Max Iheanachor overtaking Dylan Cook — or maybe even Broderick Jones/Troy Fautanu — at right tackle.
Dunker will be making a position switch in the NFL, but the former college right tackle will likely be staying on that side of the line, just moving one spot inside. And he did play some right guard during his first year as a Hawkeye. It’s worth mentioning that he’s coming out of Iowa, one of the finest offensive line factories in college football.
Once Dunker makes the starting lineup, he’ll rack up high snap counts in no time. He might be the team’s fifth draft selection in 2026, but for now, he’s my bet for who will contribute the most of Pittsburgh’s draft class in Year 1.
2. WR Germie Bernard
Playing behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., Bernard probably won’t get many true starts in 2026 unless a name ahead of him misses a game, which could certainly happen. Still, all the buzz out of the Steelers’ OTAs has been that Bernard has been as NFL-ready as advertised, and he should slot in quickly as the team’s primary WR3.
New head coach Mike McCarthy will probably use more 11 personnel than past coordinator Arthur Smith did with the Pittsburgh offense, meaning that Bernard, who has a versatile skill set, should see the field early and often.
3. OT Max Iheanachor
Where the Steelers’ first-round pick slates into the team’s 2026 plans is still up in the air. The long-term plan is likely for Iheanachor to be Pittsburgh’s right tackle of the future, but a few obstacles stand in the way of him filling in that role as a rookie.
For one, he’s still fairly new to football, and although the Arizona State product isn’t as raw as some have worried, the Pittsburgh coaching staff might not see a reason to rush him into the starting lineup too early. Dylan Cook, the current starter at right tackle, impressed in 2025, and remember that Pittsburgh was originally planning to draft wide receiver Makai Lemon with the pick that became Iheanachor — signaling the team wasn’t worried about the right tackle position to the point of prioritizing it in Round 1.
There’s also the question of Broderick Jones — if healthy, he would give the Steelers another available name to add to the shuffle at offensive tackle. I’d expect Iheanachor to see the starting lineup at some point, but I don’t expect Pittsburgh to rush the process given the other options available.
4. FB/TE Riley Nowakowski
Putting a fifth-round rookie fullback this high on the list might seem a little bold, but don’t forget that fullback Hunter Luepke played 30% of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps in 2024 under Mike McCarthy, adding 171 additional snaps on special teams. Nowakowski might not be that much of a featured player at fullback early, but his ability to play tight end gives him more opportunities to contribute for the Steelers in 2026.
5. WR/KR Kaden Wetjen
If Wetjen doesn’t win one or both of the starting returner jobs in 2026, it’ll be a shock. The fourth-rounder’s special teams prowess alone should earn him some snaps in Week 1, and as a roster active he will likely rotate in on offense occasionally.
While Wetjen still has a ways to go before he can become a KaVontae Turpin-esque weapon, McCarthy used the latter, an All-Pro returner, as a frequent contributor in the Dallas offense. If Wetjen impresses enough, he’ll get more playing time.
6. CB Daylen Everette
Of the remaining Steelers rookies who will be looking to make an impact on special teams first, Everette has by far the best roster odds as a third-round pick. Given his high draft standing, the team likely sees him as a starter down the road, but defensive snaps will be hard to come by early behind names such as Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Jalen Ramsey, Brandin Echols, and Asante Samuel Jr.
Still, teams rotate through defensive backs enough that I’d expect to see some Everette defensive snaps in 2026. However, barring injury, the majority of his playing time will likely come on special teams if he’s a game day active. At 6’1 and 194 pounds with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash time, he’s a name to watch at gunner.
7. S Robert Spears-Jennings
A seventh-round pick, Spears-Jennings’ roster chances aren’t great. Still, the Steelers’ safety room isn’t all that deep, meaning the Oklahoma defensive back has a stronger chance at making the final roster than fellow Day 3 selections Gabriel Rubio and Eli Heidenreich.
Even if he makes the 53, will Spears-Jennings see any time on defense? Probably not. But like Everette, he’s quite the athlete: nearly 6’2, 205 pounds, and with a blistering 4.32-second 40-yard dash. Another potential special teams ace down the road — and don’t forget practice squad elevations.
8. DE Gabriel Rubio
Rubio faces an uphill climb to make the Steelers’ final roster. As always, the bottom of the defensive line depth chart looks competitive, with names such as Esezi Otomewo, Dean Lowry, Kevin Jobity, and Logan Lee fighting for the last few spots.
Still, Rubio’s run-stuffing ability is a valuable NFL archetype, and teams are always cycling through defensive linemen during the season. Rubio certainly has a chance at seeing the field as a rookie.
9. QB Drew Allar
The Steelers’ first third-round pick in 2026, Allar falls this low on the list simply because of his position. The hope is that he can develop into a starter down the road, but for now, the Steelers would probably be happy if he didn’t play in the regular season at all as a rookie.
McCarthy has made a point to rework Allar’s mechanics from the ground up in OTAs, and one of Mason Rudolph or Will Howard is expected to be Aaron Rodgers’ primary backup in the upcoming season. In the case of an injury ahead of him on the depth chart, or a late-season blowout, the Steelers might take Allar off the bench to see what he can do. But for now, 2026 will probably be a season of watching and learning for the Penn State product.
10. RB/WR Eli Heidenreich
Heidenreich was an electric college player, but he might have the toughest roster odds out of any rookie on this list. At running back, where he seems to be beginning his NFL career, Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are entrenched as the starting duo, while 2025 third-rounder Kaleb Johnson and special teams ace Travis Homer seem to be battling for the next one or two spots. And at wide receiver, Heidenreich would have to crack a top six of Metcalf, Pittman, Bernard, Roman Wilson, Wetjen (returner) and Ben Skowronek (special teams ace).
If Heidenreich managed to get a helmet on game day, his versatility would likely lead to some special teams snaps at least, but he seems destined for the practice squad as a rookie.
How would you rank the Steelers’ rookie class’ chances at playing time in 2026? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments.
