Eli Heidenreich was already coming to terms with becoming an undrafted free agent. That is, until the Pittsburgh Steelers told him the news that he, a native of the city who played at Mt. Lebanon, was staying right at home.
Heidenreich spoke to ESPN right after becoming Pittsburgh’s final selection of the draft, 230th overall. He revealed he verbally agreed to sign with another team before getting the call from the Steelers.
“There were a lot of undrafted free agent discussions going on back there,” he told ESPN. “I actually committed to a team. And then the Steelers came in, and all the emotions kind of hit me at once.”
It’s common for teams to contact players in the final round to express interest in signing them as undrafted free agents, and it doesn’t violate any league rules. But that commitment is only verbal and non-binding in case a team drafts the player, as was the case with Heidenreich Saturday evening.
Heidenreich didn’t share which team he agreed to sign with. But that team will have to look elsewhere to replace his diverse skill set. He was a versatile receiver and runner who had a prolific career at Navy.
He’s just the second Navy player the Steelers have ever drafted. Pittsburgh selected DT Glen Nardi in the 16th round of the 1973 NFL Draft.
“I was thinking back to all the games I’d been to growing up all throughout my life of being in Heinz Field and watching those games go down,” Heidenreich said after being picked. “And then I’m gonna have the opportunity to go out and then and play for the black and gold,” he said of being picked. “It was a fantastic feeling. Nothing like I’ve ever felt before.”
Some analysts will argue it’s better to be an undrafted free agent than a seventh-round pick. A chance to choose your team and evaluate the scheme and roster. But nothing replaces a moment like what Heidenreich experienced tonight. The Steelers called his name in his hometown, allowing him to walk onstage to a crowd of cheering fans. No one can put a price on that.