Here are the three Pittsburgh Steelers rookies with the best chance to make an immediate impact during the 2026 season
Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Kaden Wetjen (21) reacts after returning a punt for a touchdown against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Oct. 25, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
© Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers had one of the more perplexing draft classes during last weekend’s marquee event. But that doesn’t mean the 10 players in the class won’t be good, and certainly doesn’t mean they won’t have an impact in year one.
So today, we are going to look at the three players in the Steelers’ 2026 class who have the best chance at making a notable impact on the football field in year one.
WR, Germie Bernard
Bernard was the Steelers’ second pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as the Steelers traded up six spots to the 46th pick for Bernard, who fits like a glove in the Steelers’ system. He’s a power slot with a brany build and true versatility.
At Alabama, he aligned to the boundary, as the flanker, in the slot, and even out of the backfield. He runs efficient and timely routes, he dominates at the catch point with some of the best contested catches in the class, and above all else, he’s physical and versatile, which are non-negotiables in Mike McCarthy’s scheme.
His only real competition for the WR No.3 role would be Roman Wilson. Well, those two might as well be on a level playing field, seeing as the coaching staff who worked with Wilson during his first two years is no longer there.
Returner, Kaden Wetjen
We can argue all day about the value of Wetjen in the fourth round, but if you think that he was going anywhere else in Round 4, go watch the clip of him getting the call from the Steelers while playing golf with his girlfriend.
However, Wetjen immediately walks into the Steelers facility as the starting kick and punt returner. We saw how things went with Kaleb Johnson, and Calvin Austin III joined the New York Giants, paving the way for Wetjen.
Safety, Robert Spears-Jennings
The Steelers employ two starting safeties, Jauqan Brisker and DeShon Elliott, who are very similar. They are at their best running the alley, roaming into the box, and dropping the hammer on receivers running in-cuts.
The Steelers didn’t have a true centerfielder. That changed with RSJ. His 4.32 speed and open-field range will allow him to get off the hash and make plays on the roof of the defense, which the Steelers have been missing.
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