The Pittsburgh Steelers have once again kept every rookie draft pick on their initial 53-man roster, extending Omar Khan’s remarkable streak to four draft classes. Since taking over as general manager, Khan has yet to release a rookie draft pick during final roster cuts.

Until this weekend, Cory Trice Jr. and Ryan Watts were his only two draft picks no longer with the Steelers, and both were due to unfortunate circumstances with significant injuries. More recently, Broderick Jones and Kaleb Johnson were traded for future draft picks.

Of Khan’s 31 draft picks over the past four years, 27 remain on the Steelers’ payroll, including defensive back Donte Kent (PUP) and Logan Lee (IR). Twenty-five of them made the initial 53-man roster, giving Khan’s draft picks a nearly 50-percent share of the total active roster.

Add Kevin Colbert’s five remaining picks—Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, Mason Rudolph, Alex Highsmith, and Pat Freiermuth—and the Steelers are clearly getting back to their preferred draft-and-develop philosophy.

Beginning the 2026 NFL Draft with 12 selections, many expected the team to end the event with eight or nine picks. Fitting that many on the 53-man roster is difficult enough, but Mike McCarthy insisted they were excited about all 10. The Steelers backed that up with their actions.

Most at risk were sixth- and seventh-round picks DL Gabriel Rubio, S Robert Spears-Jennings, and RB Eli Heidenreich. At least for now, all three have made the team. Additional roster shuffling always takes place for a day or two after the initial list is set.

Even the most dedicated draft analysts overlooked Rubio, and many had no clue who he was when the Steelers announced him as their sixth-round pick. Now he makes the team as one of just seven defensive linemen on the active roster.

Heidenreich, a Pittsburgh-area native, had also been ticketed by many as being destined for the practice squad. The Mt. Lebanon High School graduate is one of just three running backs and could see significant playing time if one of either Jaylen Warren or Rico Dowdle gets hurt.

And for an added bonus, rookie UDFA DL Kevin Jobity Jr. made the team after a solid preseason finale. That makes 11 rookies on the squad this year.

For now.