{"id":727260,"date":"2026-06-26T13:27:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/727260\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T13:27:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:27:09","slug":"steelers-rookie-report-a-late-round-standout-and-the-drew-allar-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/727260\/","title":{"rendered":"Steelers rookie report: A late-round standout and the Drew Allar questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Steelers employed one of the oldest rosters in the NFL last season, and it won\u2019t get much younger this year with a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers and 37-year-old Cameron Heyward. If the Steelers are going to have a youth movement in subsequent seasons, however, they\u2019re counting on the 10 members of their 2026 draft class to develop into key pieces sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

During OTAs and minicamp, we got our first look at the rookie class. While it\u2019s still way too early to make determinations about what they\u2019ll mean for this team in the long term, these were the first impressions:<\/p>\n

Max Iheanachor, OT (Round 1, 21st pick)<\/p>\n

When Iheanachor\u2019s AAU basketball coach Cory DeSanti first saw the big man, he was struck by how a 6-foot-6 athlete could move so fluidly. Mobility continues to be Iheanachor\u2019s strong suit, as he ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.91 seconds) of any offensive lineman at this year\u2019s combine. Those nimble feet have been evident at practice. He\u2019s already a rangy run blocker, and once he fine-tunes his pass blocking he will use his mobility to his advantage.<\/p>\n

Yes, he needs development. Iheanachor, however, might not be quite as unpolished as you\u2019d expect from someone who started playing football just five years ago<\/a>. He started 29 games at Arizona State. One of the most important parts of his development will be refining his hand usage. That makes sense given his background in soccer and basketball, two sports in which you can\u2019t be as physical with your upper body.<\/p>\n

Iheanachor has focused exclusively on right tackle during the offseason \u2014 a wise move by the coaching staff. Keeping the first-round pick where he had all of his Division I starts could shorten his runway to the playing field in the NFL. He\u2019ll now have to either leapfrog Dylan Cook or wait for an injury to get his shot. Based on what Mike McCarthy has said, it seems the Steelers are willing to be patient.<\/p>\n

Germie Bernard, WR (Round 2, 47th pick)<\/p>\n

In terms of his physical dimensions and playing style, Bernard reminds me in some ways of JuJu Smith-Schuster. The second-round pick isn\u2019t going to wow you with any single part of his game. He has good size at 6-1 and 207 pounds, but he\u2019s not towering. He has solid speed at 4.48, but he\u2019s not necessarily a burner. When you package it all together, however, he\u2019s a well-rounded and versatile receiver who should find ways to make an impact this year.<\/p>\n

During OTAs and minicamp, he showed confident hands and good body control, especially near the sideline. That backs up what his college tape already said, as Bernard had just one drop at Alabama last year. While he has the versatility to line up everywhere (and will in McCarthy\u2019s offense), Bernard probably will carve out his niche as a big slot. He also will be in a bit of an ongoing competition through training camp and into the season. During the offseason, Roman Wilson got almost all of the first-team reps in three-receiver sets. Bernard\u2019s challenge will be to form chemistry with Rodgers (who isn\u2019t the most rookie-friendly QB) and push Wilson for playing time. One way or another, Bernard should definitely have a role in the rotation this year. It\u2019s just a matter of how much he plays and how often he\u2019s deployed in high-leverage situations.<\/p>\n

Steelers’ new defensive coordinator is giving a hip-hop history lesson<\/p>\n

Mike DeFabo<\/p>\n

Drew Allar, QB (Round 3, 76th pick)<\/p>\n

From Allar\u2019s first reps at rookie minicamp, both sides of him were on display. On one hand, he has so many attributes you cannot teach \u2014 6-5 frame, nearly 10-inch hands, high-end arm talent. On the other hand, the Steelers were breaking down Allar\u2019s footwork to a very slow, methodical level as they rebuild some of his mechanics from the ground up.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m curious to see how Allar develops. It\u2019s interesting to me that the biggest knock on him is that he has unrefined footwork; that is one of the most important parts of McCarthy\u2019s West Coast system, as the steps of the quarterback\u2019s drop are married to the depths of the receivers\u2019 routes. By giving Allar guardrails and a more structured approach in the pocket, eventually the size and arm talent could shine. Still, he needs work. His accuracy is often spotty, and he\u2019ll be challenged to process the game at a higher level once the preseason games begin.<\/p>\n

It seems Allar is destined to spend this season as QB3. Barring disaster, he will never see the field this year. That\u2019s probably the best possible thing for his long-term development. While he\u2019ll be under the microscope in the preseason, we\u2019re not really going to know what the Steelers have in Allar until a year from now, when McCarthy has more time to work with the promising, but unrefined, quarterback.<\/p>\n

Daylen Everette, CB (Round 3, 85th pick)<\/p>\n

During a busy Day 2 on which the Steelers traded up for a wide receiver, drafted a QB and brought in an offensive lineman with a mullet, Everette got lost in the shuffle. The cornerback out of Georgia got plenty of opportunities to change that during OTAs and minicamp. Because Joey Porter Jr. held out of most drills amid a contract dispute<\/a> and veteran Jamel Dean was limited, Everette played many meaningful reps.<\/p>\n

In many instances Everette stood out in a good way, especially when asked to defend DK Metcalf. The rookie\u2019s 4.38 speed was evident as he ran stride for stride with one of the NFL\u2019s most physically gifted receivers. The area in which Everette can continue to grow is against polished route runners.<\/p>\n

When camp begins, Everette will look to pass Asante Samuel Jr. on the depth chart and prove he can be the first corner off the bench in the event of an injury. It also remains to be seen if Everette can be more than just an outside corner, which will help him find a role in sub packages.<\/p>\n

Gennings Dunker, G (Round 3, 96th pick)<\/p>\n

The flowing red mullet gets the attention. But Dunker\u2019s decision to wear short shorts revealed tree-trunk legs that reportedly can squat 615 pounds six times. When the pads go on, that\u2019s really when it will be time to start judging the offensive linemen. But Dunker comes to Pittsburgh with a reputation as a powerful run blocker and already looks like one of the more physically imposing offensive linemen on the roster.<\/p>\n

Primarily a right tackle at Iowa, he\u2019s been working at left and right guard. While Iowa players are known to be well coached and NFL ready, I wonder if the Steelers might be patient or at least give one of the more veteran players a first crack at the vacant right guard job (created when Mason McCormick flipped sides after Isaac Seumalo\u2019s free-agent departure). Dunker\u2019s direct competition in camp is Spencer Anderson. Brock Hoffman also might enter this conversation.<\/p>\n

Kaden Wetjen, KR\/PR\/WR (Round 4, 121st pick)<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been following my coverage, you know I wasn\u2019t the biggest fan of using a fourth-round pick on a return specialist. I\u2019m going to give Wetjen a chance to impress me in training camp and the preseason games. But even after watching him during OTAs and minicamp, I\u2019ll say he is a player with a lot to prove, at least on offense.<\/p>\n

Two factors will determine if he really was worth a fourth-round pick. First: Can he be more than just a return man? He caught just 23 passes at Iowa \u2014 22 of them within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. He was essentially a gadget guy. He was buried on the depth chart during OTAs and minicamp. He\u2019s probably penciled in as WR6 behind Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Wilson, Bernard and even Ben Skowronek. My concern is that two receivers whose primary job is special teams (Skowronek and Wetjen) and two receivers who are young and unproven (Wilson and Bernard) leave this position group thin.<\/p>\n

Even as a returner, where Wetjen had six college touchdowns and will really have a chance to prove his worth, there may be a learning curve. The NFL kick- and punt-return rules are different than in the college game, and Wetjen will face a significant step up in athleticism.<\/p>\n

Riley Nowakowski, FB (Round 5, 169th pick)<\/p>\n

The Steelers will find ways to get Nowakowski on the field this year. Listed as a fullback, he has more versatility than that title suggests. He\u2019s a well-built athlete who should be an upgrade as a blocker compared with what Connor Heyward provided. The rookie also has more athleticism and will give the Steelers more after the catch. I also anticipate him becoming a core special-teamer.<\/p>\n

Gabriel Rubio, DE (Round 6, 210th pick)<\/p>\n

After an injury-marred season at Notre Dame last year, Rubio could be on the roster\u2019s fringe come cutdown day. It\u2019s hard to really evaluate a defensive lineman without pads. He\u2019s someone who will likely get a lot of time in preseason games. The way I see it, he enters camp behind Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Yahya Black, Esezi Otomewo and Logan Lee on the depth chart. If the Steelers keep eight defensive linemen, maybe Rubio is the eighth.<\/p>\n

Robert Spears-Jennings, S (Round 7, 224th pick)<\/p>\n

Often in the seventh round, teams are betting on traits. Yes, Spears-Jennings fits that mold in a lot of ways with a nearly 6-2 frame and the fastest 40 of any safety at the combine (4.32). But during OTAs and minicamp, he started to show he\u2019s more than just measurables and raw potential. He was one of the players who surprised in a good way. He got his hands on a couple of passes, and his speed was evident in coverage. With a strong camp, he has a shot to earn his way onto the 53-man roster as a special-teamer and depth piece at safety. I like his chances more after watching him in person.<\/p>\n

Eli Heidenreich, RB (Round 7, 230th pick)<\/p>\n

Running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr. called the former Midshipman the \u201cSwiss Navy Knife.\u201d How much the Steelers open up the playbook may be part of what determines if Heidenreich can work his way onto the 53-man roster. While he set several receiving records at Navy and is listed as an RB\/WR, he\u2019s been assigned a running back number (No. 29), has been working with the running backs during individual drills and overwhelmingly lined up in the backfield during team drills.<\/p>\n

One early test for him will be in pass protection, something he was not often asked to perform in a service academy\u2019s modern triple-option offense. Crunching the numbers, Heidenreich will probably need to play his way onto the 53-man roster with a strong camp. Even then, it might take an injury. It also hurts his chances that the Steelers spent a fourth-round pick on a returner, an area Heidenreich could have found a way onto the roster. I\u2019d probably pencil him in as a practice-squad player to start the year, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s where his career will end.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Pittsburgh Steelers employed one of the oldest rosters in the NFL last season, and it won\u2019t get…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":727261,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[399,398,396,397,1321,99],"class_list":["post-727260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ncaa-football","tag-football","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-football","tag-ncaafootball","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/727260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=727260"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/727260\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/727261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=727260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=727260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=727260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}