| News |
|---|
|
Eli Heidenreich Eli Heidenreich Listed as both RB and WR
Wed, May 6, 2026, 2:38 PM
The Steelers list Heidenreich as both a running back and wide receiver on their official website, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
Analysis: The team roster and Heidenreich's player page both show 'RB/WR' as his position, reflecting uncertainty about his NFL future after a three-year run at Navy yielded 169 carries and 109 catches (for 3,151 yards and 23 TDs). A 4.44 40 at the combine confirmed that Heidenreich has NFL-caliber athleticism, but he's thin for a running back (6-feet, 198 pounds) and doesn't have much experience running routes from the perimeter. While there's always some chance the Steelers create a unique role in their offense for Heidenreich, the more likely reality for a seventh-round pick (230th overall) is that he'll need to show value on special teams and/or as the backup for a more conventional role (e.g., third-down back, slot receiver). |
|
Reverts to IR
Tue, May 5, 2026, 10:09 PM
Hardy (undisclosed) reverted to Pittsburgh's injured reserve Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Hardy is now set to remain with the Steelers despite having previously been waived with an injury designation. As the 24-year-old will be forced to miss the entirety of the upcoming campaign, he will now shift his focus to getting healthy for the 2027 season. |
|
Jaheim Bell Jaheim Bell Lands in Pittsburgh
Mon, May 4, 2026, 6:37 PM
Bell signed with the Steelers on Monday.
Analysis: The tight end spent time on the practice squads of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in 2025, though he never appeared in a regular-season game. Bell was a seventh-round pick of the Patriots in 2024, catching two passes (on three targets) for 20 yards as a rookie. |
|
Not getting fifth-year option
Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 8:39 PM
Pittsburgh is declining Jones' (neck) fifth-year option, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Jones would have been paid $19.1 million for 2027 if the Steelers had picked up the option, but instead he'll be a free agent. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports that Pittsburgh's decision to decline the option was influenced by Jones' neck injury, which cut his season short early last year and may prevent him from being ready for training camp -- and potentially Week 1 of the regular season -- in 2026. When Jones has been healthy he's played well, and he started 37 of the 38 regular-season games in which he appeared over the past two campaigns. |
|
Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers Gets right-of-first-refusal tender
Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 9:22 AM
The Steelers assigned Rodgers the right-of-first-refusal UFA tender Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Rodgers reportedly had not notified Pittsburgh of his plans for the 2026 season ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, in which the team added Drew Allar (ankle) in the third round to join Mason Rudolph and Will Howard in the quarterback room. The right-of-first-refusal tender means the Steelers will receive exclusive negotiation rights with Rodgers if he doesn't sign anywhere by July 22, per Schefter, or the start of the summer's first training camp if that date is earlier. Before that date, Rodgers remains free to sign with another team, though Pittsburgh would have the right of first refusal, and by all appearances the 42-year-old veteran intends to stick with the Steelers if he plays another season. Rodgers' tender would provide a 10 percent raise on the one-year, $13.65 million contract he played under in 2025. |
|
Signs with Pittsburgh
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 4:23 PM
The Steelers signed Metayer as an undrafted free agent Monday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Metayer appeared in 43 college games, playing at Cincinnati for two seasons before transferring to Arizona State to finish his collegiate career with the Sun Devils. The tight end caught 94 passes for 971 yards and 14 touchdowns over the four-year span. Metayer will spend training camp competing with Riley Nowakowski, J.J. Galbreath and Lake McRee for the chance to start the season providing special teams and offensive depth value behind starters Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. |
|
Another kicker in Pittsburgh
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 4:16 PM
The Steelers signed Marjan as an undrafted free agent Monday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Marjan ended his college career at Kansas, making 14 of 17 field goals (including a career-long attempt of 55 yards) and converting all 40 of his extra-point tries. Current Steelers kicker Chris Boswell suffered some inconsistencies near the end of the 2025 season, so Marjan is likely a training camp addition to help Boswell tighten up his game with some competition. Boswell is well regarded as one of the league's most productive kickers, so it likely would take a collapse by him and a stellar showing by Marjan to change any positions on the depth chart by September. |
|
Brandon Johnson Brandon Johnson Back in Pittsburgh
Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 3:10 PM
The Steelers signed Johnson to a contract Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports
Analysis: Johnson bounced around several practice squads last year without suiting up for a regular-season game. The wide receiver ended on the Broncos' unit, but he'll make a return to the Steelers ahead of training camp. A cousin of legendary former Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, Johnson will fight for a roster spot as a part of the receiving corps led by DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman. |
|
Returning to Pittsburgh
Sun, Apr 26, 2026, 5:07 PM
Lowry is slated to sign with the Steelers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Lowry suffered a knee injury in early August of 2025, rendering him unable to play for the entire season. The defensive end last played for the Steelers in 2024, producing five tackles, including 1.0 sacks, over a 12-game span. The 31-year-old should provide cheap and experienced depth to the Steelers' defensive line as they head into the 2026 season. |
|
Finds home with Steelers
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 5:11 PM
The Steelers selected Heidenrich in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 230th overall.
Analysis: Heidenrich is arguably the most versatile back in the draft, racking up not only 77 carries for 499 yards and three touchdowns, but also adding 51 catches for a whopping 941 yards and six touchdowns in a triple-option Navy offense that doesn't typically throw the ball that often. He figures to be more of a receiving back similar to a Danny Woodhead or Darren Sproles but could be a unique player with a creative offensive coordinator. Heidenrich's top-end speed isn't off the charts, and he's not the most elusive back in the draft. He'll have to earn his way up the depth chart in the Steel City and may be asked to contribute on special teams to keep his spot on the 53-man roster. |
|
Selected by Steelers
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 4:53 PM
The Steelers selected Spears-Jennings in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 224th overall.
Analysis: It's not often that you see multi-year starting safeties with 4.32 speed fall to the seventh round, but for Spears-Jennings (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) that's exactly what happened after starting at Oklahoma the last two years. Spears-Jennings is a fearless and explosive safety but one whose otherwise uncommon athleticism has proven difficult to harness effectively. Despite his speed, it was challenging for Spears-Jennings to maintain his coverage assignments, and in pursuit he's liable to misfire. The good news is that even if he never improves at all, Spears-Jennings should be a capable special teams contributor. |
|
Picked up by Steelers
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 4:24 PM
The Steelers selected Rubio in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 210th overall.
Analysis: Rubio saw limited action as a senior at Notre Dame in 2025, starting five of the first six games before injuries kept him sidelined for the remainder of the season. He racked up 13 tackles and 0.5 sacks in his final collegiate season and now will slot in as a depth option on the Steelers' defensive front. |
|
Picked by Pittsburgh
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 2:22 PM
The Steelers selected Nowakowski in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 169th overall.
Analysis: Nowakowski (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) was a standout tight end at Indiana and before that Wisconsin, and with this selection the Steelers might have picked Nowakowski to be their replacement for Connor Heyward, who left for the Raiders in free agency. Nowakowski looks more like a fullback than a tight end, and if he's replacing Heyward then the Steelers might have concluded the same thing. |
|
Picked by Pittsburgh
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 12:16 PM
The Steelers selected Wetjen in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 121st overall.
Analysis: Wetjen (5-foot-9, 193 pounds) will have his arrival in Pittsburgh's wide receiver corps overshadowed by rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard, which is reasonable given the former's undersized frame and lack of top-end speed (4.47 40-yard dash). While Wetjen could provide competition for depth wideouts Ben Skowronek and A.T. Perry this offseason, his best odds of contributing as a rookie will be in the return game, as he led the FBS with an average of 26.8 yards per punt return in his 2025 season at Iowa, returning three punts (as well as one kickoff) for a touchdown. It will be a surprise if Wetjen doesn't challenge Donte Kent (ankle) for the top punt returner gig immediately. |
|
Picked by Steelers
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 10:01 PM
The Steelers selected Dunker in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 96th overall.
Analysis: The mulleted wonder from Iowa stays in gold and black now that he's headed to Pittsburgh, where Dunker is expected to eventually emerge as a quality starting guard. Dunker (6-foot-5, 319 pounds) played tackle at Iowa but might be undersized for the position, whereas at guard Dunker's traits grade very well. With a 5.18-second 40 and 108-inch broad jump, Dunker has above-average athleticism to work with on a solid frame by guard standards. |
|
Grabbed by Steelers
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 9:34 PM
The Steelers selected Everette in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 85th overall.
Analysis: Everette (6-foot-1, 196 pounds) put together quality tape as a three-year starter for the Bulldogs and did additional favors to his draft stock at the 2026 Combine, where he logged a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. Pittsburgh is well-stocked at cornerback, with Joey Porter having been joined by Jamel Dean in free agency, and Asante Samuel re-signing as a capable depth option. While that could make it difficult for Everette to earn a consistent role early in his NFL career, he also may receive the luxury of a developmental window to realize the upside provided by his speed and frame. |
|
Joins Steelers in third round
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 9:07 PM
The Steelers selected Allar (ankle) in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 76th overall.
Analysis: Allar (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) is recovering from season-ending surgery undergone in November to address a broken left ankle. He threw for 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns and three INTs before being injured in 2025 and was inconsistent in that limited action. That said, Allar boasts experience as a three-year collegiate starter to go with prototypical size, and it's difficult to imagine a more intriguing landing spot for the 22-year-old signal-caller than Pittsburgh, where Aaron Rodgers' pending decision about playing the 2026 season looms large. Excepting Rodgers, who currently remains a free agent, the Steelers' quarterback room houses Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard. In the event that Rodgers isn't Pittsburgh's starter in 2026, it would be intriguing to see a healthy Allar in a genuine competition. It remains to be seen whether Allar will be able to handle any amount of on-field work during the offseason program. |
|
Taken by Pittsburgh in second round
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 7:13 PM
The Steelers selected Bernard in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 47th overall.
Analysis: Bernard spent the last two seasons of his four-year college career at Alabama, where he operated mostly as the team's Z receiver and finished the 2025 campaign with 64 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns across 14 games. He posted the fastest three-cone time at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine (6.71 seconds), and he has the overall athleticism and skill set that should allow him to serve as an immediate contributor for the Steelers, whether it's Aaron Rodgers or another quarterback throwing passes to him. Bernard figures to slide in as the team's WR3 behind veterans DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman and ahead of 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson. |
|
Selected by Steelers
Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 9:12 PM
The Steelers selected Iheanachor in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 21st overall.
Analysis: Iheanachor (6-foot-6, 321 pounds) is light on experience but extremely athletic, boasting a 4.91-second 40 (96th percentile among offensive tackles, according to Mockdraftable) even at a dense build. It's not clear how concerning the medical reports have been on incumbent left tackle Broderick Jones (neck), but it's possible that the Steelers will consider Iheanachor at left guard if he doesn't claim the starting left tackle role. |
|
Setback with neck issue
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 4:30 PM
Jones had a setback to the neck injury he sustained last season and may not be ready to start training camp or Week 1, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Monday
Analysis: Jones' 2025 season ended in late November due to a serious neck injury he suffered in the Steelers' Week 12 loss to the Bears. If the left tackle's recovery timeline has been extended, it could force the Steelers to use a higher pick on the offensive line in the 2026 Draft. |
Connect With Us:
