Pittsburgh drafted ten new players to the organization last week, while also hosting an incredibly successful NFL draft. I don’t believe in assigning grades to draft selections before I’ve seen them play an NFL snap, but I am excited about this year’s draft class. Here’s why you should be just as hyped as I am:

Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

A tremendous athlete with silky footwork, Iheanachor showed out against top-level competition throughout his final collegiate season. Relatively new to football, Iheanachor has improved at an alarming rate throughout his college career. As it stands now, he has the frame and footwork to contribute in Pittsburgh from day one, but his trajectory puts him on course to be so much more.

Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

A smooth operator who hauled in everything first-round pick Ty Simpson threw his way while the two were at Alabama, Germie Bernard is the newest weapon in Pittsburgh’s revamped arsenal. Bernard has a solid frame for a slot receiver, and his fluid movement and versatility stand out on tape. The Steelers’ offense could give him an opportunity for a high volume of targets in the middle of the field, especially given how deep his route tree is.

Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

The Penn State product has as high a ceiling as any quarterback in this rookie class. Allar has all the measurables to succeed, and his deep ball will make him popular with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman. New head coach Mike McCarthy has proven his ability to develop young quarterbacks into stars. If he can work his magic again, Pittsburgh will have scored a starting-caliber quarterback who can ignite the offense for nothing more than a third-round pick.

Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia

Everette logged a lot of miles during his career at Georgia, but he played his best football when the lights were brightest. A long, agile corner with blazing top-end speed, Everette shines in press coverage, blowing up plays before they develop in front of him. Fluid movement and good vision will translate to the next level, where he can develop in a loaded Pittsburgh secondary.

Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa

A versatile, athletic, and powerful lineman from an OL factory like Iowa will always be a solid pick, especially after losing Isaac Seumalo to the Cardinals. A vicious blocker who’s hard for rushers to escape from, Dunker’s athleticism was on display throughout the predraft process, with excellent showings at the Senior Bowl and at the combine. If you haven’t seen him chuck hay bales, that should be plenty to get you fired up about Pittsburgh’s new interior protector.

Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa

In the age of the new NFL kickoff rules, teams are making return specialists important again. On day three of the draft, they found a sparkplug of a returner in Wetjen. Another Iowa product, Wetjen combines blazing speed, elite vision and sharp lateral movement. A back-to-back Jet Award winner (best returner in CFB), he terrorized any team willing to kick him the ball, and he’ll look to add to his highlight reel in Pittsburgh.

Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana

Nowakowski projects as a fullback with the Steelers, and you have to see the fit if you watch his 2025 tape with Indiana. Coaches love his fundamentals and his enthusiasm for run blocking, and he’s developed into a solid pass-catcher over the last two years. Nowakowski was quietly one of the most important pieces on the 2025 championship team while at Indiana, and his new Steelers teammates will appreciate his willingness to do the dirty work on offense.

Gabe Rubio, DE, Notre Dame

Rubio is a big, mean, run-stopper from Notre Dame who’s great at clogging up gaps. A team like Pittsburgh, which wants to control the ground game, will value Rubio’s 6 '5, 320lb frame mucking up the middle of the line and making life miserable for opposing running backs. Rubio’s injury history held him back from a true breakout season, which means that he could still hit another level as a pro.

Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma

Spears-Jennings logged a 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine and hits like a bus, making him an intriguing mix of speed and power. The Oklahoma Sooner will look to make an immediate impact on special teams with the potential to make a real push for playing time in the secondary.

Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy

I was fired up to see Heidenreich join the Steelers, especially after all the predraft research into his career at Navy. The Pittsburgh native brings a lot of juice to the field as a true offensive weapon who can line up pretty much anywhere. However, the Steelers choose to get him the ball; he’s a tough runner with great top-end speed, and he proves tough to tackle despite his smaller frame.