When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded up from pick No. 99 in the third round to pick No. 96 to select Iowa offensive tackle Gennings Dunker, the fanbase erupted. Dunker was a well-known commodity since early in the pre-draft process. The Iowa star was the talk of the Senior Bowl in late January, and the buzz of the O-line group at the NFL Combine on March 1.
But Dunker is more than just a notable face and flowing locks that stand out in a crowd; he's a heck of a football player.
Dunker followed up two straight impressive seasons for the Hawkeyes with an incredible pre-draft process at the Senior Bowl and the Combine. Many believed he could be selected in the second round, but the Steelers found excellent value at the end of the third.
However, some fans might not see the vision with this pick.
After taking a right tackle at pick No. 21 in Round 1 with Max Iheanachor, the Steelers found another right tackle in Round 3. Some questioned whether Dunker would simply add depth to the tackle position and serve as a swing tackle before settling in. But his ideal fit on Pittsburgh's offensive line is already obvious.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should play Gennings Dunker at left guard
Iheanachor is one of the rawest players to go in the first two days of the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, he has a prototype size and traits profile to stick at right tackle. That's where he should stay. I wouldn't move him.
Instead, the Steelers should kick 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu over to left tackle, where he played at Washington. Fautanu lacks elite power, but his feet and mirroring ability are fantastic, making him a great choice to man the LT position.
Meanwhile, Broderick Jones is entering a contract year, and the latest health update was discouraging. Jones suffered a setback in the spinal fusion surgery he had to repair his neck, and he may not be ready for the start of the season. For a position that relies so much on torque, power, and punch, this is never a good sign.
Jones could be placed on injured reserve, while Dylan Cook—who did a respectable job at LT in Jones' absence late last season—could serve as the swing tackle.
So where does that leave Dunker?
Though Dunker only played right tackle for the Hawkeyes in each of the past three seasons, he has terrific size, strength, and athletic profile to kick inside to guard. As a tackle, Dunker has an 8.56 Relative Athletic Score, but compared to guards, Dunker instantly vaults to a 9.57 RAS.
At 6'5'' and 319 pounds with 33 1/2'' arms, Dunker has a prototype frame as a guard at the next level, and the tenacity to match the position.
While playing right guard might be easier on his muscle memory (considering he's already used to his kick slide and punch as a right tackle), this would require yet another OL shift, forcing Mason McCormick to flip-flop over to left guard.
This isn't an impossible change, as McCormick was a left guard at North Dakota State, but the Steelers might not want to upset the apple cart here. It might also be tough sledding if two rookie offensive linemen —Iheanachor and Dunker—where next to each other to begin their career; especially when one is extremely raw and the other has never played guard.
With a starting lineup from left to right of Troy Fautanu, Gennings Dunker, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, and Max Iheanachor, Steelers fans would be feeling great about the outlook and future of this unit.
Dunker isn't guaranteed to beat out Specner Anderson or Brock Hoffman for a starting guard spot from the gate, but he's easily the most talented of the group. It's best to insert him into the starting lineup right away and let him take his lumps. There's no better way to learn than with on-the-job training.
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