The Pittsburgh Steelers kept it relatively safe on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Instead of acquiring players with boom-or-bust potential, the team opted for relatively known commodities with a clear path to a roster spot.
Kaden Wetjen should slot in as a returner; Riley Nowakowski is a fullback with backup tight end potential, while Gabriel Rubio’s ceiling is a rotational run defender.
However, the last pick of the draft could prove to be the most controversial.
A feel-good story to end the draft, the Steelers took local product and Navy graduate Eli Heidenreich with their final pick in the seventh round. A dynamic chess piece in college, the hope is that some of those big plays will translate onto the field.
The Pittsburgh Steelers took a big risk with Eli Heidenreich
Despite a background in both positions, the Steelers appear content to let Heidenreich start his NFL career at running back. It’s a crowded room, though, and Heidenreich needs to earn his stripes.
Kaleb Johnson is rightfully on the hot seat, but he has done everything asked of him entering his second year. Assuming he can add some value elsewhere and flash the talent he had at Iowa, he could quickly lock up the third running back roster spot.
Even if he doesn’t, Travis Homer is an experienced special teams player who provides a lot of value on that unit. Lew Nichols flashed last year in limited action as well. This is a steep hill to climb.
While his skill set is unique, the Steelers also took a similar player in the aforementioned Wetjen in the fourth round. His main role will be as a returner, but he can serve in the short passing game and take carries as well.
All of these factors make Heidenreich’s path to the roster murky. Add in the remarks that the Steelers viewed him as one of the best seventh-round picks in the team's history due to the emotion of the pick, and his time in Pittsburgh could be short.
Taking a “position-less” player like Heidenreich always comes with risk. Now, with the cards starting to stack against him, it feels like the pick could backfire for the team as Heidenreich’s grip on a roster spot begins to fail.
Add us as a preferred source on Google