The Pittsburgh Steelers recently wrapped up OTAs, and one player who drew an impressive amount of buzz was seventh-round draft pick Eli Heidenreich. The local product from the Navy Academy was already a fan-favorite, and his moment walking the stage at the tail end of the 2026 NFL Draft was heartwarming.
Unfortunately, the Steelers may already be spreading the rookie too thin.
The team is currently listing Heidenreich as a running back, and the Navy product recently claimed the No. 29 jersey. During organized team activities, Heidenreich participated in running back drills while showing off his pass-catching chops.
While Heidenreich's versatility is part of what makes him an intriguing prospect, the Steelers could be asking too much of their seventh-round pick. Instead, Mike McCarthy and the coaching staff may want to consider playing him where his biggest strength lies—as a slot receiver.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should consider making Eli Heidenreich a slot receiver
This isn't to say that Heidenreich doesn't offer versatility or any explosive-play ability from the backfield. However, based on his physical profile, skill set, and the competition on the roster, it would be best for his career path if the Steelers simply made him a full-time slot receiver.
Let's start with the size profile. At 6'0'' and 198 pounds, Heidenreich is tall for a running back (73rd percentile height), but with a narrow, thin frame for the position (13th percentile weight). While he could add some muscle mass going from Navy to an NFL weight program, his 29 1/4'' arms (7th percentile) suggest that his frame may be close to being maxed out already.
Because of this tall, lean frame for a running back, Heidenreich could have trouble bouncing off defenders, powering through contact, and breaking arm tackles at the next level. This could really hurt his ability to carve out chunk plays or even run consistently between the tackles.
Instead, Heidenreich's best trait is his receiving ability. The 22-year-old is Navy's all-time leading receiver, and he does his best work stretching the field from the slot. Not only is his frame not an issue as a slot option, but he's significantly bigger than Mike McCarthy's old slot receiver in Green Bay, Randall Cobb (who was just 5'10'' and 191 pounds).
Then there's the competition that he has to go against.
The Steelers' backfield is already crowded with the two-headed monster of Jaylen Warren and newcomer Rico Dowdle. Warren has been one of the more efficient runners since entering the league as an undrafted rookie in 2022, while Dowdle is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons despite playing for two different teams.
Pittsburgh also has 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson in the backfield, who will be scrapping and clawing for a bounce-back season after a disappointing rookie campaign. Meanwhile, veteran Travis Homer was brought in to be a special teams ace. Simply put, there might not be room in the backfield for a role if the team views Heidenreich as a running back.
At wide receiver, it's a different story.
While DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. are going to have big roles—and third-round pick Germie Bernard is guaranteed to make the roster—the competition thins out for the final spots on the team. Roman Wilson has done next to nothing for the Steelers in his first two seasons, and even if he sticks around for another year, there's an avenue where both Wilson and Heidenreich make the team as receivers.
While I enjoy the versatility Heidenreich showed during his college career, he never had more than 500 rushing yards in a season, despite playing nearly 13 games on average over the past three years.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could give Eli Heidenreich a few carries now and then, but if they want to ensure that they aren't spreading their seventh-round pick too thin between responsibilities at running back, receiver, and special teams, they would be wise to make him a slot receiver. This is a spot where he may be able to thrive at the next level.
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