One of the early favorite picks from the Steelers 2026 Draft was the selection of Gennings Dunker. The third-round pick out of Iowa has the look and tenacity of a classic nasty, mauling offensive lineman perfect for a blue-collar city.
However, his rookie deal could end up being more of a whimper instead of a bang.
While Dunker was taken with the clear hope that he would successfully make the switch to guard and eventually start, there are a lot of assumptions that he can contribute at a starting level right away.
In fact, there is a real path where Dunker not only doesn’t start as a rookie, but also where his first year ends up being a wash for the team.
Gennings Dunker could end up end up having a disappointing rookie season
Now, if Dunker enters camp and dominates as he did at Iowa, then he could certainly earn the starting role. He has the talent and the pedigree to do so.
However, what happens if he isn’t ready to start, or if Spencer Anderson just flat-out beats him for the starting gig? That changes the scenario.
While Dunker has tackle experience, he will line up exclusively at guard for the foreseeable future. The only reason he is getting reps at tackle is if there was an emergency that needed to be taken care of. That means his role is either as a starter or as a backup. The lack of versatility could bite him early in his career.
Anderson saw some light work as center in camp before and has also taken snaps at tackle. Like Dunker, though, his role is as a guard if he starts.
He does have value as a blocking tight end, though. We saw the Steelers have a lot of success with that look last year. Even if he doesn’t win the starting job, you would expect Anderson to dress.
Hoffman is a more traditional interior depth option. He can play either guard spot or center. He feels like a safe bet to be a backup and dress due to his ability to play center.
If Dunker doesn’t win the starting gig, he doesn’t have enough value to dress over the other names fighting for the spot. That means he is likely inactive for his first year.
Injuries would likely come into play, so Dunker gets a few games at least dressing, but if he can’t win the starting job outright, his rookie season could be in trouble.
It isn’t uncommon for mid-round rookies to need a season or two of development before being counted on to start. If he can’t earn the starting job, though, his rookie season for the Steelers could look like a disaster.
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