The path seemed pretty clear for the Pittsburgh Steelers after they drafted Riley Nowakowski in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The former Indiana tight was expected to be a decent backup option with fullback flexibility and special teams prowess.
Unlike most fifth-round picks, Nowakowski felt like a relative lock to make the team. Unfortunately, those odds have shifted drastically.
After he was added, it looked like his path to the roster was set in stone. The Steelers lacked a legitimate third tight end, a role that Nowakowski could fill with ease. Add in his potential as a fullback, and you could write his name in pen on the roster.
However, the Steelers don’t seem as content with their room. Now, the path to the roster is far more challenging, to say the least.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may struggle to keep Riley Nowakowski on their active roster
I really liked the thought of using Nowakowski as a third tight end at first. While fullback and special teams player would be his primary role, he flashed as a receiver at Indiana.
The Steelers opted to fill out the room with two names that should threaten the rookie in Robert Tonyan and Jaheim Bell.
Tonyan won’t fill in at fullback, but he is a classic tight end option that can serve as a safety valve and a blocker. His best days are behind him, but he is certainly a more traditional tight end option for the depth chart.
Bell fits the mold of an H-Back/fullback. This is his second stint with the team, and while he has failed to make the final roster, he is still a legit option to earn a role if he can shine. He has NFL experience. Nowakowski does not.
The real questions start with how many tight ends/fullbacks this team wants to carry. Carrying just three on the roster would likely leave Tonyan out of the running, as the third tight end will likely be fullback-flexible. That said, the team could willingly go into the season without a traditional fullback.
If you carry four, I feel like Tonyan is closer to a lock than Nowakowski. That leaves Bell fighting for that final spot. I’d still give the leg up to the rookie, but he certainly has to show it on the field.
Fifth-round picks are not locks to make the team. After the draft wrapped up, it felt like Nowakowski was an early lock to make the squad. Now that certainty is more in doubt, given the stiff competition that has been added.
Add us as a preferred source on Google