The Pittsburgh Steelers get a taste of their first preseason action this week. While there are storylines abound for this team, this is also the first time we will get to see this rookie class in NFL action.
It will almost certainly be a great proving ground for this crop of young talent.
The stock of this class has been up and down as of late, but ahead of the first game, the major players are already taking shape. This game will be pivotal in either proving certain players right or wrong.
The Steelers are gearing up for their opening preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium, but the latest rookie stock report is all over the place as exhibition action begins.
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie stock report ahead of the team's preseason opener
Stock Up: Max Iheanachor, OT
The Steelers' top pick had a slow start to training camp. Some reporters even came out and said he was downright struggling early on in camp.
Once the pads came on, it was a different story.
The narrative suddenly shifted. Iheanachor was dominant in pass-blocking drills. Many were arguing that he was having the best camp of any tackle.
A minor injury has derailed some of that progress, and Dylan Cook has been steady on the right side. The injury likely will keep Iheanachor on the bench early in the season, but it seems like just a matter of time before he takes over as the starter.
Stock Down: Germie Bernard, WR
It hasn’t been a bad start for Germie Bernard. He has done everything asked of him and has made some plays. But, for the most part, it has been quiet, and the big catches have eluded him. Worse yet, Roman Wilson has quickly established himself as the third receiver for this offense.
Bernard will likely have a role still, but it certainly won’t be as an every-down player. The lone bright spot right now is that Michael Pittman is a little banged up, opening the door for more opportunity. However, if he doesn’t capitalize, it could be a tough start to his first year.
Stock Even: Drew Allar, QB
Drew Allar had a relatively hot start to training camp, with numerous big plays (mixed in with simple mistakes). However, things have settled down, and the big plays have slowed. He isn’t playing horribly, but the great snaps have been less frequent.
It doesn’t change much for him. He is locked in as the third quarterback on the team no matter what (unless the Steelers keep four quarterbacks). However, a strong first preseason game would be welcome for the rookie quarterback.
Stock Up: Dylan Everette, CB
Like Allar, it feels like the hype around Dylan Everette has slowed as training camp progressed. That said, he still has a lot of hype surrounding him, and the team and reporters are still singing his praises.
Unfortunately for his rookie season, he is in a deep cornerback room. Despite his strong start to camp, he remains buried on the depth chart. That said, continuing his strong play through the preseason would be a welcome start and build on a strong start to his career.
Stock Even: Gennings Dunker, OG
Like Iheanachor, Gennings Dunker has seen his play tick up since the pads came on. He is still buried on the depth chart and won’t be in a position to start this season, but he is stacking some good practices, particularly as a run blocker.
Ideally, he kicks off the first game of his career and shows off some solid tape as he continues to learn his new role. That said, the only thing he is vying for right now is an opportunity next year. And because of that, his stock isn't climbing right now.
Stock Even: Kaden Wetjen, WR
Kaden Wetjen has been mostly a nonfactor on offense so far (as was expected). It is hard to gauge his return work, though, as full sessions aren’t being practiced in camp. His first opportunity to make an impact will be against the Packers.
Stock Up: Riley Nowakowski, FB/TE
While I don’t think we have gotten any major updates on Riley Nowakowski in the past week, he already feels like an integral part of the offense. I’m excited to see how the team plans on using him. Even with Robert Tonyon making a serious push for a roster spot, it doesn’t feel like he is threatening Nowakowski.
Stock Up: Gabriel Rubio, DL
Everyone’s least favorite pick, I still think there could be something there with the sixth-round rookie. The Steelers seemingly agree, as they have listed him as the top backup to Derrick Harmon on their initial depth chart.
He has seen time up and down the line so far. His best fit feels like an end, but that versatility could certainly help him out in the long run.
Stock Up: Robert Spears-Jennings, DB
One of the biggest beneficiaries of the Steelers' thin safety room, Robert Spears-Jennings, has received ample work with the first-team defense. His play hasn’t been exceptional; it is usually tough for safeties to make a big impact in practices, but the willingness to play him with the starters is noteworthy.
The rookie's roster spot still isn’t secure. He likely needs the team to carry five safeties to firm up a spot, and the team will almost certainly want a more veteran option to be the backup, but Spears-Jennings feels like the top name of the young options in the room.
Stock Down: Eli Heidenreich, RB
It has been a quiet start to Eli Heidenreich’s NFL career. Injuries have kept him off the field as of late, but even when he was healthy, he was barely getting any looks on offense. He isn’t even a lock to make the practice squad right now.
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