With several roster spots up for grabs along the defensive line, the Pittsburgh Steelers will face some difficult decisions. The players competing for those roles will need to perform at a high level and make the final cuts as challenging as possible for the coaching staff. While no position is guaranteed for a late-round draft pick, Gabriel Rubio still has a legitimate chance to earn a spot on the roster.
Keep an eye on the surprising sixth-round pick, as the Steelers clearly saw something in his game that others missed. Many evaluators did not have Rubio on their draft boards at all, let alone projected him as a sixth-round selection. He still has a long way to go before he can feel secure about making the roster, though.
With strong competition at his position, he will need to earn every opportunity, and the path ahead will not be easy. It got even more difficult now that veteran Dean Lowry is back in the fold as well.
The Steelers did not bring in many intriguing undrafted free agents following this year’s draft. That could indicate that only a few have a realistic chance to make the roster, but one name stands out: Kevin Jobity Jr. The undrafted signee out of Syracuse has an opportunity to stick around, though he faces a steep climb. Like Rubio, he will need to prove his value, but Jobity could quickly impact Rubio’s chances.
Pittsburgh Steelers UDFA Kevin Jobity Jr. could beat out Gabriel Rubio for roster spot
One of the biggest concerns surrounding Gabriel Rubio coming out of college was his limited playing time. He missed significant snaps due to injuries and the presence of more established talent ahead of him on the depth chart. That lack of consistent action caused his draft stock to fall, though Pittsburgh still held him in relatively high regard.
At the same time, it is clear that Kevin Jobity Jr. enters the professional level with more experience and a stronger overall résumé.
If the Steelers must choose between Rubio and Jobity for a final roster spot, the undrafted free agent appears to have the early edge as training camp approaches. Jobity’s steady progression at Syracuse is difficult to overlook, as he showed clear improvement each season. In contrast, Rubio struggled to stay on the field and produce consistent numbers.
When comparing the two players, it is surprising that Rubio was selected in the draft while Jobity had to wait to sign as an undrafted free agent.
Rubio appeared in 39 games over five seasons at Notre Dame, while his undrafted counterpart played in 38 games across four seasons. During that time, Jobity recorded 18 more total tackles, 13.5 more tackles for loss, and 8.5 more career sacks than Rubio, highlighting a clear edge in production.
Although the Steelers used a sixth-round pick on Rubio, there are no guarantees he will make the final roster. He has high expectations to meet, which places significant pressure on the rookie. In contrast, Jobity enters training camp with far less pressure as an undrafted player. Given the talent he displayed at Syracuse, there is a clear path for him to challenge Rubio and take his roster spot.
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