Head coach Mike McCarthy and the Pittsburgh Steelers created one of the best moments of the 2026 NFL Draft with the selection of Navy’s Eli Heidenreich late on Day 3. The dual-threat running back is from Mt. Lebanon, which is located less than 10 miles from Acrisure Stadium.
But a few days removed from that feel-good moment, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo provided a bit of a reality check with his first Steelers roster and depth chart analysis since the NFL Draft.
DeFabo suggested Heidenreich might have too similar of a skillset to fifth-rounder Kaden Wetjen to be worth a roster spot with the Steelers in 2026.
“Wetjen was probably the Steelers’ most controversial pick. He’s also an important one for several other players within the room. For [Roman] Wilson, it’s a huge win,” wrote DeFabo. “In Wetjen, the Steelers drafted a return man who might contribute as a gadget guy, instead of selecting a receiver to challenge Wilson, who could also return kicks.
“While the pick is good news for Wilson, though, it’s going to make for an uphill battle for Heidenreich. The Mt. Lebanon High School and Navy grad is a gadget guy/return specialist himself. The Steelers kept just five receivers last year. Even if they keep six, it might be hard for the local kid to climb the depth chart as it currently stands.”
Running Backs & Wide Receivers Set to Make Steelers Roster
At Navy, Heidenreich played running back. But because of his significant involvement as a pass-catcher in college, NFL pundits have already speculated Heidenreich will actually compete for a receiver job in Pittsburgh.
If the Navy product was joining the Steelers receiver room last year, he would have experienced a much easier path to a job. But the team acquired Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason and then selected two wideouts before picking Heidenreich in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Pittman will join D.K. Metcalf as the team’s starting receivers. Second-rounder Germie Bernard appears set to enter training camp as the offense’s WR3 while Wetjen, a fifth-round rookie, could be the team’s return specialist.
Wetjen’s presence seems to have DeFabo convinced Heidenreich could be hard pressed to earn a role with the Steelers. The team also has Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek who will likely get roster spots.
That’s already six receivers to make the final roster before Heidenreich.
At running back, the Steelers also addressed their depth this offseason. While the team lost free agent Kenneth Gainwell, the Steelers signed veteran backs Rico Dowdle and Travis Homer. Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson will each return too.
To make the roster, the Steelers might have to keep 10 receivers and backs and consider Heidenreich their best RB4.
Does Mike McCarthy Have Plan for Eli Heidenreich?
As is the case often with promising seventh-round picks, the simple roster numbers game could prevent Heidenreich from a job in Pittsburgh.
That wasn’t necessarily what McCarthy suggested, though, when he first addressed Heidenreich’s potential role right after the team drafted him.
“We talk about how many downs a player plays. Does he play all four downs, his ability to play multiple positions? I think Eli definitely brings that to the table,” said McCarthy.
“I met with [Brian] Angelichio briefly earlier; I think we’re going to open up the playbook a little bit.”
It’s not surprising McCarthy spoke positively about Heidenreich after the 2026 NFL Draft. The team just picked him. McCarthy wasn’t going to say the rookie had no shot at a roster spot.
But the comment indicates the Steelers may have picked Heidenreich with a specific role in mind. If that’s the case, then it’s more likely the playmaker will have an opportunity to earn a roster spot.
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