Seventh round: Eli Heidenreich, running back, Navy
With the 230th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers have selected running back Eli Heidenreich out of Navy.
Heidenreich, 22, is a Pittsburgh native that played his high school football at Mt. Lebanon. He has good size at 6-0 and 198 pounds, and is a versatile player that can carry the ball or catch passes. That's exemplified by becoming one of only two FBS players since 1956 to record at least 925 receiving yards and 475 rushing yards in the same season.
"Obviously, I have a lot of respect for what he's done the last four years," Mike McCarthy said following the conclusion of the draft. "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. I met with (Brian) Angelichio briefly earlier. I think we're going to open up the playbook a little bit."
Heidenreich is a phenomenal athlete. He earned a 9.25 Relative Athletic Score, on a scale of 0-10, with a 4.44 40-yard dash and 6.55 three-cone drill as standout measurables. Heidenreich's game is reminiscent of Christian McCaffrey, which is no accident.
"I've always looked up to Christian McCaffrey," Heidenreich said Saturday evening. "He's just a fantastic player. He plays the game the right way. Watching him, especially in the pass game, the way he's able to get open and make things happen in space, is something that I've always tried to study and replicate."
THE ASYLUM
Seventh round: Eli Heidenreich, running back, Navy
With the 230th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers have selected running back Eli Heidenreich out of Navy.
Heidenreich, 22, is a Pittsburgh native that played his high school football at Mt. Lebanon. He has good size at 6-0 and 198 pounds, and is a versatile player that can carry the ball or catch passes. That's exemplified by becoming one of only two FBS players since 1956 to record at least 925 receiving yards and 475 rushing yards in the same season.
"Obviously, I have a lot of respect for what he's done the last four years," Mike McCarthy said following the conclusion of the draft. "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. I met with (Brian) Angelichio briefly earlier. I think we're going to open up the playbook a little bit."
Heidenreich is a phenomenal athlete. He earned a 9.25 Relative Athletic Score, on a scale of 0-10, with a 4.44 40-yard dash and 6.55 three-cone drill as standout measurables. Heidenreich's game is reminiscent of Christian McCaffrey, which is no accident.
"I've always looked up to Christian McCaffrey," Heidenreich said Saturday evening. "He's just a fantastic player. He plays the game the right way. Watching him, especially in the pass game, the way he's able to get open and make things happen in space, is something that I've always tried to study and replicate."
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