Eli Heidenreich got the kind of welcome most hometown prospects dream about when the 2026 NFL Draft came to Pittsburgh. Growing up in Steelers country made the moment hit even harder, and the Navy standout was there to soak in the attention after being picked late.
But the path from feel-good draft story to making the Steelers’ 53-man roster was always going to be steep. ESPN’s latest projection has Heidenreich on the outside looking in.
The projection slots in three running backs for Pittsburgh: Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle and Travis Homer. At wide receiver, ESPN has Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen making the cut, and none of them are viewed as likely to be pushed off the roster. That leaves no obvious opening for Heidenreich.
His college production came in a Navy offense that asked him to do things a lot of NFL systems simply don’t. He lined up as a wing in a triple-option attack and piled up carries while also setting a record for receiving yards for the Midshipmen. That kind of résumé made him a fascinating prospect, but it also meant the transition to the pro game was never going to be clean.
Heidenreich’s athletic ability gives him a real chance to stick somewhere, but finding the right role for his mix of skills may be what makes this such a tricky climb. If he does miss the initial roster, the Steelers are expected to try to get him to the practice squad.
So the door to an NFL future is still open. It just doesn’t look like the local kid is headed for an immediate impact in Pittsburgh.
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