The Steelers’ rookie class keeps drawing attention at training camp, and most of the buzz has gone to the names you’d expect. Cornerback Daylen Everette has been stacking good days.
Fans were happy to see first-round pick Max Iheanachor back on the field. But on Monday, another rookie got the kind of public nod that can change the conversation a little: sixth-round defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio.
Asked about Rubio and what he still needs to prove, head coach Mike McCarthy didn’t dance around it, according to TribLIVE’s Chris Adamski.
“The biggest thing for those young guys down in the trenches is: do they belong? …. And Gabe [Rubio] definitely belongs.”
That’s a strong statement for a Day 3 pick, especially one many draft observers pegged as more of a priority free agent type. But the draft board is in the rearview now. What matters is what Rubio is doing in camp, and McCarthy clearly likes what he’s seeing.
Rubio has been working as the second-team nose tackle, which fits his game. The Notre Dame product doesn’t bring ideal lateral movement, but at 6'5'' and 321 pounds, he offers the kind of size and stopping power that plays right in the middle of the defense.
That usage also says something about where he stands in the competition. Pittsburgh’s defensive line group is crowded, and five interior spots already look spoken for. Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and Yahya Black are all viewed as locks.
If the Steelers keep just six interior defenders, that leaves Rubio fighting for one last place. Veterans Dean Lowry and Esezi Otomewo could be his biggest obstacles.
Still, Rubio has given himself a chance. His size and ability to anchor against the run matter for a team trying to hold up in that area, and he has put together some strong reps in practice. He’s starting to get noticed.
None of that means he’s safe. Rubio is still a long shot to be guaranteed a 53-man roster spot, and the final stretch of camp plus the preseason will likely decide whether he sticks on the initial roster or opens his Steelers career on the practice squad.
This is the season for over-the-top praise and plenty of noise, so it’s worth keeping some perspective. Even so, McCarthy’s message was plain: Gabe Rubio “definitely belongs” on the NFL stage.
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The bigger wrinkle is how much some of the quieter names are forcing their way into the conversation. Jamel Dean has taken a notable step forward, and undrafted rookie Kevin Jobity Jr. is getting real attention for the way he has handled defensive line reps. For a team trying to sort out the edges of its roster while still sharpening the front, those kinds of surges can complicate the cleanest assumptions and make the next stretch of camp worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]