Overview
- The Pittsburgh Steelers used their final pick, No. 230 overall in the seventh round, to select Eli Heidenreich in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Heidenreich told The Christian Kuntz Podcast that he had agreed to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a preferred undrafted free agent before Pittsburgh called, he revealed Thursday.
- Tampa Bay had no seventh-round pick, so the Buccaneers would have needed to draft him earlier or trade into the round to guarantee his rights instead of pursuing him as a UDFA.
- A Navy alumnus and Mt. Lebanon native, Heidenreich finished his college career with 3,151 yards from scrimmage and 23 touchdowns and is a popular local pick for Steelers fans.
- Despite being drafted, Heidenreich still must earn a roster spot in training camp and the preseason by showing versatility and special-teams value against established backs on Pittsburgh’s roster.