Pittsburgh Steelers seventh-round pick Eli Heidenreich turned heads at OTAs and minicamp. He even received a ringing endorsement from head coach Mike McCarthy .
"Eli's a natural football player. He's very instinctive, has an excellent skill set," McCarthy said at OTAs on Tuesday. "He's picked up the offense. His position flexibility has been fun. He's had a tremendous start. I'm very impressed with him."
Longtime NFL analyst Greg Cosell expects Heidenreich to be involved in the offense from the get-go. It will not be a redshirt year.
"I think he's going to play because he can do a lot of things for you. He's big, he's physical. He's a movable chess piece," Cosell said on the Ross Tucker Podcast . "Again, he may play 18 snaps a game, but I think there's going to be a place for him in the context of this offense."
Heidenreich, a Mt. Lebanon native, brings a strong local connection to the Steelers organization and returns to the Pittsburgh area after a productive college career that showcased his reliability, toughness, and versatility as a receiver. His selection late in the draft was viewed internally as a value addition with upside as a depth option and special teams contributor.
At Mt. Lebanon High School, Heidenreich was a standout athlete while leading Mt. Lebanon to the 2021 class 6A State Championship in football, before developing into a dependable college running back known for his route running and sure hands. His return to Pittsburgh adds a strong hometown storyline to the Steelers' 2026 draft class.
While expectations for seventh-round selections are typically centered around depth and special teams impact, the Steelers believe Heidenreich's competitive edge and unique skill set give him a chance to exceed his draft position.
Heidenreich was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference wideout last season, leading the Midshipmen with 51 receptions. He also set a single-season program record with 941 receiving yards, while tying its mark with six touchdown grabs. He also rushed for 499 yards and three scores on 77 gives.
Steelers running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung raved Heidenreich at OTAs last month. Heidenreich, who finished his career as Navy's all-time leader for receiving yards (1,994) and receiving touchdowns (16), is listed as a running back/wide receiver but he's been in the RBs room exclusively.
"He's been in my room every day. He's a Swiss Navy knife, I told him to patent that," Chinyoung said. "Great kid, does a great job of just meshing with the guys and relationships, but also taking the time to learn the scheme, identifying where he fits. He's been awesome for us."
Brendan Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : NFL Analyst Makes Bold Prediction About Steelers Rookie
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