The Pittsburgh Steelers ’ tight end room thinned out this offseason after Connor Heyward left to join the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency and Jonnu Smith was trimmed from the roster. Mike McCarthy’s team took a step toward bolstering the position group by selecting Indiana tight end Riley Nowakowski in the fifth round (No. 169 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft
Nowakowski’s blocking ability stands out on tape, according to NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein.
“Nowakowski’s focus on the task never wavers,” Zierlein wrote in a scouting report. “He’s reliable and tough at the point of attack and holds up well in pass protection. He lacks height/length but is well-built and plays with better technique, strain and finish than many offensive linemen in this class. … His character and work ethic are outstanding, and he should help elevate run-game execution wherever an offense lines him up.”
Nowakowski transferred to join Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers last season after five campaigns at Wisconsin. He started all 16 games as Indiana marched to the College Football Playoff national championship, catching 32 balls for 387 yards and two touchdowns.
NFL.com tabs Nowakowski with a 6.11 prospect grade, which means he will be a “good backup with the potential to develop into starter.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Pluck Road-Grader Tight End in Fifth Round
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