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2nd 7th Round Pick - Eli Heidenreich

madinsomniac said:
Yep... Im starting to fear McCarthy and Rooney drafted to pander to the City. Probably a coincidence we drafted a local QB, two guys with pittsburgh yinzer approved hair features, a local kid from the armed forces, and two WRs which was the position fans have been bitching about.

If that proves to be the case, I'll get on board with all the morons' sell the team movements.. but hopefully these were just best guys that happened to be pittsburgh-y lol
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JFC, it's a 7th round pick. Why are you so miserable?
 
It was at the end of the draft; the kid can play ST and contribute some if he makes the roster. I obviously don't like every pick, but at that point they're ALL dart throws. I liked it. If you've never seen his film, watch some and get back to me.
 
Happy with that one, nice story, some positional versatility, if they had another seventh pick, say, Aiden Fisher, it would’ve intrigued me. That LB room could use some more love. I saw him as a Bobby Spillane type guy. Maybe look at Eric McAlister out of TCU as an UDFA signing.
 
He was described as having ballerina type footwork. The tackle was described that way too.
 
Before I forget I thought I would add what I listened to. Eli said in his press conference that he had played in all three phases of special teams. That he excelled at them in addition to his positional capabilities. So that should give him a fighting chance to make the roster. Provided he shows that.
 
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slashsteel said:
Before I forget I thought I would add what I listened to. Eli said in his press conference that he had played in all three phases of special teams. That he excelled at them in addition to his positional capabilities. So that should give him a fighting chance to make the roster. Provided he shows that.
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Probably could've handled PR and KR duties if the Steelers didn't reach on a returner in the 4th round. More more I think and watch Heidenreich, that more I believe he'll end up as a receiver who does different things on offense. He could develop into quite a role player.
 
The kid has some great hands as a receiver. I'm all for this kid making this team! What a breath of fresh air.....such a good kid how can you not root for him! I got emotional watching him walk the walk to the stage!

A great young kid! GO ELI GO!

He could add another dimension to this offense as a #4 WR. I'm really pulling for this kid! He's a Steeler fan growing up....he was at the Ratbirds vs Steelers game at the end of last season....now he's on the team! Kid is living his dream and I really hope he becomes an impact player on this offense!
 
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So what do we want from a 7th round draft pick, selected #230 overall? How about these qualities:
  • Positional versatility. Check
  • Elite physical tools. (Check out his 40 and 3-cone times) Check
  • Potential special teams contributor. Check
  • Willingness, heart, ability to take and deliver punishment. Check
  • Production in college. Check
  • Performed on a big stage. (Anybody who thinks Army-Navy is not big stage can leave now) Check
Heidenreich ran the 5th fastest time in the 40 for RB's at the combine, the 6th best vertical, and an elite 3-cone of 6.55 seconds. Great footwork, very good hands. You want a 7th round pick from a school that did not have the toughest schedule to show he is much better than the competition, meaning his skill level was above that competition. In 2025, Heidenreich had 941 receiving yards, 18.5 YPC, 6 TD's (in an offense that ran the ball about 70% of the time) and 499 rushing yards, 6.5 YPA, 6 TD's so yes, he dominated the competition.

Against Notre Dame, Navy attempted 8 passes, completed 3. Heidenreich had two of the three team receptions. He ran the ball once for 15 yards. Navy was outclassed but the guy who made plays when given a chance was Heidenreich. Against Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl, Heidenreich ran the ball 10 times for 64 yards, had 5 catches for 64 yards and a TD. Navy had 349 yards of total offense, Heidenreich had 128 of those yards, or 37% of their offense.

That's a good 7th round pick so I think we can put to rest the "Oh, they selected him because he's local" theme. They selected him because he is about as good a 7th round pick as is available.*

*With their 7th round pick, the Colts selected a different running back Seth McGowan. He had some good combine results, including a 4.49 40 and really good vertical. Less production in college with limited receiving numbers. Oh, yeah, and he was arrested for armed robbery and assault and battery in 2021 and I guess some may view that as a negative but that's just kids being kids.
 
The kid made it through the Naval Academy so is far from soft. I am sure training camp and all of the other challenges ahead this kid will work hard and over come. We know he isn’t a marshmallow
 
In someways he’s a tribute pick to noll he liked overachieving players like Eli there was always one guy like rocky this pick took me back! Go Eli!
 
bigben said:
With this pick in the 7th you gotta wonder why wetjen with Washington Jr falling there?
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Passing on Washington tells me fat Mike didn’t learn his lesson in Dallas more dink dink doink offense geez us! Why is it the Steelers can never get it right where in the hell is Big Ben when you need him?
 
Steeltime said:
So what do we want from a 7th round draft pick, selected #230 overall? How about these qualities:
  • Positional versatility. Check
  • Elite physical tools. (Check out his 40 and 3-cone times) Check
  • Potential special teams contributor. Check
  • Willingness, heart, ability to take and deliver punishment. Check
  • Production in college. Check
  • Performed on a big stage. (Anybody who thinks Army-Navy is not big stage can leave now) Check
Heidenreich ran the 5th fastest time in the 40 for RB's at the combine, the 6th best vertical, and an elite 3-cone of 6.55 seconds. Great footwork, very good hands. You want a 7th round pick from a school that did not have the toughest schedule to show he is much better than the competition, meaning his skill level was above that competition. In 2025, Heidenreich had 941 receiving yards, 18.5 YPC, 6 TD's (in an offense that ran the ball about 70% of the time) and 499 rushing yards, 6.5 YPA, 6 TD's so yes, he dominated the competition.

Against Notre Dame, Navy attempted 8 passes, completed 3. Heidenreich had two of the three team receptions. He ran the ball once for 15 yards. Navy was outclassed but the guy who made plays when given a chance was Heidenreich. Against Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl, Heidenreich ran the ball 10 times for 64 yards, had 5 catches for 64 yards and a TD. Navy had 349 yards of total offense, Heidenreich had 128 of those yards, or 37% of their offense.

That's a good 7th round pick so I think we can put to rest the "Oh, they selected him because he's local" theme. They selected him because he is about as good a 7th round pick as is available.*

*With their 7th round pick, the Colts selected a different running back Seth McGowan. He had some good combine results, including a 4.49 40 and really good vertical. Less production in college with limited receiving numbers. Oh, yeah, and he was arrested for armed robbery and assault and battery in 2021 and I guess some may view that as a negative but that's just kids being kids.
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That 3 cone is beyond amazing
 
Litos said:
That 3 cone is beyond amazing
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It is but keep in mind it wasn’t a combine recording but yeah… Regardless the kid obviously has some solid stop start and go ability.
 
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