Eli Heidenreich NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Pittsburgh Steelers RB

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Navy RB Eli Heidenreich with the No. 230 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Eli Heidenreich is an athletic Swiss Army knife and offensive weapon who plays both wide receiver and running back.

He enrolled at Navy as a former 0-star recruit in the 2022 class. He has operated in a versatile role for the Midshipmen's offense, accounting for 1,157 rushing yards, 1,994 receiving yards and 23 total touchdowns.

Heidenriech projects as a dual-threat option out of the backfield. With the right play-caller, he can develop into a functional rotational contributor with personnel flexibility.

Dame Parson is the lead host of the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. He also serves as co-host of the Scouting Room NFL Podcast alongside Daniel Harms.

Highlights

Eli Heidenreich Highlights

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Where He Wins

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- Run and catch versatility. Mismatch creator out of the backfield.

- Sweep runner with good open-field speed to generate explosive runs on the perimeter.

- Powerful hand-strength to catch and secure the football against tight coverage and in high-traffic areas.

- Flex receiver option, with experience running a wide receiver route tree as a slot and Z-receiver.

- Smooth hips to sink and drive out of breaks, changes directions well as a runner in space.

- Good build/frame paired with play-strength to lower his shoulder and finish runs through contact.

Areas of Improvement

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- Played in an option-dominant offense and lacks traditional running back carries.

- Short arms and wingspan to battle at the catch-point as a receiver.

- Lacks a defined role.

- Limited third-down value as a pass protector because of limited snaps.

Grade, Rank, and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 6.06 (Developmental Prospect— 5th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: Israel Abanikanda (6.0 in 2023), Keaton Mitchell (5.9 in 2023), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (6.1 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 225

POSITION RANK: RB13

PRO COMPARISON: Potential to be a Tony Pollard-level player

Measurables and Testing Data

AP Photo

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 198
Hand: 9½"
Arm: 29¼"
Wingspan: 73¼"

40-Yard Dash: 4.44"
Vertical Jump: 35.5"
Broad Jump: 10'0"
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bench Press: 16