The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Gennings Dunker, guard from Iowa, with their third and final third round pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. To get Gennings, Omar Khan had to trade the Steelers 6th round compensatory pick, moving up three spots.
Dunker was the last of the Pittsburgh’s premium picks, as the Steelers had 5 picks in the top 3 rounds and in taking him Khan and Mike McCarthy continued to stick to the Steelers 2026 Draft Needs Matrix, which rated guard as teams 6th most urgent need to fill.
Steelers 3rd round pick Gennings Dunker,while still at Iowa. Photo Credit: Silver and Black Pride
Although Dunker played tackle at Iowa, Steelers Offensive Line coach James Campen confirms that he will start at guard for the Steelers.
Over the past three seasons, Gennings Dunker started 37 games as the Hawkeyes right tackle, before moving to guard at the Senior Bowl. As Campen explained, “They’re so well coached at Iowa. When they come out they have established pad level and footwork.”
Steel City Insider’s Roy Countryman ranked Dunker as 2nd on his 3rd round value board for offensive lineman.
Watch Gennings Dunker Highlights: Steelers 3rd Round Guard
Offensive lineman need to move people, and Gennings Dunker’s tape from Iowa proves he’s got that ability:
Gennings Dunker’s Arrival Sets Up 3-Way Battle at Left Guard
In his pre-draft press conference, Mike McCarthy praised his starting guards, expressing satisfaction with Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman, whom he knows from his time in Dallas.
Going into the 2026 NFL Draft, Anderson and Hoffman were expected to battle for the starting job at left guard as Mason McCormick, is entrenched as the starter at right guard.
As a third round pick Dunker will make the final roster, but he’s going to have to show that he’s worthy of earning a helmet on game day. But, by the same token the Steelers clearly aren’t convinced that either Anderson or Hoffman is the long-term answer at guard, because you expect third rounders to develop into starters.
- Dunker will get the chance to prove he can do that this summer at St. Vincents.
Welcome to Steelers Nation Gennings Dunker.
The Steelers entered the draft needing many things including a QB, G, WR, CB, and S. At the end of the day, ESPN and others have graded the Steelers with an overall draft grade of a “B.”
https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/48547351/2026-nfl-draft-grades-32-teams-kiper-winners-losers-steals-sleepers-favorite-picks-classes
Meanwhile, at NFL.com, their draft picks were graded as an “A-“.
https://www.nfl.com/news/2026-nfl-draft-final-snap-grades-for-every-team
Clearly, the Steelers did well in this first year after the Tomlin era. Hopefully, they don’t spend too much of the pre-season chasing Rodgers to be their QB.
Thanks. Let’s see how this plays out.