The Pittsburgh Steelers signed three more of their rookie draft picks Saturday on the second day of the team’s rookie minicamp. Per the team, CB Daylen Everette, OG Gennings Dunker, and FB Riley Nowakowski have signed their rookie deals.
Steelers have signed three more members of their 2026 draft class:
3rd-round CB Daylen Everett
3rd-round G Gennings Dunker
5th-round FB Riley Nowakowski
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) May 9, 2026
This follows the signing of three other rookie deals on Friday afternoon.
Everette’s four-year rookie deal as the 85th overall pick in the third round is expected to be worth $6.936 million. He’ll receive approximately a $1.504 million signing bonus. Everette’s 2026 cap charge will be about $1.261 million.
Everette put together a solid career at Georgia. Across 55 games and over 40 starts, he recorded 150 tackles (five for a loss) with 19 pass deflections, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one sack. In 2025, he finished with 50 tackles, 10 pass deflections, one interception, and he returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Battle-tested at the SEC level, he brings an intriguing combination of youth and experience. Yet to turn 21, he’s logged nearly 2,500 defensive snaps. He has starter-level traits and experience in press-man coverage, but will need to show change-of-direction and play to his 4.38-timed speed to win consistently in coverage.
He was the first defensive player Pittsburgh drafted and one of just three total among the team’s 10 picks.
Everette will begin his Steelers career as a backup behind Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean and potentially Asante Samuel Jr. His immediate path to contribute will occur on special teams while serving as quality depth on the outside. Injuries could quickly elevate Everette’s role in the lineup, especially given that Dean has yet to play a full regular season in his seven-year NFL career.
Cornerback wasn’t the biggest need on Pittsburgh’s list, but depth is critical, especially in an AFC North featuring Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as the investments the Cleveland Browns (KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston) and Baltimore Ravens (Ja’Kobi Lane, Elijah Sarratt) made throughout the draft.
Dunker’s four-year rookie deal as the 96th overall pick in the third round is expected to be worth $6.759 million. He’ll receive about a $1.375 million signing bonus, with his first-year cap charge approximately $1.228 million.
Pittsburgh traded up three spots from No. 99 to No. 96 to select Dunker. An immediate fan favorite for his rugged run blocking, farm boy background, and mullet and mustache, Dunker is a natural fit along the Steelers’ offensive line. He’s poised to make a position switch from right tackle to guard, but Dunker prepared pre-draft for the move inside and brings at least a bit of background playing along the interior throughout his college career.
An aggressive run blocker, Dunker is experienced and durable. Questions exist about his athleticism in space, a key reason for moving to guard, but he’ll still have to fend off quicker defensive tackles to be trusted in pass protection.
Though unconfirmed by the team, Dunker will likely compete for Pittsburgh’s left guard spot vacated by Isaac Seumalo. Veterans Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman are also in the mix.
In theory, it’s possible the team could flip Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick to the left side and open up a battle at right guard, though the idea of a rookie Dunker starting next to rookie Max Iheanachor is less palatable. Pittsburgh is banking on its depth and talent sorting itself out during training camp.
Nowakowski’s four-year rookie deal as the 169th overall pick in the fifth round is expected to be worth $4.831 million. He’ll receive about a $451,056 signing bonus with a first-year cap charge of just under $1 million.
Pittsburgh traded back in the fifth round, down eight spots, and still came away with Nowakowski. A walk-on linebacker at Wisconsin, he transitioned to tight end early in his college career and transferred to Indiana for the 2025 season. Most of his career production came last season, catching 32 passes for 387 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball twice for another two scores.
Nowakowski mainly played tight end in college, but the Steelers are calling him a fullback as Mike McCarthy touts his two-back offense from his West Coast roots. He’ll also contribute on special teams and has a deep background in that phase of the game.
His offensive role is likely to be niche, but he could play crucial roles in short-yardage and goal-line moments. On tape, Nowakowski is a physical and aggressive run blocker and a capable enough receiver in the passing game. Fifth-round picks like him aren’t guaranteed to make the 53-man roster, but his chances seem strong, so long as he stays healthy throughout the training camp.
Six of the Steelers’ 10 draft picks are now officially under contract. First-round OT Max Iheanachor, second-round WR Germie Bernard, third-round QB Drew Allar, and seventh-round RB Eli Heidenreich are the four remaining rookies left to be signed.
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