Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington are safe atop the Pittsburgh Steelers’ depth chart. Everything else behind is up for grabs. Heading into the draft, tight end depth felt like a weakness. Now there’s quality competition, shaping up a great camp battle.
Meet the contenders. The rookies, Riley Nowakowski and Lake McRee. The veteran, Robert Tonyan. The in-betweeners, Jaheim Bell and JJ Galbreath.
Almost all have joined the team since April. Only Galbreath has been around longer, participating in camp with the Steelers last year, briefly joining the practice squad, and signing a Futures contract in January, days before Mike McCarthy’s hiring.
A fifth-round pick, Nowakowski has good odds to make the roster. Despite his fullback label, the fact that he’s working in the tight end room with new coach Robert Kugler gives him a chance to play the role of No. 3. How well he develops and how the team splits his fullback and tight end reps will dictate if they can “steal” a spot by having Nowakowski serve as both. The team could also want additional depth by adding another name.
If so, Tonyan might be the guy. Not just for his connection to Aaron Rodgers and knowledge of Mike McCarthy’s offense, but for his general experience. A college wide receiver who scored 11 touchdowns in 2020, he’s a little older and slower, but has carved out a blocking role. Tonyan played in all 17 games with the Kansas City Chiefs last year, with the majority of his snaps on running plays.
McRee had draftable talent but was hampered by two torn ACLs in college. He has size at 6’4, 250 pounds, and flashed when healthy in 2025 by averaging 15 yards per catch with four touchdowns. Even if it was against Missouri State, watch McRee get loose for this 64-yard score.
Bell got a cup of coffee with the New England Patriots in 2024. Similar to Nowakowski, he’s more of an H-Back than a true in-line player, but Bell drew buzz out of Florida State for his receiving ability. Squint and see a poor man’s Harold Fannin Jr.
Galbreath is athletic and a capable receiver. His problems arose once the pads came on and defenses could hit back. He struggled as a blocker and must fill out his frame and add play strength.
Whoever wins the job won’t have a prominent role. Backup snaps, special teams work, the occasional catch. With his fullback versatility, Nowakowski could be more impactful, but he’ll have to earn the coaching staff’s trust this summer. The group has gone from barren to competitive, even if it’s far from the most interesting spot on the team.
Recommended for you