The Pittsburgh Steelers selected 10 players in the 2026 NFL Draft, but much of the focus has been on rookies such as Max Iheanachor, Germie Bernard, Drew Allar and Daylen Everette. Some of the team’s Day 3 selections just haven’t gotten much buzz, but Ray Fittipaldo pointed to one of Pittsburgh’s seventh-round picks as a player who stood out during offseason workouts.
“Robert Spears-Jennings, I thought he’s had a good spring. He’s been kind of under the radar,” Fittipaldo said Friday on The Pomp & Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan.
Fittipaldo pointed to the Oklahoma product’s 4.32 40-yard dash time as an example of the Steelers trying to add speed to their secondary.
Spears-Jennings had a really strong junior year in 2024, forcing four fumbles and making 66 total tackles. He took a step back as a senior, which allowed the Steelers to draft him in the seventh round. While the Steelers added safety depth this offseason by signing Jaquan Brisker, Spears-Jennings will still battle for a roster spot with Darnell Savage and Sebastian Castro his main competition right now.
The key to making the roster will be to show he can contribute on special teams. It’s an area where Castro has had some success, but Spears-Jennings has all the traits to be a core special teamer. It’s a positive sign that he’s stood out early, as it puts him in a good position entering training camp. He’ll also have the benefit of Pittsburgh’s three-day “rookie camp” next week.
There’s potential for Spears-Jennings to be a diamond in the rough. While he had only two interceptions in college, he’s shown the ability to make plays downhill, with eight tackles for a loss. He also totaled two sacks. Brisker and DeShon Elliott are both box safeties who Spears-Jennings can learn from, and with Brisker on a one-year deal, there’s a chance Spears-Jennings could crack the rotation early in his career.
For that to happen, he’s going to need to make the 53-man roster first. There’s a lot of competition, but a good start this spring could give Spears-Jennings a leg up, and he also has the benefit of being a rookie. Training camp will be the ultimate test but given Omar Khan’s penchant for keeping his own draft picks, Spears-Jennings seems to be in a good spot with OTAs wrapped up.
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