Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2026 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with two players each day between June 13 and July 28. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
G GENNINGS DUNKER
Experience/age: rookie season, 23
Contract status: $1.22 million cap hit in 2026; signed through 2029
The past: Dunker became a fan favorite in Iowa thanks to his red mullet and talents for tossing hay bales, but that shouldn’t overshadow his football skills. A three-year starter at right tackle, Dunker helped the Hawkeyes earn the 2025 Joe Moore Award as the top offensive line in college football. Iowa ranked second in the Big Ten in rushing in 2024 and fourth in 2025.
In all, Dunker played 47 games with 38 starts. As a junior, he was rated as the second-best run-blocking tackle in the nation by Pro Football Focus. Only future NFL Draft first-rounder Spencer Fano of Utah ranked higher in 2024. As a senior, PFF analytics ranked Dunker as the 14th-best run-blocker and the 15th-best offensive tackle overall.
Yet, as a true test of his strength, Dunker was a two-time winner of the Solon Beef Days hay bale toss during his time at Iowa. The event at the small-town festival is something of a tradition for Iowa linemen.
Gennings Dunker showing off the form ????
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2026 outlook: The Steelers selected Dunker in the third round of the NFL Draft in April and immediately changed his position from tackle to guard. The 6-foot-5, 319-pounder consistently earned strong marks from PFF as a run blocker, which should benefit his move to the interior.
The Steelers had an opening at guard after veteran Isaac Seaumalo left in free agency. Fourth-year pro Spencer Anderson was spotted getting first-team reps at right guard in spring workouts with incumbent starter Mason McCormick moving to the left side. Dunker got backup snaps behind McCormick while former Cowboys free agent Brock Hoffman worked behind Anderson. Hoffman has 16 career starts and Anderson has 11.
The alignment may indicate that Dunker won’t be fast tracked into competing for playing time but rather put in position to develop more slowly.