Gabriel Rubio
Gabriel Rubio
The 2026 NFL preseason has begun, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will play their first game in just a few short days. It’s unclear how many starters will suit up for it, but the Steelers’ young players will almost certainly see a lot of time. They had a big draft class this year, with many Day 3 picks who are fighting for roster spots. That includes sixth-round pick Gabriel Rubio, whom analyst Emory Hunt recently highlighted.
“One player I’m excited to see this upcoming preseason is Steelers rookie Gabriel Rubio,” Hunt wrote on Twitter. “Feel like there’s some untapped potential still within his game. Should be considered one of the steals of the Steelers’ draft class.”
One player I’m excited to see this upcoming preseason is #Steelers rookie Gabriel Rubio.
Feel like there’s some untapped potential still within his game. Should be considered one of the steals of the Steelers draft class pic.twitter.com/MoiKTGJmUM
The Steelers drafted 10 players this year, and Rubio was the most surprising pick of them all. Many people weren’t very familiar with him coming out of Notre Dame.
However, there’s a reason for that. Rubio played five seasons in college and dealt with a lot of injury issues. That includes only playing in six games in his final year due to an elbow injury.
That limited how much Rubio could show off his skills, but it’s easy to see why the Steelers took a chance on him in the sixth round. He’s got a huge frame, standing over 6-5 and weighing over 300 pounds. The Steelers’ coaching staff changed a lot this offseason, but their preference is still to have big defensive linemen.
While Rubio has work to do as a pass rusher, he was a solid run defender in college. He’s earned praise in training camp as well, most notably from Cam Heyward.
Still, it might be tough for Rubio to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster. They have a deep defensive line room, and Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black, and Sebastian Joseph-Day are roster locks. The Steelers will likely only keep one or two more defensive linemen after that group.
That makes the preseason even more important for Rubio. He’s facing an uphill battle to stick with the Steelers but making plays in the preseason will help his chances. While he might not be the steal that Hunt thinks he is, he could beat the odds and make the team as a rookie.