One of the Pittsburgh Steelers rookies who hasn’t received much attention is former Iowa Hawkeyes guard Gennings Dunker. Though he has the makings of a Steelers fan favorite, he appears relatively buried on the depth chart. Part of that could stem from his ongoing transition from offensive tackle to offensive guard. Head coach Mike McCarthy believes Dunker has plenty of potential but acknowledged that he remains a work in progress.
McCarthy spoke to the media, and Nick Farabaugh of PennLive reported that Dunker’s biggest area of opportunity is his development in pass protection.
“Mike McCarthy says Gennings Dunker is better as a run blocker than pass protector right now, which fits into his history at Iowa. ‘He's a powerful man with a bright future.’” Farabaugh reported on X.
Dunker’s opportunity rests in 2027 and beyond
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Dunker may not have an immediate path to a starting role, but that does not make his development any less important to the Steelers. As a 2026 third-round pick, Dunker can take a longer view of his development and prepare for an opportunity that could come down the road. That approach is similar to fellow 2026 third-round pick Drew Allar, who also entered the NFL with time to develop before potentially taking on a much larger role. For Dunker, the focus should be on learning the Steelers’ system, refining his technique, and becoming more consistent with each opportunity he receives.
Dunker’s physicality gives him something to build around, particularly as a run blocker. The next step is becoming more reliable in pass protection, where technique, recognition, and consistency will determine how quickly he can earn additional opportunities. If Dunker continues to develop throughout the 2026 season, he could put himself in position to compete for a much larger role in 2027 and beyond.
Dunker can show progress in pass protection in preseason
The preseason will give Dunker one of his first significant opportunities to show how quickly he can address those areas of development. Like most rookies, he will need as many live repetitions as possible to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NFL. Those reps should prove particularly valuable in pass protection. Dunker can use the preseason to demonstrate improved footwork, hand placement, and awareness against opposing pass rushers. He does not need to become a finished product immediately, but showing noticeable progress will be important.
The Steelers can evaluate Dunker’s development through his consistency rather than simply looking for highlight plays. If he can handle his assignments, limit mistakes, and show that he is becoming more comfortable in pass protection, he can make a strong impression during his first preseason.
For a rookie offensive lineman, development rarely happens overnight. Dunker has time to grow, and the preseason gives him a valuable stage to demonstrate that progress. If he can turn his strength as a run blocker into more consistent pass protection, he could begin building the foundation for a bigger opportunity with the Steelers in 2027.
