The Pittsburgh Steelers did what they had to do to land their guy at the tail end of the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, striking up a trade with the Seattle Seahawks to ultimately secure Iowa offensive tackle Gennings Dunker.
This was a smart move, especially given that Dunker was sent to the Seahawks in several mock draft, and was rumored to be linked to them in the pre-draft process. In order to get the deal done, Pittsburgh sent picks No. 99 and No. 216 to give them the 96th overall selection.
This is a good move by Pittsburgh, because the Steelers don't give up lot to get a prospect they really wanted.
Pittsburgh Steelers select viral Iowa Hawkeyes OL Gennings Dunker in third round of 2026 NFL Draft
The Steelers addressed a pressing need within the offensive line by selecting Dunker, but it should be noted that even though he played out the majority of his college career at right tackle, he's likely to actually fill the guard position instead for Pittsburgh because he doesn't bring the level of athleticism the NFL demands to play on the outside.
That's not a totally negative thing though, as Dunker brings a lot of positives to Pittsburgh. After allm the Steelers did make a point to trade up for a reason.
The 6-foot-5, 319-pounder had a heralded career with the Hawkeyes, playing a key role on a unit that brought home the 2025 Joe Moore Award. Individually, he also earned a Senior Bowl invite where he caught a lot of attention, and was also individually named First Team All-Big Ten by the media during the same season.
He's got a lot of experience with 38 college career games under his belt.
On top of this, he's a viral internet sensation for his giant red mullet, long flowing hair and massive build. Dunker has made use of his Paul Bunyan-like appearance to capture attention on social media, where he has shared his insane meal plan from Culver's (a very big deal in the Midwest) that includes a family size order of cheese curds or onion rings with three ranches to accompany a double bacon cheeseburger.
Aside from that, here's a look at how NFL.com's Lance Zierlein sees the player Pittsburgh is getting.
"Dunker is a three-year starter with a pro-ready frame but limited athleticism that is likely to push him inside to guard. He plays with average pad level, heavy hands and enough upper-body power to displace defenders if he plays with more consistent hand placement. His lateral quickness is average and his movements in space are mechanical, leading to difficulty making needed adjustments. The move inside should accentuate his play strength and allow him to get on top of opponents more quickly, but sub-package rushers and gaming fronts could be an ongoing challenge."
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