Steelers Draft Hybrid TE/FB Nowakowski

0:00On April 25, Pittsburgh Steelers just shuffled their draft board in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, trading picks with the Kansas City Chiefs to grab a fresh, tied-in fullback. They shipped out their 160 first and 249 selections for the 169th and 210 to picks. Right away they used that 169th spot to draft 6 foot 2 Indiana standout Riley Noel Kowski as the heir to Connor Hayward. Noel Kowski brings a hybrid skill set, suiting up for Wisconsin from 2023 through 2024 before transferring to Iowa in 2025. He's known for elite blocking chops that could shore up the run game big time. Steelers fans are buzzing with mixed takes on this draft class so far. Some love the upside, others question the early swings. But Noel Kowski fits right into the potential bargain bin, blending receiving pop with that nasty full-back grit. His college tape shows 50 catches for 5-018 yards and 3 touchdowns proving he can contribute

1:02in the passing game too. No flashy numbers, but the blocking tape screams starter potential. This move keeps the Steelers draft hall unpredictable and loaded with sleepers. Watch for Noel Kowski to block his way into the lineup sooner than. Later, stay locked in with NFL News Today, AI-powered updates.