Seventh Round Steal?
by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published July 30, 2026, 3:07 PM
Latrobe, PA – The Pittsburgh Steelers have quietly built a reputation for finding value in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
More often than not, those selections are viewed as training camp bodies or practice squad hopefuls. Pittsburgh, however, has managed to uncover legitimate contributors long after the marquee names are off the board.
Kelvin Beachum turned a seventh-round selection in 2012 into a lengthy NFL career. Four years later, Tyler Matakevich carved out his own niche. A decade after Beachum, Spencer Anderson emerged as another late-round success story.
The next name that may belong on that list is linebacker Carson Bruener.
Selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Bruener never carried himself like someone simply hoping to survive final roster cuts. Football has always been part of his DNA. His father, Mark, played 14 NFL seasons, including time with the Steelers, and now serves in the organization’s scouting department.
Bruener Enters Year Two Reacting Not Thinking
Now entering his second season, Bruener is looking to build on his rookie campaign and begin carving out the same type of impact that made him one of Washington’s most productive defenders.
“Yeah, I mean, I feel like it’s a lot of just development and continuing to grow on things that you know maybe I wasn’t as good as last year, or even things I’m good at that I want to get better at. It’s not just one thing.
“Obviously, we got a new defense, a new scheme, but I feel like I’m getting way more comfortable with the speed of the league and the NFL, and just all the overall concepts of things. So, it’s not as much kind of thinking out there and just reacting because you know, like I know what to do and how.”
Bruener’s first taste of college football came in 2021 when Washington dismantled Arkansas State 52-3. Entering in the fourth quarter, the freshman wasted little time making an impression, piling up eight tackles in just one quarter of action.
It Feels Once He Gets the Taste Its Full Go
Listening to Bruener describe the jump from Year 1 to Year 2 only reinforces my belief that he has a legitimate opportunity to become a long-term piece of Pittsburgh’s defense.
Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not even this season.
But the traits are there.
The instincts. The confidence. The work ethic. The willingness to embrace every responsibility placed on his shoulders.
It’s still early in the process, but it’s never too early to identify players who look capable of growing into meaningful contributors. Bruener checks more of those boxes each time he speaks and every time he steps on the field.
One question that has followed him throughout his career has been his size.
“Actually, right when I started, I was the smallest and youngest kid when I lived in Houston,” Bruener said. “When I came up here, my mom held me back in second grade she did it for sports, and it seemed like it worked out. I was never the biggest kid, but I was always pretty athletic.”
Bruener Feels the Body is Built for Wear and Tear
With that in mind, I asked him directly whether he believes his body is built to withstand the punishment that comes with playing inside linebacker in the NFL and eventually wearing the green dot.
“Absolutely, I mean, I’m around 233, 234 right now, and that’s a good weight that I’m feeling good at,” Bruener said.
“I feel well. I feel good moving around, and you know, sometimes a lot of people ask about the frame, and oh, you look a little smaller for it, but I’m able to fly around. I’m still able to hit and make plays.”
Bruener admitted he’d gladly play at 245 pounds if that’s what the coaching staff wanted. At the same time, he understands that his ability to attack downhill, cover ground and play with outstanding range is what separates him from bigger linebackers.
That combination of speed and physicality is exactly why I believe his role is only going to continue expanding.
With Patrick Graham installing a new defensive system, Bruener also appreciates the mental side of the position as much as the physical demands.
“We take charge in a lot of things,” Bruener explained. “I mean it’s a lot asked on us to make front calls, get calls from the the back end and everything. So, I mean, it’s it’s something where I’m not just learning my position; I’m learning the whole entire defense, why we’re calling it, when we’re gonna call it. So it’s really just a bigger understanding of everything, and I and I love it.”
For a seventh-round pick, those are encouraging words.
The Steelers have built a reputation for uncovering hidden gems late in the draft.
Bruener still has plenty to prove, but if his development continues on its current path, don’t be surprised if he becomes the next late-round success story and eventually, a staple in the heart of Pittsburgh’s defense.
Bruener’s College Resume
- Combined Tackles: 305
- Sacks: 1.5
- TFL: 10.5
- Interceptions: 5
- Pass Defended: 9
- Forced Fumbles: 4
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
