The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Indiana tight end Riley Nowakowski in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Our staff weighs in with their thoughts on the pick.

Ryland Bickley: Here’s your TE3/FB for Mike McCarthy. Nowakowski probably would’ve been a “my guy” in this draft class if I had been able to watch him more. He’s an extremely high-effort run blocker with solid mobility who should be able to find a role on offense right away. Nowakowski is a bit undersized for a tight end and his testing is just OK, but as a fullback I like the pick. We can quibble a bit with taking a returner and fullback with the team’s latest two picks, but in the fifth round you can’t complain about good football players. Grade: B+

Mike Nicastro: Nowakowski is a perfect replacement for Connor Heyward because of his versatility. He’ll play tight end, fullback, and can contribute on special teams. He played a pivotal role on Indiana’s National Championship run – the guy just feels like a winner. Although it still feels like a pick based more on need opposed to value, I like this one much better than Wetjen. Grade: B+

Alex Hanczar: Pittsburgh adds yet another big school player in the form of 2026 National Champion Riley Nowakowski. The departures of Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward led many to believe the Steelers would add depth at the position and here it is. Aside from solely playing TE, Nowakowksi will likely fill the Heyward role at the FB position. At 6-foot-two 250 pounds, I would not be surprised to see the former Hoosier lineup under center for the ‘tush push’ for the black and gold. Grade: B

Joey Bray: Welcome back Connor Heyward. In all seriousness, Riley Nowakowski is an interesting pick for the Steelers. They needed to take another tight end, but Nowakowski is more of a fullback type. He played a blocking role for Indiana last year when he did line up a tight end, although he’s 32 catches last season were more than he had in his previous four collegiate seasons combined. Nowakowski isn’t particularly fast or dynamic and doesn’t have the size to be a legit receiving threat. He is a good football player and it makes sense that Mike McCarthy would take a fullback, but taking a return man and fullback back-to-back in the mid rounds is an curious use of resources. Grade: C-

Ryan Parish: As harsh as I was on using a 4th rounder on a kick returner-only player, I’m to the moon for this selection. I highlighted Nowakowski in my Tight End draft gems list as a perfect fit for the John Kuhn/Hunter Luepke FB role in Mike McCarthy’s offense. Nowakowski is short for a tight end but perfect for a blocker for a power run scheme. He’s also gotta decent hands and tackle-breaking ability for underneath routes that should make Aaron Rodgers happy. This was a meat and potatoes pick, and yet another sign that the Steelers are veering into a gap/power running scheme. Phenomenal fit. Grade: A++

Jarrett Bailey: The Steelers were always going to take a tight end, being that they released Jonnu Smith and didn’t bring back Connor Heyward. Nowakowski will play that Heyward role. Special teams and No. 3 tight end/fullback. Not great. Not abysmal. Fine. Grade: C

Crowds lined both sides of the Allegheny River on the second day of the NFL Draft Experience, as fans poured into Point State Park shortly after gates opened, filling the riverfront with a steady buzz and early arrivals.

While Point State Park grew crowded within the first hour Friday, the Draft Theater area near Acrisure Stadium built more slowly, with groups trickling in and the space still less than a quarter full well into the afternoon.

Attendees kept the energy high as festivities continued across Pittsburgh.

Stephanie Enz, 35, of Huntersville, said her family left the fan area Thursday night after exploring to watch the draft on television. She said Friday’s weather was too nice to skip the second day.

“I’m surprised how many Pittsburgh Steelers fans there are compared to everyone else from other teams,” Enz said. “I feel like watching the last few years, it was more of a mix of other fans.”

Crowds gathered in and around Downtown, with activities in full swing by 10 a.m. Rivers of Steel Heritage Corp. held live blacksmithing demonstrations in Market Square, classic cars were on display, and the city’s tourism company, Visit Pittsburgh, set up a wall for fans to write on.

Mike and Sue Hacke of Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County arrived in Pittsburgh Friday morning.

The couple grabbed sandwiches at the Original Oyster House in Market Square and soaked in the updated area while waiting for gates to open for the Draft Experience at noon.

Mike Hacke, 67, grew up in Homestead but said it had been about 40 years since he was last in Pittsburgh. He said he was impressed by the improvements made to the city in preparation for the draft.

“I was in Philly a couple years ago when it was there, and I think that this is much better than what Philly did,” Mike Hacke said.

Just before opening, football fans moved in droves from Market Square to line up at Point State Park, located just outside the Wyndham Grand Hotel.

The area inside the park was expanded from Thursday’s setup. The red carpet that had stretched across the entire space in front of the steps to the Point was split into two sections Friday, opening access to the Point State Park Fountain.

As groups moved through the park, many gravitated toward the newly opened space, eventually sitting to take in the view and posing for photos with the fountain and stadium in the background.

Rick Wilson, 65, and his wife Maureen, 62, took selfies in their Philadelphia Eagles jerseys while standing on the steps leading down to the fountain.

The couple, from Finleyville Borough in Washington County, said Steelers fans were generally friendly.

“I think everybody’s very nice and have been very polite,” Rick Wilson said, noting only a few lighthearted comments here and there.

“We kind of took their pick last night,” he added.

On Thursday night, the Philadelphia Eagles selected USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who had been on the phone with representatives from the Steelers as Pittsburgh’s first-round pick approached.

Rick Wilson, 65, and his wife, Maureen, 62, take photos in their Philadelphia Eagles jersey at the Point State Park Fountain on Friday, April 24. (Megan Trotter | TribLive)

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Part of the red carpet at Point State Park was open to the public, allowing fans to walk it and take photos where draft prospects had strutted the night before.

On their second day at the draft experience, Jessica, 46, and Matthew Light of Hershey took a stroll down the carpet.

“I noticed it from yesterday, and I figured we’d get a photo opportunity and take a memory home with us,” said Matthew Light, 46.

Across the river, about a dozen people had nestled into the concrete with their backs against the draft stage barricade.

Hunter Enders, 30, and Meghan Crosby, 27, arrived at the area around 2 p.m. to be in the first row once the draft begins at 7 p.m.

The two were in the third row the night before and said that, despite record-breaking crowds, the atmosphere remained friendly, with no shoving or safety concerns around them.

While the stage area was far less crowded than the footprint across the way, smaller groups still gathered outside the elevator platform where media and commentators were broadcasting.

Rapper Wiz Khalifa, a Pittsburgh native, joined a sports broadcast, waving to the small crowd gathered below on the asphalt.

Wiz Khalifa was scheduled to perform at 5:15 p.m. Friday, ahead of the second round’s start.

Fans watch as Pat McAfee records his show Friday afternoon live from the NFL Draft Experience area on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. (Ember Duke | TribLive)