​The Pittsburgh Steelers might have uncovered a draft sleeper in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting safety Robert Spears-Jennings with the 224th overall pick. After OTAs and minicamp, Steelers insider Mike DeFabo of The Athletic believes Spears-Jennings could earn a spot on the 53-man roster. “Often in the seventh round, teams are betting on traits,” DeFabo wrote. “Yes, Spears-Jennings fits that mold in a lot of ways with a nearly 6-2 frame and the fastest 40 of any safety at the combine (4.32). But during OTAs and minicamp, he started to show he’s more than just measurables and raw potential. He was one of the players who surprised in a good way. He got his hands on a couple of passes, and his speed was evident in coverage. With a strong camp, he has a shot to earn his way onto the 53-man roster as a special-teamer and depth piece at safety. I like his chances more after watching him in person.”
Spears-Jennings could carve out a role on the roster through special teams while also providing depth to the secondary. At Oklahoma last season, he posted 59 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, and an interception in his senior year. He played all four years with the Sooners, appearing in 47 games and accumulating 178 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions.