Steelers Now
For the second straight offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers are setting out to improve their run defense, as a unit that looked on paper like it could be one of the best in the league in 2025 ended up just middle of the pack.
The team is counting on internal improvements to make up most of that ground, with a lot of the onus falling on new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to put players in better position to succeed.
Of the personnel additions along the defensive line, free agent Sebastian Joseph-Day was the most significant. A former starter who can play all three positions along the line, Joseph-Day looks to be a key cog in the Pittsburgh run defense in 2026.
The only other addition came in the form of sixth-round draft pick Gabriel Rubio. Rubio, who was projected to go as an undrafted free agent, was a surprising pick for the Steelers in the sixth round. Can he make an impact on the team’s run defense in 2026 — and can he even make the team?
Alan Saunders joined Chris Carter on the Locked on Steelers podcast to discuss Rubio and the run defense, along with how the defensive line can plan for a future without Cam Heyward.
Let’s get into it:
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Can Rookie DT Gabriel Rubio Improve Steelers Run Defense?
