Steelers Insider Gerry Dulac: Gennings Dunker Is a Perfect Fit for the Steel City

If you asked an artificial intelligence to generate a photograph of the perfect Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman, the answer would be Jennings Dunker.

That was the premise Rich put to Steelers insider Gerry Dulac, and Dulac did not just agree. He went all-in on the case.

"Rich, they couldn't have drafted a better Pittsburgh-centric player than Jennings Dunker," Dulac said. "And if Dunkin' Donuts doesn't offer this guy some promotional deal, I will be shocked."

Dulac walked through the visual. Thick. Mullet. Mustache. Tattoos. Then he got to the part that closes the deal in Pittsburgh.

"He wants to go swim in the Monongahela River," Dulac said. "Most people don't even want a boat in the Monongahela River, but he wants to swim in it. He even asked if you're allowed to swim in it."

That was not the only data point on the guy's lack of pretension. Dulac said Dunker was so tired waiting for his flight to Pittsburgh that he just slept on the floor of the airport.

"There are no pretensions about this guy," Dulac said.

The football comparison Dulac reached for was Justin Strzelczyk, the old Steelers tackle. Rough around the edges. Built right.

"You put him on the football field and look out and we're going to see," Dulac said. "I think that has a chance to be a really good pick."

The conversation turned to a different Pittsburgh story. The crowd reaction at the draft hall when Eli Heidenreich was introduced in his Navy uniform. Rich wanted to know whether the hometown receiver had a real shot to stick.

Dulac framed the Heidenreich pick as the splash the Steelers did not make earlier in the draft.

"I could promise you, if Dan Rooney were alive with the NFL Draft in his backyard within walking distance of his house, I know Dan was a showman," Dulac said. "Dan would have done something in that first round to bring the house down. While the Steelers did it there in the last round."

Dulac thought the pick was scripted. He believes everyone knew it was coming, which is part of why the Steelers kept 10 draft picks.

He has watched Heidenreich at rookie minicamp and likes what he sees physically.

"I watched the players' feet. I watched their athleticism. He has quick feet, and he is athletic," Dulac said.

The roster math is the hard part. Dulac said the Steelers have three running backs and a fullback in Riley Niakowski. Will they keep five? He doubts it. Heidenreich is more of a wing player than a true wide receiver, and Pittsburgh is already four-deep at receiver behind Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin.

"I think he has a chance to be a practice squad guy for sure," Dulac said. "Obviously very popular pick, being from Pittsburgh as well."