What to know about Navy's Eli Heidenreich, Pittsburgh native hoping for NFL Draft pick on Day 3 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Two days of the 2026 NFL Draft have come and gone, and Navy's Eli Heidenreich is still on the board.
It seems safe to expect the Pittsburgh native to be drafted on Day 3 on Saturday.
Heidenreich, who won a state championship at Mt. Lebanon High School out of the Pittsburgh area, is a legitimate talent who will hope to hear his name called from a stage in downtown Pittsburgh sometime in rounds four through seven.
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Every indication is that Heidenreich should get drafted.
Mock drafts have him early as the fourth round, but pretty much none leave him out entirely.
He's a standout athlete from the Naval Academy.
In Navy's throwback offense, Heidenreich did a bit of everything.
In 2025, he ran 77 times for 499 yards (6.5 yards per carry) in 2025 and also set Navy records by catching 51 passes for 941 yards. He scored nine offensive touchdowns.
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Heidenreich ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.44 seconds.
He measured up at 6-feet tall and 198 pounds. He also did the vertical jump at 35.5 inches.
Heidenreich has the athleticism to work out in the NFL, and someone just has to draft him.
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