2026 Steelers Training Camp Preview: Dunker’s Upside Adds Pressure to the Right‑Guard Competition

There is a noticeable logjam at the right guard position for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With Mason McCormick moving to left guard, only one starting spot remains open on the right side. The competition for that job includes Spencer Anderson, who has quietly emerged since 2025; Brock Hoffman, the center‑guard hybrid with 16 career starts, most notably with the Dallas Cowboys; and rookie Gennings Dunker out of Iowa, the Steelers’ 2026 third‑round pick who is transitioning from tackle to guard.

Dunker looks every bit the part of an old‑school offensive lineman. His appeal in this battle isn’t just his frame or his Iowa pedigree — it’s how his game translates inside. At tackle, he showed heavy hands, a strong anchor, and a willingness to finish blocks through the whistle. Moving to guard allows him to lean into those strengths without being exposed to NFL‑level edge speed.

During this year’s training camp, the Steelers will want to see whether he can consistently win the leverage game, process interior pressure looks, and handle the communication load that comes with working next to a young quarterback and a reshuffled offensive line. If he proves he can diagnose stunts and stay square in pass protection, he becomes more than a developmental project — he becomes a legitimate contender for the job. Interior technique and guard responsibilities will be central themes of his evaluation.

Anderson offers experience within the system, and Hoffman brings steadiness, but neither possesses Dunker’s ceiling. If he stacks strong practices, shows he can move defenders in the run game, and proves he’s not a liability in pass protection, the coaching staff may decide his upside is too enticing to leave on the bench. Training camp often rewards the player who improves the fastest, and Dunker has the traits to be that guy. If he converts those traits into consistent execution, he won’t just push for the right‑guard job — he’ll make it difficult for Pittsburgh to justify giving it to anyone else.

Anderson may hold the job for now, but if Dunker performs to form, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him steal his spot.