The Pittsburgh Steelers made their top positional needs and draft interests clear at the NFL Combine. The team used roughly half of their total formal meetings on wide receivers and cornerbacks, and many expect these two positions to be the first that general manager Omar Khan elects to target in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But some remarkable Combine performances could throw a monkey wrench in Pittsburgh's draft plans.
As some players on the Steelers' draft radar underwhelmed (like Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston), other first-round prospects blew up the Combine with spectacular performances.
While the Steelers clearly show a preference for which early direction they want to take, these four remarkable Combine standouts could have Khan rethinking the team's first-round plan by taking the 'best player available' approach at pick No. 21. this year.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could spurn original draft plans for these four NFL Combine risers
Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Steelers' roster needs in 2026 hardly begin and end with the wide receiver position. This team needs help across the board, including a necessary youth infusion into the secondary. Pittsburgh proved to be both old and slow in the backend of their defense in 2025, and while cornerback may be a higher priority, the front office could be tempted to target a do-it-all safety in Round 1.
Dillon Thieneman was one of the most impressive players at the 2026 NFL Combine. The former Purdue and Oregon safety blazed the track with a 4.35 40-yard dash while posting a 41-inch vertical and a 10'5'' broad jump. Thieneman also looked remarkably smooth in the on-field drills—effortlessly flipping his hips and changing direction.
With an aging and overpriced Jalen Ramsey and an often-injured DeShon Elliott, the Steelers need youth and speed in the secondary. Thieneman would be a value pick at No. 21 in the first round who could be a nickel and dime defender as a rookie before stepping into a full-time role at free safety.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Steelers need a tight end like they need another 10-7 season without a playoff win (which is not at all). But part of drafting well is finding the best prospects who could be building blocks for your team. Kenyon Sadiq could be a transcendent player.
We knew Sadiq was already athletic (as a member of the 'Freaks' list), but he blew up the Combine with one of the best testing performances we've ever witnessed from a tight end—running a 4.39 40-yard dash, putting up 26 reps on the bench, posting a 43.5-inch vertical, and earning an effortless 11'2'' broad jump.
Sadiq also has excellent movement skills and strong hands. If Mike McCarthy was willing to get creative on offense, the Steelers could make him a primary pass-catcher, similar to how the Arizona Cardinals use Pro Bowler Trey McBride (who shares a very similar size profile and skill set).
If Sadiq were to somehow fall to pick No. 21 in the 2026 draft, taking the best tight end feels like a better option than reaching for perhaps the fourth-best wide receiver in the class (if the top three names are off the board). This is something the Steelers must at least consider.
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
We don't see a ton of prospects climb the big board as fast as Monroe Freeling has in 2026. The Georgia left tackle already started to catch the eye of NFL Draft experts ahead of the 2026 Combine, but after his showing in Indianapolis, his stock is through the roof.
Freeling came in with prototype size measurables before earning a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score, per RAS.football. Now it's unlikely that he falls anywhere near Pittsburgh's selection at pick 21.
However, with Broderick Jones' football future in jeopardy due to spinal fusion on his neck and with no long-term answer at left tackle in place, Freeling must be considered if he falls within Pittsburgh's range, thanks to one of the rarest combinations of size/athletic profiles we've ever seen at the position.
Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
There are a handful of concerns with Caleb Banks. The 23-year-old defensive tackle played five seasons in college football while dealing with injuries and never really putting it all together. Still, Banks has one of the rarest physical profiles we've ever seen from an interior defensive lineman, and he's worth a mid-first-round gamble.
The Steelers, meanwhile, struggled along the defensive line last season, and Cam Heyward will turn 37 years old after the draft in what could be the final year of his NFL career.
At 6'6 1/4'' and 327 pounds with 35'' arms, 10 7/8'' hands, and a massive 85 3/4'' wingspan, Banks tested as nearly a 99th percentile athlete for his position. This was after rag dolling smaller offensive lineman at the Panini Senior Bowl. Banks is a polarizing prospect with tremendous upside, and the Steelers could consider him if he falls to pick 21 after blowing up the Combine.