Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have a head coach, they can begin to turn their attention to giving Mike McCarthy a roster he can be successful with.
Since McCarthy made his name in the NFL with explosive downfield offenses, clearly, the Steelers won’t be able to go into 2026 without an answer at quarterback and better receiving targets for whoever that may be.
With the 2026 NFL Draft held in Pittsburgh, Yinzers are hopeful they’ll get to see the franchise solve one of those issues live in the Steel City. With general manager Omar Khan not being on the clock until the 21st pick, though, his task in resolving either issue won’t be easy.
Nonetheless, Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft of the offseason points toward Pittsburgh taking a step in solving its offensive issues, though maybe not in the manner Steelers fans might expect.
Daniel Jeremiah predicts Steelers focusing elsewhere despite quarterback question
Jeremiah released his first mock draft on Monday, in which only one quarterback was selected, that of course being Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who’s expected to be the No. 1 overall pick. Despite Alabama’s Ty Simpson falling to Pittsburgh in his mock draft, though, Jeremiah gave the Steelers an answer at wide receiver with their first pick at 21 with Washington wideout Denzel Boston.
“The Steelers must find someone to complement DK Metcalf. Boston is another big, physical receiver to play opposite the two-time Pro Bowler,” Jeremiah wrote in his quick analysis of the selection.
Of course, it’s worth noting with Jeremiah’s mock drafts, especially as the offseason gets underway, that he often crafts his mocks with the benefit of the intel he gets from around the league. It’s less of what he thinks of the players and more of what the league thinks of the players.
That’s impactful with Simpson out of the first round in the first mock draft. Simpson’s stock is sure to maneuver quite a bit between now and late April, of course. Nonetheless, that’s a key note to take away for Steelers fans.
As for Boston, he’s a name that Steelers fans are already becoming a bit familiar with, as he’s been paired with Pittsburgh in a few different mock drafts already. His scouting report draws comparison to Denver’s Courtland Sutton, standing 6-foot-4 with a wide catch radius and soft hands.
Boston needs work in his route tree, but otherwise, he should be fit to step into any offense around the NFL and contribute right away. If he were to line up opposite Metcalf in Pittsburgh, then Steelers fans would get a taste of what they missed out on when the franchise traded away George Pickens ahead of the 2025 campaign.
That said, while Boston is a solid pick for the Steelers at this stage of the draft cycle, it assumes that Pittsburgh has solved its quarterback dilemma ahead of the selection ceremony. Steelers fans aren’t so sure that will be the case by the end of April. An Aaron Rodgers return, or any other bridge quarterback situation, is not enough to solve the issue. The Steelers need someone they can trust at the position for the long term.
Of course, McCarthy’s offense will need more reliable pass-catchers than Metcalf and Boston, or any other first-round wideout. With more change to come in Pittsburgh yet, how McCarthy shapes his offense ahead of draft night will give Steelers fans a bit more clarity in what the team will elect to do once they are on the clock in their own backyard.