The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of football in front of them before the 2026 NFL Draft gets in their sights. Speculation around the city has been clear about the organization's plan to land their young "franchise" quarterback during the upcoming draft.
With the number of free agents they lost this past offseason, many believe Pittsburgh will receive a bounty of compensatory picks to give themselves a perfect opportunity to trade up.
After his recent comments, it appears Aaron Rodgers will be one-and-done with the Steelers. Unless both parties have a change of heart, a young signal caller will be their target when the draft rolls around. Many mock drafts have the Steelers targeting the position. You are only as good as your quarterback in the NFL, and this franchise is tired of recycling expired names.
Steelers stick to their guns and find a reasonable trade partner with the Arizona Cardinals
It would be fantastic if the Steelers could trade up eight spots for this type of value.
While they gave up a good chunk of picks, they didn't give up their entire plot. Pittsburgh wouldn't be moving their first-round pick in the following draft, which is vital. This trade would be a terrific move by General Manager Omar Khan to sneak close to the top ten to land a young quarterback waiting to hear his name called.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 mock draft has the team finally taking a swing for a QB
Steelers Mock Draft Round 1 (via Cardinals): LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
After moving up, The Black and Gold select LaNorris Sellers from South Carolina. He has everything to prove this upcoming college football season, but he has all the tools that could make him a generational talent. He has one of the strongest arms in the draft, and he knows when to use his legs to make plays.
Sellers could be a Cam Newton-type player at the quarterback position.
Mike Tomlin would love to land a signal caller like Sellers. Someone who can make plays all over the field, in a game of football that requires players at the position to move effectively. The Gamecock quarterback is coming off a breakout season, but he could push to the top of most mock drafts if he can build off last year. He is a name to watch this upcoming NFL Draft.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: Bud Clark, S, TCU
With Minkah Fitzpatrick out of the picture, the Steelers would be wise to consider taking a safety towards the top of their draft class. Ideally, they could find an established replacement this upcoming season, which might need to wait until 2026 to replace their former star safety. Bud Clark enters the picture here, and he is known for causing turnovers in the secondary.
Clark has become a reliable ballhawk for the TCU defense. He brings playmaking ability, and the center fielder Pittsburgh has been dying for over the past two seasons. The Horned Frog has the perfect size for the position and has 50 games of experience heading into his final collegiate season. Clark would be a terrific get in an attempt to add a difference maker to the free safety position.
READ MORE: Aaron Rodgers may stay Steelers' starting QB longer than anyone expects
Steelers Mock Draft Round 4 (via Cardinals): Cam Calhoun, CB, Alabama
Adding Jalen Ramsey to the team in a blockbuster trade is exciting, but it doesn't secure answers for the future. Joey Porter Jr. is going into a make-or-break campaign for his young career. Darius Slay is on a one-year contract and might not return. Taking a cornerback in a mock draft for the Steelers makes a lot of sense with the uncertainty surrounding the future of the position.
Cam Calhoun hasn't had many opportunities to show his game heading into this year. He started his career at Michigan and transferred to Utah after little playing time. He just jumped over to Alabama this season. His use of the transfer portal could sway opinions on him leading up to the NFL Draft.
Calhoun has the perfect size to be an elite cornerback, but he needs a breakout season to jump his draft stock.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 4: Dametrious Crowner, OT, Texas A&M
It's hard not to look at Dametrious Crowner in a football uniform and not get excited about his potential. He is a monster at 6'6 and 330 pounds. Don't be surprised if he gets compared to Dawand Jones when he was entering the draft. Pittsburgh might not have an urgent need in the trenches going into this campaign, but they could once the NFL Draft arrives.
With a young quarterback taken earlier in this mock draft, the Steelers would be wise to surround him with a strong offensive line. Crowner might need more seasoning at the next level, but that could allow the team to upgrade their swing tackle role. There is no guarantee Troy Fautanu or Broderick Jones pan out, and it might be in Pittsburgh's best interest to keep their ongoing investment alive.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 5: DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
The Steelers might've just taken Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black in their recent draft, but they could target the defensive front in 2026. DeMonte Capehart has yet to play a significant role on Clemson's defense, but this upcoming campaign is his best shot. If he fails to earn a role on their defense, it will display a gigantic red flag over his draft profile.
Capehart has continued to grow during his time as a Tiger, but he hasn't produced starting numbers.
His frame is perfect for what Pittsburgh desires in their trench warfare. Expect this prospect to have an increase in production if he can get a starting spot. He is a solid teammate and person, which is something the Steelers have been using in their draft decisions in recent years.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 6: Wendell Moe Jr., OG, Tennessee
Adding to the guard position might be required by the Steelers during this mock draft. Isaac Seumalo is a pending free agent after this season, and they might allow him to walk away. If they want to find a replacement this late in the draft, Wendell Moe Jr. could be their choice. He transferred to Tennessee this season after spending his first two campaigns with the Arizona Wildcats.
His draft stock could be on the rise if he can carry over his terrific play at Arizona to the SEC. Moe remains a young player in the NFL Draft with position flexibility. He has started games at left and right guard. He could help secure the depth concerns up front, which could haunt the offensive line this season. Pittsburgh must commit to infusing young players into the trenches on an annual basis.