With the city of Pittsburgh hosting the NFL Draft for the first time in the NFL era, it only makes sense that the Pittsburgh Steelers want to strike gold on their first-round pick. For many fans—and decision-makers within the organization—this could be the only time Pittsburgh hosts the draft in their lifetime. And with all eyes watching, the front office will want to make their pick in Round 1 count.
But if we press down our tinfoil hat just a bit tighter, there's another first-round theory for the Steelers brewing: they will want the player they have their eye on and will ultimately select to be in attendance at the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
Now the official list of draft attendees has been confirmed.
On Wednesday, the NFL's official X account dropped a graphic with the 16 prospects who will be in attendance at the NFL Draft... and the Steelers' future Round 1 selection could be among them.
All 16 confirmed 2026 NFL Draft attendees:
- David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
- Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
- Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
- Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
- Keldrick Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
- Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
- Makai Lemon, WR, USC
- Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
- Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
- Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
- Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
- Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
- Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
- Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
- Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be eyeing one of the 16 NFL Draft attendees in Round 1
This isn't the craziest prediction. Photos and videos from the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh will live on forever, and—considering it's been 78 years since this City last hosted a Pro Football draft (1948)—Pittsburgh will welcome all of the paparazzi it can handle.
If this theory unfolds, the Steelers are looking to draft one of the 16 candidates on hand, and some simple deductive reasoning can help narrow down their selection.
General manager Omar Khan knows his team won't be in play for many of the names on this list, so let's go ahead and cross off players like Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Rueben Bain Jr., Mansoor Delane, Sonny Styles, Francis Mauigoa, and Jeremiyah Love.
This leaves us with nine prospects who will be attending the draft that could be on the Steelers' Round 1 radar.
Of the remaining nine, the Steelers don't appear to have any interest in Keldrick Faulk. Now we'll attempt to narrow the pick down further.
Kayden McDonald would feel like an overkill selection with other more pressing needs, especially after drafting a defensive lineman in Round 1 last year and doubling up on the position in the 2025 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, the Steelers don't seem to have a ton of interest in Kadyn Proctor after skipping Alabama's Pro Day, and there's chatter that the Lions love Proctor at pick 17.
Hypothetically, the Steelers might love to trade up for Carnell Tate or Caleb Downs, if they fall within range. However, these prospects could both land in the top 10. While not impossible, both feel highly unlikely, and neither will be available organically to them at pick No. 21 in the first round.
This leaves just three names on the list: WR Makai Lemon, WR Jordyn Tyson, and QB Ty Simpson.
Of this trio, Simpson feels least likely, as the Pittsburgh Steelers have been heavily eying Day 2 and early Day 3 quarterbacks. Meanwhile, the Steelers didn't watch Simpson at his Pro Day, nor have they brought him in for a pre-draft visit.
If all of these predictions align with Pittsburgh's thought process—and, admittedly, that's a lot to ask—they could be sold on landing either Lemon or Tyson in Round 1 with all eyes watching in their home city. Not only would these two players fill a major positional need as the Steelers aim to find a true go-to option and the future at receiver, but either would be a flashy pick that fans would adore.
Lemon is projected to be off the board before the Steelers are on the clock at pick No. 21, so landing the USC star would likely require a trade-up. But with four picks on Day 2 this year and 12 total selections, this team has no shortage of firepower to move up in the first round. The Steelers recently hosted Lemon for a 30 visit, so the interest is there.
Tyson, meanwhile, might be the most talented receiver in the class. However, his extensive injury history could cause him to slide on draft day. There's a chance teams ahead of the Steelers are scared off by this, and that Pittsburgh could land him without a trade-up at pick No. 21.
Again, this is just a prediction, but with all eyes on them, it makes sense that the Pittsburgh Steelers know who they want in Round 1 and that this team could pick from one of the NFL Draft attendees they requested be on hand.