With the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, we can start diving into draft grades for each selection the Pittsburgh Steelers made this year... and not all of it is encouraging.
The Steelers entered the draft with a dozen picks and, after trading up twice during the three-day event, ultimately made 10 selections. While general manager Omar Khan made a few excellent value picks, there were also several questionable reaches.
Meanwhile, the Steelers prioritized addressing key, foundational positions. At the same time, the draft results suggest they were more focused on filling positional needs across most phases of the draft than on taking a true BPA approach and selecting the 'best player available' when they were on the clock.
A few years from now, we could have a totally different opinion about this draft class. However, based on draft value, player evaluation, positional need, and team philosophy, here are my grades for each Steelers selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Grading each Pittsburgh Steelers selection in the 2026 NFL Draft
Round 1 | Pick 21: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
As a prospect, there's a lot to get excited about with Max Iheanachor. The raw offensive tackle has a remarkable combination of size and athletic traits. Part of this selection stings, knowing that the Pittsburgh Steelers fully intended to select Makai Lemon at pick 21. Iheanachor is a slight reach on the consensus board, but his upside is as high as any offensive tackle from the 2026 draft class. For this, I'm still giving the selection a 'B-'.
Round 2 | Pick 47: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
I wasn't crazy about Germie Bernard for most of the pre-draft process, but I really started to warm up to him after grinding more tape. I've learned not to underestimate guys who are natural football players, and he fits the bill. However, the value of this selection isn't the issue—it's the process. Pittsburgh seemed to panic after missing out on Lemon, and they traded up in Round 2 to secure a receiver out of necessity when there were more talented players on the board at other positions.
Round 3 | Pick 76: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
This was perhaps the most polarizing selection of the NFL Draft for the Steelers. Drew Allar has all the traits that could make him a good starting quarterback at the professional level, but he's never put it all together. In fact, some would argue that he got worse as his Penn State career went on. While I understand nothing is more important than finding the next franchise QB, this felt like a reach for a player who has only a small chance to be 'the guy' unless he makes major strides with Mike McCarthy as his new head coach.
Round 3 | Pick 85: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
It was clear from their pre-draft process that the Steelers wanted to add youth and depth at cornerback. They did that with their original third-round pick by selecting Georgia's Daylen Everette. Though Everette possesses an impressive combination of size and testing speed, he doesn't always play up his numbers. Everette needs to work on his reaction skills if he wants to thrive in man coverage. At best, this can be considered an on-value pick, and Omar Khan is betting on the traits.
Round 3 | Pick 96: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
When you consider the value of draft position, this was by far the best pick of the draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Gennings Dunker impressed at the Panini Senior Bowl before showing off his movement skills at the NFL Combine. Before that, he was coming off back-to-back impressive seasons at Iowa. I like Dunker much more as a guard, which is where the Steelers intend to play him. This was the 65th player on the consensus board, and taking Dunker in the second round would have been justifiable. Somehow, the big offensive lineman and his flowing red mullet went completely unnoticed until the end of the third round.
Round 4 | Pick 121: Kaden Wetjen, KR/PR, Iowa
There's no question the Steelers need help in the kick return and punt return game, and Kaden Wetjen was the best return man in the country. But taking a returner-only in the fourth round feels like a drastic overdraft. Wetjen was 253rd on the consensus board and was drafted at pick No. 121. Under Khan, the Steelers landed key contributors like Nick Herbig and Mason McCormick in Round 4 (and Jack Sawyer could be next in line for a breakout campaign). Wetjen's role will be limited to special teams, and it feels like the team passed up a great chance to go BPA.
Round 5 | Pick 169: Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana
After parting ways with both Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward this offseason, we felt confident the Steelers would select a tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft. In a quality TE class, the Steelers opted for Riley Nowakowski in the fifth round. At 6'2'' and 250 pounds with 31 1/2'' arms, Nowakowski isn't a traditional tight end; rather, he'll wear multiple hats as Heyward's replacement, as he can play fullback and H-back as well as tight end. This was a bit of a reach in the draft, but at least there's a clear path to the roster (and playing time) if all goes well for Nowakowski this summer.
Round 6 | Pick 210: Gabe Rubio, DL, Notre Dame
We could revisit this in a few years and find out I was wrong, but I'm giving the Steelers an 'F' for the Gabe Rubio pick in Round 6. There are some things to like about Rubio, like his anchoring ability and what he offers as a run defender. However, this is a player only Notre Dame fans knew about before the draft, and he has an extensive injury history. On top of that, Rubio had virtually no production behind the line of scrimmage in five seasons, and he's a poor athlete with respect to his position. This felt like a player the Steelers could have signed as a priority free agent.
Round 7: Pick 224: Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma
The Steelers found a 6'2'', 205-pound safety with 32 1/2'' arms and 4.32 speed in the seventh round. But the fact that Robert Spears-Jennings was on the board at this point is evidence that he has major flaws in his game. The Oklahoma safety pair elite speed with hard-nosed physicality, but he has questionable change-of-direction skills and coverage instincts. Still, I don't mind throwing a dart at a defensive back with tools late in the draft. Spears-Jennings could cut his teeth on special teams if he makes the final roster.
Round 7 | Pick 230: Eli Heidenreich, WR/RB, Navy
It's hard to figure out the perfect positional label for Eli Heidenreich. Listed as a fullback at Navy, Heidenreich is a true blend of wide receiver and running back. The 0-star recruit and Pittsburgh native ran one of the fastest 3-cone drills (6.55 seconds) we've ever seen, and he shares almost identical size and testing numbers to 49ers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. Heidenreich has the traits to work with and is a perfect upside gamble late in the draft. Mike McCarthy already talked about opening up the playbook for him. Of course, he needs to make the roster first.
This was the fourth NFL Draft with Omar Khan as general manager and Andy Weidl as the assistant general manager, and the first with new head coach Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh. On paper, this draft feels underwhelming compared to the previous three—especially when you consider the draft capital the Steelers had to work with this year.
Though most selections were either a slight or significant reach against the consensus board, the Steelers' front office valued premium positions (like tackle, wide receiver, and quarterback), and players with high upside or impressive physical tools (like Max Iheanachor, Drew Allar, and Daylen Everette).
Pittsburgh did a great job filling positional needs, but often at the expense of taking the best available players when they were on the clock. Meanwhile, three out of their first four picks (with Germie Bernard being the exception) are considered developmental prospects who might not hit their ceiling until a few years down the line. And I'm okay with that approach.
Overall, the Pittsburgh Steelers found talent on both sides of the football, with three projected future starters on offense and players who fit specific roles on the team (like Kaden Wetjen and Riley Nowakowski). This draft doesn't look overly impressive at first, but if their raw picks develop, it could look much better 2-3 years down the line. I'm giving the Steelers' 2026 draft class as a whole a 'B-'.
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