The Pittsburgh Steelers have several glaring needs on both sides of the football. While their desperation for quarterback help trumps all, their need for a go-to wide receiver is at the forefront. With a crop of talent in the wide receiver pool this year, general manager Omar Khan could look to address this shortcoming early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
One possible selection for the Steelers at pick No. 21 is KC Concepcion, an explosive offensive weapon out of Texas A&M. The Steelers have lacked a receiver who could create separation with ease since trading Diontae Johnson during the 2024 offseason.
Concepcion isn't in the same tier as the top three receivers in this year's draft class (Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson), but his skill set could make him an ideal fit in Pittsburgh.
Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes
Height: 5106
Weight: 190 lbs
Expected 40 -Yard Dash: 4.42
Recruiting: 3-star, 567th nationally, No. 82 ranked WR
Positives
- Outstanding burst off the line of scrimmage with the ability to seperate natural early in routes
- Effortlessly snaps in and out of breaks, making it tough for cornerbacks to stay in his hip pocket
- Ability to chew up yards after the catch with excellent combination of burst and explosion
- Natural fluidity as an athlete increases ceiling as a route runner at the next level
- Showcased remarkable ability as a punt returner in 2025 (18.2 yards per return, 2 touchdowns on 25 returns)
- Excellent breakout age (18.9), college target share (26.7%), and college dominator (36.9%) at Texas A&M, via PlayerProfiler.com
- Can battle with defensive backs for contested catches despite average frame (66.7% contested catch rate)
- Declared for the draft as a 21-year-old true Junior (slightly younger than top WR prospects Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon)
Concepcion is a fluid, twitchy, and explosive athlete who can win from the slot or the boundary. His ability to create separation is a trait NFL teams will covet, and it's what the Steelers have been lacking from the wide receiver position. Concepcion's toughness and yards-after-catch ability could help him develop into a QB-friendly, go-to option in the passing game.
Negatives
- Drops were a massive issue, with a concerning 10.3 percent drop rate in 2025 (19 career drops over three college seasons)
- Smaller frame and catch radius are less than ideal, and bigger cornerbacks can reroute him at times
- Though not lacking effort, must refine ability and technique as a run blocker
- Not the most natural receiver when it comes to making acrobatic catches outside the framework
While Concepcion may have some size limitations at the next level, the other negatives to his game are things that can be fixed. However, 19 drops in three college seasons is justifiably concerning. Concepcion must become more reliable, making routine catches or risk putting himself under the microscope early in his career.
KC Concepcion NFL Player Comparison: Khalil Shakir
Concepcion's ability to win over the middle of the field or chew up yards after the catch on screen passes and jet sweeps makes his comp to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir easy. Both players are sub-six-foot receivers who possess top-notch physicality and explosive movement skills. Similar to Shakir's role in Buffalo, Concepcion profiles best as a shifty WR2.
How KC Concepcion fits on the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers new head coach Mike McCarthy needs a do-it-all wide receiver for his West Coast offense to operate effectively. Though Concepcion has his shortcomings with inconsistent hands and an undersized frame, he can create separation both from the slot and the boundary.
Concepcion is a natural separator with ability and upside as a route-runner, which makes him an ideal pairing with starting receiver DK Metcalf in McCarthy's offense. His ability to get open and gain effortless yards after the catch could make him a quarterback's best friend and a go-to option in the passing game as early as his rookie season.
KC Concepcion NFL Draft Grade: Late Round 1
If you like big wide receivers with vice grips for hands, Concepcion won't be for you. He's never going to have a massive catch radius or imposing size. But what Concepcion lacks in frame and catch-point consistency, he makes up for with a remarkable ability to separate at the top of his routes and gash defenses with yards after the catch.
Concepcion's early breakout age, strong market share, and excellent punt return ability are predictive signs that point to success at the next level. Frustrating drops might always be part of his game that a team simply needs to live with, but he has dynamic, big-play ability that teams can't get enough of. Concepcion profiles as a No. 2 wide receiver at the NFL level.