The NFL Draft is almost here, and that naturally means that everyone is finalizing their big boards and draft sleepers. The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a busy day in the Steel City.
While I don’t have the time to do a complete big board, I wanted to put together a list of who would be the best fit for the Steelers.
Let me be clear, these aren’t my favorite players overall. I’m weighing the need Pittsburgh has, as well as where these players are projected to be drafted. As well, their anticipated fit both this year and long-term is also being considered.
The best defensive fits for the Pittsburgh Steelers by position in 2026 NFL Draft
DL: Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
It feels like you have two options at defensive line in the draft. Either you take Darrell Jackson Jr. in the third round range, or you throw a dart at a lesser name later on day three in the draft.
For me, I would take Jackson in a heartbeat. A massive run defender at Florida State, he can come in and instantly provide value as a base end in run support. His pass rush plan is raw and will ultimately determine his overall value as a pro.
EDGE: Nyjalik Kelly, UCF
I’ll be honest and say that I have put very little effort into learning about this edge rusher draft class. Unless the Steelers make a big trade, any edge rusher will be a late-round pick with long odds of making the roster.
I’ll throw a dart at Nyjalik Kelly. He has good size and great length. He is raw as a pass rusher, and his run defense is suspect, but I’ll take my chance with a great build that late in the draft.
LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
While he doesn’t physically look the part, Jacob Rodriguez developed into one of the best collegiate linebackers in 2025. His aggressiveness as a run defender would be a breath of fresh air for this defense, and he can also hold his own in coverage.
Ideally, the Steelers would be able to get him in the second round of the draft. That seems like more than enough value to warrant such a move. He could finally give this defense some elite linebacker play that has been sorely missed.
CB: Devin Moore, Florida
There are a lot of tall and long cornerbacks in this draft. I gravitate towards Devin Moore as my personal favorite for the Steelers. He has the avatar build that this team likes and thrives in man coverage and run defense.
His biggest issue is health, as he has struggled to stay on the field. While some fans will shy away from an injured cornerback after Cory Trice, no one else offers the starter potential that Moore has that late in the draft.
S: A.J. Haulcy, LSU
I want a free safety in this draft who can be the eventual successor to Jalen Ramsey. There are a few names that make sense for that role, but the best pure free safety outside of round one is A.J. Haulcy.
His coverage is strong, and he does his best work as a deep safety. You would like to see some harder hits out of him, but beyond that, his game is sound. He feels like a high-floor prospect who can develop into a starter sooner rather than later.
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