Welcome to Pittsburgh Steelers mock draft mania. With only a few weeks left until the draft, I want to create a steady stream of content ahead of the big day in April.
We’ve seen the disaster that was forcing your hand at quarterback as well as what it looks like for the team to go all in on 2027. Now we see the team opt to finalize their secondary rebuild.
For years, the Steelers have opted to out band aids on the secondary in hopes of fixing their issues. While the hope is that Jamel Dean provides some more long-term stability, there is no guarantee of that. Add in the long-term questions at safety, and one could certainly argue that more help is needed.
This mock draft provides that and then some.
The Pittsburgh Steelers go all-in on the secondary in 2026 mock draft
Round 1 | Pick 21: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
You probably thought I was going to take a safety here, didn’t you?
While a bigger need with a clearer path to playing time, I think for this team to go defensive back in round one, they need a player that truly justifies the pick. Jermod McCoy does just that.
Had he been healthy during his college career, he would have been considered a top ten pick in all likelihood. His loss is the Steelers' gain. He screams top dog at cornerback and would be a gruesome pairing long-term with Joey Porter Jr in the secondary.
His game doesn’t have a clear weakness. His tackling could be a little better, but his aggressiveness and coverage ability more than make up for it.
He can sit and learn in year one. No, that isn’t exciting for a first-round pick, but it could do his career wonders. Long-term, he could turn into one of the league's best outside cornerbacks.
Round 2 | Pick 53: A.J. Haulcy, DB, LSU
Now the rebuild is complete, even if you are sacrificing an immediate role for your first two picks in 2026. A.J. Haulcy is one of the best safeties in the class, and while his game has some limitations, playing to his strengths could yield a top-tier safety.
Haulcy does his best work when he is allowed to sit in zone coverage and make plays. From interceptions to jarring hits, he plays like a top dog on defense. He wants offenses to know he is there.
His run defense is suspect, and his man coverage is poor, but as a pure free safety, he is one of the best in the class. Next year, he can take over for Jalen Ramsey and provide the Steelers a big-play threat as their deep safety.
Round 3 | Pick 76: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
While technically not a member of the secondary, it feels like Kyle Louis counts there. Some are projecting that he will make the switch to safety full-time due to his lack of size, which causes poor run defense.
No matter where he ends up, he should serve as a valuable coverage player early in his career. He shines when in zone coverage and can serve as a third-down linebacker or even a slot defender early in his career. His long-term outlook largely depends on where a defense wants to play him full-time.
Round 3 | Pick 85: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Ted Hurst is a popular sleeper in the league and for good reason. Extremely productive at a smaller school with great size and athleticism, Hurst will have to prove that he is more than just a deep threat at the next level.
His route running is raw, but he has a knack for coming up with the big play when needed. He likely isn’t day one ready, but can serve as depth, stretch the field, and bide his time on special teams until his route running improves.
Round 3 | Pick 99: Kage Casey, OL, Boise State
While an offensive tackle in school, his lack of length will likely cause him to shift inside to guard. However, he has good technique as a blocker and is powerful in his stance. If he makes the shift to guard sooner rather than later, it could yield dividends for Casey.
Given the makeup of this roster, it feels like you would initially slot Casey into the guard competition. He may need the year to develop as he switches positions, but he should project as a starter long-term.
Round 4 | Pick 121: Chris McClellan, DL, Missouri
The Steelers grab a defender that fits the mold physically of what they want in a defensive lineman, but lacks effectiveness on tape. Chris McClellan plays powerfully at times, but his technique can be sloppy, which limits him. He won’t be needed right away, so he can develop and eventually settle into a rotational role.
Round 4 | Pick 135: J.C. Davis, OT, Illinois
While the Steelers could try to keep Casey at tackle, it feels more logical to add a tackle to boost kicking him inside. J.C. Davis is an extremely experienced player who shines against the run. He needs to develop as a pass protector, but could serve as a swing tackle early in his career.
Round 5 | Pick 161, Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
The Steelers are taking a quarterback at some point in the draft. Taylen Green is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the draft class. That said, he is mechanically flawed despite playing a lot of snaps at the college level. He needs a lot of work, but it's worth a flyer this late in the draft.
Round 6 | Pick 216: Riley Nowakowski, TE/FB, Indiana
Riley Nowakowski is a lot of fun to watch on tape. He is a gritty player who starred last year at Indiana, but his path to a team will be as a backup tight end/fullback. It feels like he would fill that role well in Pittsburgh and has the tenacity to play on special teams.
Round 7 | Pick 224: Desmond Reid, RB, Pittsburgh
If the Steelers add another running back in the draft, it should be one that can play on special teams somewhere (unless this team truly doesn’t want to keep Kaleb Johnson anymore). Desmond Reid is undersized but can play in the return game and is a good receiver. He would be a logical third running back for this team.
Round 7 | Pick 230: J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, Florida
Like Hurst from before, J. Michael Sturdivant is a work in progress. Unlike Hurst, Sturdivant never produced at the collegiate level. He is big and explosive, but the coaching staff needs to get the most out of him.
Round 7 | Pick 237: Ryan Eckley, P, Michigan State
It almost feels like the Steelers have to draft a punter this year. They brought back Cameron Johnston, but he was beaten out last summer for the job. It feels like another name needs to be brought in to compete.