The NFL Draft is finally here, and months of hard work and scouting are about to culminate in an exciting weekend. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, it feels like this draft is critical given the team’s veteran status and need for some effective youth on the squad.
Unlike years past, the clues that we can typically follow to figure out draft interest are murkier with new coaches in place. However, with the dust of the pre-draft process now settled, I’ve constructed my best fits for what this team could do on draft night.
For starters, I didn’t predict any trades despite the surplus of capital. I fully expect this team to move around this weekend, though. However, predicting players alone is a challenge, and adding in trades is nearly impossible.
The Steelers have also gravitated towards their pre-draft visits under Omar Khan. That being said, every pick won’t come from that list. My goal is to include 3-4 names that fill needs but weren’t shown a lot of pre-draft interest to fill that criteria.
This was one of the hardest mock drafts for me to put together. Every round felt like more of a guess than ever before. That said, this was my best attempt at connecting as many dots and predicting what the Steelers will do during the draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers stick to their usual trends in final 2026 Mock Draft
Round 1 | Pick 21: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
I can’t tell you how many times I went back and forth on this one.
Olaivavega Ioane has been on the short list for me as a first-round pick. The Penn State guard is a true top prospect in this class, but his positional value could cause him to fall (see DeCastro, David in 2012).
He would be a plug-and-play starting guard, though, and help shore up the left side of the offensive line. His game doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses, and his ceiling remains high given his athletic profile.
Many are quick to say that he won’t get past the Ravens due to their need for a guard. While I recognize that need, Baltimore hasn’t shown a lot of interest in him so far. I don’t think it’s a stretch that he makes it to pick 21.
My back and forth this late was the sudden need for a tackle and two obvious names filling that potential need in Monroe Freeling and Spencer Fano. I’m just not sure either make it to pick 21, and it doesn’t feel like the Steelers are going to trade up in round one.
Even if one of those options were on the board alongside Ioane, I think he edges them out. Like Kevin Costner in “Draft Day”, I’ve got “Vega Ioane, no matter what” scribbled on my note card in my pocket.
Other Round 1 Options: Makai Lemon, Spencer Fano, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Round 2 | Pick 53: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
You heard it here first: if the Steelers trade up early in the draft, it will be from this spot. It could even be an aggressive move to land a falling receiver.
However, I’ll keep Germie Bernard here at 53, although I think a small move up may be needed to land him. The Alabama product feels like the perfect fit for what the Steelers need at receiver now.
Sharp routes and dependable hands. That is Bernard’s claim to fame. He can play outside but feels like a better slot receiver at the pro level, and while he lacks the athletic traits to become an elite receiver, he feels like a dependable second option.
He feels like a quarterback-friendly option that could pay dividends for this team down the road. If the team passes on a receiver in round one (it feels like they will), Bernard would be a good consolation prize in round two.
Other Round 2 Options: Jacob Rodriguez, Treydan Stukes, Keylan Rutledge
Round 3 | Pick 76: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
I’m naturally going visitor-heavy for the first three rounds, but at least one of these picks should be a relative surprise. The Steelers have done their homework on linebackers this year, and while Anthony Hill didn’t come in for a visit, he would make sense to add to the room.
He plays with his hair on fire, running all over the field and making plays during the run game and in coverage. His aggressive nature is his best trait right now. He needs to predict plays better and improve in coverage, but he has the traits to do so.
The Steelers did meet with Hill at the combine, so there was some interest in him already, and given the other interest in linebackers, he would make sense in this spot.
Round 3 | Pick 85: Darrell Jackson Jr., DL, Florida State
One of my draft crushes, Darrell Jackson Jr. just feels like a Steelers pick. Big and long, he looks like a classic Pittsburgh defensive end when he steps off the bus.
He is a strong run defender, and his role initially will be as a base end who plays against the run. His pass-rush motor runs hot and cold, but the right system and right coaches can certainly get him to a better place as a more complete player.
The best teams in the league stockpile defensive linemen, and with some long-term questions surrounding the position, using a mid-round pick on a defensive lineman like Jackson makes sense. His floor is a good run defender with the ceiling of a quality starter.
Round 3 | Pick 99: Markel Bell, OT, Miami
If the Steelers don’t take a tackle in the first round, it feels like the position will have to wait a bit to be addressed. However, given the uncertainty surrounding Broderick Jones, adding another tackle to compete is a must.
Markel Bell is a massive human being. One of the biggest tackles in the class, he uses his size and power to dominate opposing defenders. While his frame is impressive, he can play too tall at times and get beaten by more finesse-based pass rushers.
It is rare for a tackle of his size to have experience on the left side, but he does. Assuming Jones isn’t ready for the start of the regular season, Bell and Dylan Cook will compete for the left tackle role.
Other Round 3 Options: Skylar Bell, Malik Muhammad, Drew Allar
Round 4 | Pick 121: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
I’ve said for a long time that one of the freak Washington cornerbacks was going to end up in my final mock draft. I wanted to draft a cornerback earlier, given the Steelers' pre-draft interest in the room, but it just didn’t pan out.
That said, Tacario Davis uses his size well and is a plus athlete. He needs to refine his skills in coverage, but he has the traits and a rare build to succeed. At worst, he can cut his teeth on special teams as he develops his defensive game.
Round 4 | Pick 135: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
The Steelers are taking a quarterback; it is just a matter of when. Ultimately, I went with Cole Payton in round four, as he is the classic plus-tools quarterback for Mike McCarthy to work with.
Payton’s mechanics are a mess, but he has a strong arm and is athletic with the ball in his hands. If he hits his ceiling, he could be a great starter. More than likely, he settles in as a hybrid backup that you can use on designed plays similarly to Taysom Hill.
Other Round 4 Options: Travis Burke, Beau Stephens, Harold Perkins
Round 5 | Pick 161: VJ Payne, DB, Kansas State
The Steelers haven’t shown as much interest in the safety draft class as I thought they would. That said, it still feels likely that they add someone on day three. We get our first random prospect in the draft, as it doesn’t seem like Pittsburgh has communicated with him to this point.
VJ Payne is a jack-of-all-trades type of safety. He played all over the backfield in Kansas, but feels like his best fit will be at free safety as a pro. He can learn there in year one and take over for Jalen Ramsey next year, potentially.
Other Round 5 Options: Marlin Klein, Kendrick Law, Jeff Caldwell
Round 6 | Pick 216: Brett Thorson, P, Georgia
Punter feels like a massive need, and with so many picks, the Steelers can afford to take the top name in this draft class. Brett Thorson has a massive leg with pinpoint accuracy, so the hope would be that he can stabilize the punter position for the next few years.
Other Round 6 Options: James Thompson, Jaden Dugger, Riley Nowakowski
Round 7 | Pick 224: Kahlil Dinkins, TE, Penn State
The Steelers need a third tight end, and Kahlil Dinkins fits the mold of what you want. He is a decent blocker who was underutilized in the passing game. His lack of athleticism will limit him, but he can compete for a roster spot in a relatively open tight end competition for the third spot.
Round 7 | Pick 230: Vinney Anthony II, WR, Wisconsin
Another name with no bread crumbs around him, Vinny Anthony, would make a lot of sense as a second receiver option. They showed some interest in Kendrick Law as a special teams player first and receiver second. Anthony is a similar type of receiver who can serve on return units and has played on coverage units in college.
Round 7 | Pick 237: Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
You can take a dart with this pick and throw it at any position and player and I would hear you out.
I opted for a running back since Kaleb Johnson hasn’t been what the team hoped he would when drafting him in round three last year. Adam Randall is a big running back with good receiving chops. He’d be a unique addition to compete for a roster spot.
Other Round 7 Options: Devin Eastern, Jack Kelly, Andre Fuller
Add us as a preferred source on Google