The 2026 NFL draft is mere days away from kicking off, where hundreds of thousands of people will descend on the city of Pittsburgh. The hometown Pittsburgh Steelers will be one of the most talked about teams during the three-day event, and not just because of their status as the host city.
Armed with 12 picks, including five in the top 100, general manager Omar Khan has the opportunity to completely overhaul his roster in the way he sees fit. Across multiple mock drafts in the months leading up to the draft, the rest of the Still Curtain crew and I have tried to think of every possible situation and scenario for how the Steelers draft could turn out. In my final mock, however, it's time to take my best guess at how things will really go.
Even though I expect there to be a few trades made by Pittsburgh (particularly on Days 2 and 3), I chose not to predict any for simplicity's sake. With that caveat, here is my prediction for how the Steelers 2026 will play out.
Final Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL mock draft loads up for another run at an elusive playoff victory
Round 1 | Pick 21: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
If Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is on the board at pick 21, I have a hard time believing the Steelers won't make him the selection. Cooper Jr. possesses all of the traits head coach Mike McCarthy looks for in a WR, with the versatility to play in multiple spots and dynamic ability with the ball in his hands.
Is he ever going to be a true No. 1 target? Maybe not, but he would be the perfect finishing piece to a much-improved receiving room compared to last season.
Round 2 | Pick 53: Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech
Like Cooper Jr., I think the only way Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge isn't a Steeler is if another team takes him before their pick at 53. At the risk of sounding too old-school, Rutledge just looks like a Pittsburgh offensive lineman. He is stout, powerful, and has the nastiness teams look for in their interior players. He lacks upside as a pass protector, but he should fill Isaac Seumalo's shoes just fine if he is the pick here.
Round 3 | Pick 76: Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
Speaking of looking like a Pittsburgh Steeler, few players fit that bill more than Florida State defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. Standing at 6'5" and 315 pounds with over 35-inch arms, Jackson Jr. is the exact build that the Steelers seem to covet in their interior defenders. While I am personally lower on him as a prospect, mostly due to clear athletic limitations, I think the Steelers will love his profile.
Round 3 | Pick 85: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
Another third-round pick, another prototype the Steelers love. Texas corner Malik Muhammad is on the lighter side at 182 pounds, but he has excellent height (6'0") and length (32.5-inch arms) for the position, both of which make him a great fit in a corner room with Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean. He is still raw, but he would have at least a year to learn behind those two before competing for a starting role.
Round 3 | Pick 99: Markel Bell, OT, Miami
One of my favorite Day 2 players in this class, the Steelers go after a potential Broderick Jones replacement in Miami's Markel Bell. The hulking offensive tackle is the perfect backup plan in case both Jones and 2025 surprise star Dylan Cook can't hold down the left tackle spot. Bell may not have the upside teams look for at the position, but his massive 6'9", 346-pound frame makes him a high-floor pass protector for any team looking for competency on the blindside.
Round 4 | Pick 121: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
A quarterback pick had to happen at some point, and the Steelers have shown interest in a few Day 3 passers. If I had to pick one, I think McCarthy would vouch for Penn State's Drew Allar. He has the prototypical size (6'5", 228 pounds) and arm talent teams still look for, but he needs serious improvement from an accuracy and decision-making standpoint. With any luck, one of Allar or Will Howard could become a capable starter in this situation.
Round 4 | Pick 135: Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri
The Steelers wait until the fourth round to double-dip at receiver, and Missouri's Kevin Coleman Jr. could be a steal at this point late in the round. While he is likely a slot-only player at the next level due to his lack of size, he is an excellent route runner and a perfect fit as a long-term WR 3 or 4.
Round 5 | Pick 161: Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State
With Jonnu Smith and utility man Connor Hayward both gone this offseason, the Steelers need a suitable third tight end behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. Ohio State's Will Kacmarek isn't a threat as a receiver, but he could very well be the best blocking tight end in the class. He would fit right in with the Steelers.
Round 6 | Pick 216: Lorenzo Styles Jr., DB, Ohio State
Back-to-back Buckeyes! The Steelers take a flyer on the older brother of projected top-10 pick Sonny Styles at pick 216, selecting defensive back Lorenzo Styles Jr. He flashed incredible speed both on the field at Ohio State and at the NFL Combine, running a blazing 4.27 forty. He could be a potential star on special teams while trying to find a role in the Pittsburgh secondary.
Round 7 | Pick 224: Jaden Dugger, LB, Louisana
This late in the draft, teams often gamble on small school players with elite traits, and the Steelers are no different here with the pick of Louisiana linebacker Jaden Dugger. He tested very well at his pro day, putting up a 9.60 RAS score. He was productive against lower-level competition, and he would be a great candidate for the practice squad if he can't make the team out of camp.
Round 7 | Pick 230: Mikail Kamara, EDGE, Indiana
The Steelers add a second player from the National Champion Indiana Hoosiers (that still feels weird to say, doesn't it) in EDGE Mikail Kamara. Kamara was once considered a Day 2 prospect after a strong 2024 season, but his production fell off tremendously in 2025. With rumors swirling about a potential trade of Alex Highsmith, the Steelers could look to add someone like Kamara to compete for a roster spot.
Round 7 | Pick 237: Jack Stonehouse, P, Syracuse
Fans might hate it, but with only veteran Cameron Johnston on the roster, I could see the Steelers nabbing whoever they think is the best punter in the class with their last pick. I went with Syracuse's Jack Stonehouse, but I won't pretend to know much about the punter class. Even if it may not be anyone's favorite pick, you could make a strong argument that a good punter has better chance of making the roster than any other player available this late.
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