The Pittsburgh Steelers are already staring down the barrel of a potential dilemma ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. If the goal is to nab one of the top receivers in the class, Omar Khan could be out of luck, barring a trade-up in Round 1.
Unfortunately, this nightmare scenario is frequently playing out in recent mock drafts, such as NFL Network draft expert Bucky Brooks' mock draft 3.0.
Recently, Brooks released the latest version of his predictive 2026 first-round mock, and receivers flew off the shelf like hot cakes. Brooks had the Cleveland Browns selecting Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate with the No. 6 pick, this was followed by Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson landing with the New Orleans Saints two picks later, and USC star Makai Lemon being snatched up by the LA Rams with pick No. 13.
Eight picks before the Steelers are even on the clock, Brooks has the top three receivers in the class already off the board. With the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Brooks has Pittsburgh turning its card in for Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion. Brooks shared his thoughts on the selection.
"Perhaps new head coach Mike McCarthy sees a little Randall Cobb in the Texas A&M standout. Concepcion's playmaking skills as a catch-and-run specialist would add a new dimension to the Steelers' passing game."
The Pittsburgh Steelers' worst-case scenario is outlined in Bucky Brooks' latest NFL mock draft
Concepcion himself isn't the worst-case scenario for the Steelers at pick 21; they could do much worse than the shifty wideout who knows how to get open and chew up yardage after the catch. However, the way the draft board fell in Brooks' mock was about as bad as it gets.
With Tate, Tyson, and Lemon off the board in this mock, the Steelers were left picking up the pieces with a player they may view as the WR4 of this class. However, many draft analysts hold receivers like Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. and Washington's Denzel Boston in higher regard, making Concepcion their WR6.
Either way, taking the fourth, fifth, or sixth, best receiver with the 21st overall pick doesn't sit well.
Meanwhile, some of the top offensive line prospects were wiped off the board before the Steelers were on the clock in this mock. Miami's Francis Mauigoa is expected to be gone, but this mock also has Penn State's Olaivavega Ioane, Utah's Spencer Fano, and Georgia's Monroe Freeling being taken ahead of Pittsburgh's pick.
Landing KC Concepcion in the first round is nothing to scoff at. The Texas A&M star would fit nicely in Mike McCarthy's offense and would pair well with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. on the outside.
Still, it's frustrating to know that the Pittsburgh Steelers would be settling for a second-tier prospect after missing out on the true first-round-graded wide receivers in the 2026 class.