The Pittsburgh Steelers made one thing crystal clear during the NFL Combine: they are aiming to select a wide receiver early in the 2026 NFL Draft. This isn't earth-shattering news; it's what we expected. However, after seeing the team use over a fourth of their formal meetings on the wide receiver group, this is now evident.
Fans are hoping the Steelers will get a shot to nab one of the top receivers in the class, such as Ohio State's Carnell Tate, USC's Makai Lemon, or Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson. Before the Combine, names like Washington's Denzel Boston and Texas A&M's KC Concepcion were also in the mix at pick No. 21.
But after the NFL Combine, a new name, a wide receiver, is firmly on Pittsburgh's first-round radar: Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.
Cooper isn't a name who's been talked about as a first-round pick often early in the pre-draft process, but after his showing in Indianapolis, we're about to see him mocked to the Steelers often in the weeks leading up to the draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could target Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. in the first round
Cooper is a wide receiver that the Steelers were sure to have interest in this April. However, most NFL analysts viewed him as a second-round player before the Combine. Now the No. 1 WR for quarterback Fernando Mendoza in 2025 on Indiana's championship team could land in Pittsburgh with the 21st overall pick.
At the NFL Combine, Cooper measured in at 6'0'' and 199 pounds with 9 5/8'' hands. His weigh-in ensured that a lack of size wouldn't be an issue at the next level.
Cooper followed up a strong weigh-in by posting an excellent 4.42 40-yard dash and a 37'' vertical jump, via NFL.com. While Cooper isn't an elite athlete compared to NFL wide receivers, he earned a Relative Athletic Score of 8.70 out of 10, per RAS.football.
Cooper is a gritty wide receiver who can create enough separation at the top of his routes and deal damage with the ball in his hands after the catch. Cooper looked smooth in the on-field drills at the Combine and only improved his stock with a strong showing.
Just days before the Combine kicked off, NFL Network's draft expert Daniel Jeremiah had Cooper flying up his top-50 prospects list. Jeremiah moved Cooper all the way up to 19th on his updated big board after previously being unranked.
Cooper recorded 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns during his senior season at Indiana in 2025. With solid size and do-it-all ability, this is the type of wide receiver Mike McCarthy will look for to lead his offense next season—someone who can manipulate coverages and perform effectively outside the hashes or in the slot.
Cooper will be one of the biggest risers leading up to April's NFL Draft. After a strong showing at the NFL Combine, we can plant the wide receiver firmly on the Pittsburgh Steelers' first-round radar.