The 2026 NFL Draft grows closer every day, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be one of the most notable teams to watch. Not only are they hosting the festivities this season, but they have a whopping 12 picks at their disposal to help build up the roster under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
Both sides of the ball need fresh talent if Pittsburgh wants to remain competitive in the AFC North, but the offense is clearly a step behind at this point in the offseason. Even if quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns for another season, serious questions remain along the offensive line and at wide receiver.
In my latest 3-round mock draft, I looked at what the Steelers could accomplish if they spent all of their premium draft capital on new pieces for the offense. It was...interesting, to say the least.
Pittsburgh Steelers attempt to overhaul the offense in latest 3-round mock draft
Round 1 | Pick 21: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Steelers have long been linked to the top receivers in this year's class, and for good reason. With the likes of Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, and Omar Cooper Jr. all potentially off the board by pick 21, the Steelers "settle" for KC Concepcion out of Texas A&M in this mock.
Concepcion is my personal #2 WR in the class, so taking him at 21 was a no-brainer. His explosiveness and ability to separate at all three levels make him the perfect complement to DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. He needs to clean up his drops and polish his route running, but he could be the finishing piece for a receiver group that would severely outclass the one they had last year.
Round 2 | Pick 53: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
The signing of former Cowboys guard/center Brock Hoffman has alleviated some of the concerns about losing Isaac Seumalo in free agency, but a long-term answer at left guard is still a major need for Pittsburgh. Oregon's Emmanuel Pregnon is a highly experienced, rock-solid guard prospect with the exact traits the Steelers should be looking for.
Pregnon excels as a zone blocker and pass protector, perhaps the two most important attributes for a guard to have for playing in McCarthy's offense. He may never be an All-Pro player, but he could be one of the pillars of the offense for years to come. His raw power and steady play should endear him to the coaching staff quickly, and it would give the Steelers a deep and versatile interior OL group.
Round 3 | Pick 76: Markel Bell, OT, Miami
This may seem too early to take a player with his limitations, but Miami's Markel Bell is a personal favorite of mine and has already garnered interest from the Steelers. His massive 6'9", 346-pound frame would make him one of the biggest players in the NFL, and his size alone makes getting around or through him in pass protection incredibly difficult.
Bell is a better athlete than you would expect for his size, and that is what makes me believe he has starting upside as an Orlando Brown Jr./Trent Brown type at the next level. He has good technique in pass pro on top of his size and length advantage, which makes him the perfect pick as a backup plan for if Broderick Jones or Dylan Cook struggle next season.
Round 3 | Pick 85: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Full disclosure: I am not personally a fan of LSU's Garrett Nussmeier's game and overall profile as a prospect. He is a small, aggressive passer who struggled in his senior season due to injuries. The highs are some of the highest in this year's admittedly weak QB class, but the lows are hard to ignore given his lack of elite traits.
Fans of Nussmeier will point to his toughness, willingness to push the ball downfield, and his solid accuracy, but I fear it may not be enough to make him anything more than a good backup and fringe starter. Still, he offers a certain floor at the position, and his dad, Doug Nussmeier, having coached with McCarthy in Dallas, certainly doesn't hurt his chances of ending up in Pittsburgh.
McCarthy's obvious interest in developing Will Howard may end up preventing the Steelers from investing in a QB this early in the draft, but Nussmeier would be a good bet to be their choice if they do.
Round 3 | Pick 99: Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri
We finish up this offense-only mock with another playmaker for whoever ends up at QB for the Steelers. Missouri's Kevin Coleman Jr. isn't getting a ton of buzz in a very deep WR class this year, but he could be the perfect slot weapon long-term for the Steelers offense.
With Concepcion already on the team in this scenario, Coleman would likely start his career battling for snaps with Roman Wilson as the team's fourth or fifth WR. But Concepcion played most of his snaps as an outside receiver in his final season, and it was by far his best overall college campaign.
If he is going to eventually be one of Pittsburgh's outside targets down the line, having a player with Coleman's polish as a route runner and deceptive speed in the slot could be a huge get at pick 99.