We've finally made it to NFL Draft week, and Pittsburgh Steelers fans can't wait to find out what Omar Khan and the front office will do with a dozen selections on hand this year. But predicting their every move won't be as easy as it has in years past.
In 2023, I successfully predicted that the Steelers would select Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones in Khan's first draft as general manager—even noting that Pittsburgh may have to jump up a few spots to secure him (they ultimately moved from pick No. 17 to pick No. 14). Last year, I predicted Derrick Harmon would be the selection at pick No. 21.
But this year, it's harder than ever to predict what Khan and the Steelers will do at the top of the draft.
The Steelers met with six players for pre-draft visits who could be considered first-round prospects. While Khan expressed that the team could veer from its recent draft trends, I'll believe it when I see it. At the same time, it's unreasonable to expect Pittsburgh to make all 12 selections they currently hold.
While predicting draft-day trades is nearly impossible, the feeling is that Pittsburgh will try to move up to draft one of its top targets. In my final predictive seven-round Steelers mock draft, I have Khan taking a big swing early for a dynamic weapon and sticking true to the team's pre-draft interests on Day 2 and Day 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers hold true to pre-draft interests in final 7-round mock draft
TRADE: Steelers send pick No. 21 and pick No. 53 to the Dallas Cowboys for pick No. 12
With a dozen picks at hand, I have the Steelers getting aggressive for a player they have their heart set on. In my final mock, Pittsburgh trades its first and second-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys for the No. 12 overall pick in the class—jumping the Los Angeles Rams at pick No. 13.
Round 1 | Pick 12 (via DAL): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Mike McCarthy and Omar Khan gushed over Makai Lemon during their pre-draft presser, and the USC star receiver checks a ton of boxes this team looks for. The 21-year-old is coming off an outstanding, productive season, and he would be a perfect fit as the team's plug-and-play slot receiver to go with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. on the outside.
The Steelers held 30 visits with six players who could be considered Round 1 options: Lemon, Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano, Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, and San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson.
While Pittsburgh could go with a player like Omar Cooper Jr.—who has an Indiana connection with new Steelers senior offensive assistant Frank Cignetti Jr.—I still believe their pick comes from one of their pre-draft visits.
With an abundance of draft capital, I don't think the Steelers will leave their pick to chance. Though Fano and Ioane are both firmly in play (and may require slight trade-ups if either slips on draft day), Lemon is the prize. I have the Steelers handing over their first- and second-round picks this year to move up and land him in Round 1.
Round 3 | Pick 76 (via DAL): Darrell Jackson Jr., DL, Florida State
With no second-round pick after the trade with the Cowboys, the Steelers could reach for a guard here or take a player who's higher on their board... and one we already know they love. Darrell Jackson Jr. is big, long, and strong—three things this team covets in defensive linemen.
Jackson is a run-defender first (which is what Pittsburgh needs these days), though he won't offer much as a pass rusher. His physical profile might be too enticing to pass up, and with Cameron Heyward's last year in mind, Khan gets proactive.
Jackson would work as a rotation 3-4 defensive end in Pittsburgh's base defense as a rookie before attempting to carve out a bigger role in his second season. His two-gapping ability should help free up linebackers to make plays.
Round 3 | Pick 85: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers could use some depth at linebacker and a player who can serve as a nickel defender. Why not grab a local prospect who can do both?
Kyle Louis is a bit undersized for a linebacker, but he has excellent speed (4.53) and lateral agility. His best work comes in coverage. This was on full display during backs-on-backers at the Panini Senior Bowl.
Omar Khan and company hosted Louis for a local pre-draft visit, and the versatile defender is very much in play in the third round, if he's on the board at this point. The hybrid linebacker/safety/nickel defender could play in Pittsburgh's subpackage defense early in his rookie season while serving on special teams coverage units.
Round 3 | Pick 99 (comp): Travis Burke, OT, Memphis
Ideally, the Steelers would like to address the offensive line sooner, with questions at both left guard and left tackle. I have them taking their swing late in the third round. Pittsburgh met with two mammoth offensive tackles during the pre-draft process: Miami's Markel Bell and Memphis' Travis Burke. With Bell potentially off the board by this point, I have them going with the latter.
Burke might be the tackle they like anyway. Despite his massive 6'8 3/4'' and 325-pound frame, Burke has impressive athletic traits and respectable foot quickness for a player of his size. He's a prospect The Athletic's Dane Brugler loves, thanks to his traits as a developmental tackle with starting upside.
Burke would begin his career as a backup, and depending on Broderick Jones' status, he could compete with Dylan Cook for reps at left tackle during his first NFL training camp.
Round 4 | Pick 121: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
Mike McCarthy was adamant that the Steelers intend to add to the quarterback room via the NFL Draft, and we have every reason to believe him. With just Will Howard and Mason Rudolph on the projected roster as the draft is set to begin, this team needs depth at QB—even if Aaron Rodgers returns.
McCarthy made it clear in his pre-draft press conference that he desires a quarterback with AFC North traits—one who can play through the elements. The Steelers' 30 visits with players like Penn State's Drew Allar, Arkansas' Taylen Green, and North Dakota State's Cole Payton were telling.
In my final Steelers mock draft, I have the front office throwing a dart at the board with Payton, a raw quarterback with elite physical traits. This would give the Steelers youth, size, and a different type of developmental quarterback to pair with Howard.
Round 4 | Pick 135 (comp): Beau Stephens, G, Iowa
It's hard to imagine a scenario in which the Steelers wait until the compensatory fourth round to address the guard position. After Isaac Seumalo departed in free agency, this position could be at the top of the team's wishlist. However, this is just the way the board fell.
That's why the Steelers met with a player like Beau Stephens during the pre-draft process. Stephens could slide to Day 3 of the draft due to his concerningly short arms (31 1/8'' at the NFL Combine), average athletic traits, and injury history. However, when you turn on the tape, you just see a good football player who's tailor-made for a West Coast zone offense.
Like Mason McCormick before him, Stephens' fourth-round status wouldn't prevent him from earning a starting job, perhaps as early as his rookie season—if he were to beat out veteran Brock Hoffman for the left guard role.
Round 5 | Pick 161: Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington
There's a reason the Steelers spent a pair of 30 visits on Washington cornerbacks this year—they fit the mold of what the team is looking for. With Huskies cornerback Tacario Davis off the board in this mock, I have the Steelers nabbing Ephesians Prysock with their fifth-round pick.
Listed at 6'3 3/8'' and 196 pounds with a massive 80 1/2'' wingspan and 4.45 speed, Prysock shares a remarkably similar size and athletic profile to 2023 second-round pick, Joey Porter Jr. Prysock could develop in the wings behind Porter and veteran newcomer Jamel Dean. He would begin his career on special teams, but he has the skill set to develop into a starting-caliber Cover 3 cornerback down the line.
Round 6 | Pick 216: Jakobe Thomas, SAF, Miami
With so many selections at hand, it would almost be surprising if the Steelers didn't address the safety position in the draft. While my third-round pick in this mock draft, Kyle Louis, is a pseudo safety who can play in the box, the Steelers could use more of a true safety who would add youth and depth to an aging secondary.
Pittsburgh's brass met with Jakobe Thomas for a pre-draft visit, and the Miami product is coming off an impressive redshirt senior season. Despite a sixth-round label, Thomas feels like a player who could make the team as a rookie and carve out a role on special teams if he receives a helmet on game days.
Round 7 | Pick 224 (via NO): Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State
With the Steelers electing to release Jonnu Smith and with Connor Heyward departing in free agency, we can feel confident in saying Pittsburgh will address the tight end position at some point in the 2026 NFL Draft. This could come as early as the third round.
But with Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth at the position, Khan can get away with a late-round flier for depth purposes. Will Kacmarek fits the bill. The Steelers hosted the Ohio State prospect for a pre-draft visit.
Kacmarek was a five-year college player who began his career at Ohio in the MAC before transferring to the Buckeyes. He wasn't productive as a receiver, but with quality size and a well-balanced skill set, there's room enough for Kacmarek to make the roster as a reserve tight end.
Round 7 | Pick 230: (via IND): Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa
While this selection would technically have the Steelers doubling up on the wide receiver position (which feels entirely possible this year), Kaden Wetjen is really a return specialist.
At 5'9'' and 193 pounds with just 29 5/8'' arms, Wetjen is short with a compact frame. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for with shiftiness and an incredible feel for return lanes. The Iowa product earned over 1,500 kick return yards and over 950 punt return yards in three seasons seeing the field for the Hawkeyes.
Considering the Steelers had the worst kick return game in the league last year and that they lost punt returner Calvin Austin III to the New York Giants in free agency, Wetjen would stand a solid chance of making the team as a return specialist, despite his seventh-round tag.
Round 7 | Pick 237: Ryan Eckley, P, Michigan State
At this stage in the draft, the Steelers are simply looking for players who stand a chance at cracking the roster. Last year, Corliss Waitman had a down season, and the punting job could be up for grabs.
While spending draft capital on a punter isn't a popular decision with fans, nobody should bat an eye if the Steelers use a mid-seventh-round pick on a punter in a draft where they make over ten draft selections. Michigan State's Ryan Eckley is considered by some draft experts to be among the four best draft-eligible punters this year.
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