We don't know exactly which direction the Pittsburgh Steelers will go with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but wide receiver might be their top option. Even with the addition of Michael Pittman Jr., Mike McCarthy's offense lacks a true No. 1 receiver who can win from any alignment and get open routinely.
The closer we get to the draft, the more it feels that the top three options—Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson—will be off the board. Now, a fourth wide receiver could be gone before Pittsburgh is even on the clock with the No. 21 overall pick.
On Monday, ESPN Draft expert Jordan Reid reported that the New York Jets are hosting Omar Cooper Jr. for a 30-minute visit.
The Jets hold two first-round picks this year—No. 2 and No. 16. They aren't about to take Cooper with the second overall pick, but Cooper at pick No. 16 has been gaining steam. Now it feels like this could become a reality.
Last week, ESPN's Peter Schrager put together his first-round mock based on what he's been hearing, and he had Cooper going to the Jets with the 16th overall pick. Here's what he had to say about the selection. Schrager claimed that every GM he spoke with loves Cooper, thanks to his fearlessness and toughness at the receiver position.
If the Jets take Cooper at pick No. 16, the Steelers' wide receiver options in the first round will be slim at best.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be forced to reach for a wide receiver in Round 1 if the New York Jets poach Omar Cooper Jr. in the draft
It's never a good idea for an NFL team to get hyper-focused on addressing just one position in the first round, and we certainly hope this isn't what the Steelers plan to do on April 23. However, we saw this happen in the 2022 NFL Draft—the final under former GM Kevin Colbert—as Pittsburgh was fixated on drafting a quarterback in Round 1.
Ohio State wideout Carnell Tate will be long gone before the Steelers are on the clock, and it's probably safe to assume that both USC's Makai Lemon and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson will be gone as well, barring a trade-up in Round 1. So if Cooper goes to the Jets at pick 16, Pittsburgh's wide receiver options will be limited.
If Khan feels there will be a massive run on receivers before the team's second-round pick at No. 53 overall, the Steelers could be pressured to take a receiver for the sake of not missing out on one. While I think KC Concepcion is still a respectable option at pick No. 21, the Steelers haven't expressed much interest in the Texas A&M product since the NFL Combine.
Instead, they could go with the sure-handed Denzel Boston Jr. This would feel unsatistifying.
Boston is my WR6 in the class, and taking the sixth-best wideout with a top-25 pick feels like a reach for positional need. Boston shares a similar profile to Michael Pittman Jr., and doesn't offer a skill set different from what the Steelers already have.
If Pittsburgh misses out on Lemon and Tyson, Cooper felt like the perfect fallback option for McCarthy's offense, as he has a quality blend of size, fluidity, and ball skills, combined with the ability to play inside or outside and break tackles after the catch.
Unfortunately, Cooper may be off the board before the Pittsburgh Steelers even get a shot at him. The Jets' latest draft interest could result in a nightmare scenario unfolding at pick No. 21.