The Pittsburgh Steelers have valued players from big-time college football programs in the past, such as Ohio State, Georgia, and Michigan. These schools have routinely produced NFL talent over the years. And when mentioning pro prospect factories, the Alabama Crimson Tide is likely among the first college teams that come to mind.
We've seen the Steelers double-dip in the draft by taking two players from the same school. This happened just last year with Ohio State standouts Jack Sawyer and Will Howard on Day 3 of the draft. A few years prior, in 2023—Omar Khan's first draft as GM—the Steelers double-dipped from the Georgia pool with Broderick Jones and Darnell Washington.
But what would happen if the Steelers devoted the first two days of the draft to selecting from just one college football program?
In this three-round mock draft exercise, I have the Steelers executing two trade-ups and filling some of the team's biggest roster holes by taking nothing but Alabama players in Rounds 1-3.
Pittsburgh Steelers take only Alabama Crimson Tide players in this 3-round mock draft
Round 1 | Pick 21: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Concerns about Kadyn Proctor's size (6'6 5/8'', 352 pounds) make him one of the more polarizing first-round prospects. But on talent alone, the big Alabama offensive tackle could be well worth the pick. Proctor is just 20 years old but has three years of starting experience with the Crimson Tide, with his best season coming in 2025, when he was an All-American.
Proctor can struggle to counter inside moves from speed rushers, but his size/athleticism combination is routinely on full display. The big offensive lineman also offers positional flexibility, as he could be an anchoring, road-grading guard at the next level.
Meanwhile, the Steelers have a big need for a starting guard with Isaac Seumalo leaving Pittsburgh in free agency for the Arizona Cardinals. Additionally, the future at left tackle looks bleak with Broderick Jones entering the final year of his rookie contract after a season-ending neck injury. Proctor would be a high upside swing with a potentially awesome reward.
Trade: Steelers trade with Jets for the top pick of the second round
Entering the 2026 NFL Draft with 12 total selections, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the ammunition to make a few aggressive moves. With one of their top targets falling, I have Pittsburgh trading picks 53, 85, and 121 to the New York Jets for the top pick in Round 2.
Round 2 | Pick 33 (via NYJ): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
With the 33rd overall pick acquired by the Jets, I have the Steelers jumping ahead of the Cardinals and turning in their card for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Mike McCarthy and Omar Khan both made it clear early in the offseason that the plan is to find a long-term quarterback in the draft. With Simpson sliding out of the first round in this mock, I have the Steelers getting aggressive in a trade-up.
Simpson will be a 23-year-old rookie with just one year of starting experience in college (which typically isn't an ideal combination). However, he has enough tools to work with as a developmental starter, and McCarthy could fall in love with his ability to both hang tough in the pocket or scramble when needed to extend the play.
Simpson would likely get the opportunity to sit and learn the offense in 2026 before being thrust into action.
Trade: The Steelers move up high into the third-round by trading with the Philadelphia Eagles
Even after packaging three picks to move up for Simpson at the top of Round 2, the Steelers would still have eight picks remaining in the 2026 draft. Because of this, I have them getting aggressive one more time on Day 2 by trading picks 76 and 135 to the Eagles for pick 68.
Round 3 | Pick 68 (via PHI): Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
With the 68th pick in Round 3, the Steelers land a sliding Germie Bernard in this Alabama-only mock draft. Bernard isn't my favorite receiver in this class due to a lack of defining traits. Watching his tape, he feels like a 'good at everything, great at nothing' type of WR prospect.
Still, Bernard is the best available WR prospect on the board at this point in the draft, and the Steelers will want to nab a wideout by this point in the draft. Bernard could step in right away as Pittsburgh's No. 3 wide receiver, and if his rookie season goes well, he could eventually prove to be a quality WR2.
Round 3 | Pick 99 (comp.): Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
The Steelers greatly missed having a tone-setting, downhill linebacker around last year after Elandon Roberts left during the 2025 offseason. Pittsburgh has a few athletes at the position, but they could use a player whose specialty is swallowing up running lanes.
Lawson racked up 283 tackles, 19.0 tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks over his past four years at Alabama. The two-time team captain for the Crimson Tide and semi-finalist for the Butkus Award would add physicality to the middle of Pittsburgh's defense as an early-down linebacker. Lawson would likely begin his Steelers career on special teams.