Everyone assumes the Pittsburgh Steelers want to take a wide receiver or an offensive lineman in Round 1, but with how little interest this team has shown in first-round prospects, it's hard to say for certain that is the direction general manager Omar Khan is leaning.
After filling nearly every major roster hole in free agency, Pittsburgh will have the flexibility to deploy pretty much any draft-day strategy—including addressing the defense with the No. 21 overall pick.
While we might disagree with this philosophy, the fact that the Steelers possess four Day 2 picks will allow them to address their biggest roster needs and load up on talent, with five picks in the top 100 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In my latest three-round Steelers mock draft, I have Khan breaking away from the recent pre-draft buzz and going in a direction that catches fans off guard early in the draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers emphasize run defense with their top pick in this three-round mock draft
Round 1 | Pick 21: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
I would love for the Pittsburgh Steelers to land one of the top three wide receivers with their first-round pick. Unfortunately, this will likely require a trade-up. In this mock, I have Khan making an off-the-wall selection by turning his card in for Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald.
McDonald is an outstanding run defender and an easy projection as a 0-technique nose tackle in Pittsburgh's base 3-4 defense. This would instantly bolster the run defense on the defensive line and allow Keeanu Benton to work in a rotational role that's better suited to his skill set (like 3-technique).
McDonald could instantly help vault Pittsburgh to one of the best run defenses in the NFL, and he could help prepare the team for life without Cameron Heyward (who could retire after the 2026 season).
Round 2 | Pick 53: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
I'm not the biggest Germie Bernard fan, but if the Steelers miss out on the first wave of talent at the wide receiver position, the team could view him as the best of the rest entering Day 2. Bernard has a well-rounded skill set and can play from the slot or on the outside.
For Pittsburgh, Bernard would begin his career as the slot receiver in 11 personnel, with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. on the outside. Bernard would give the Steelers a high-floor wideout who could develop into a WR2 down the line, if all goes well.
Round 3 | Pick 76 (via DAL): Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
The Steelers don't necessarily have a glaring need at linebacker, but they must improve at stopping the run from the LB position. Patrick Queen was wildly inconsistent last year and had an egregious missed-tackle rate above 20%. This is likely his last year in Pittsburgh.
Josiah Trotter, on the other hand, excels at coming downhill, shedding blocks, and making plays in the running game. Trotter, the son of Jeremiah Trotter and brother of 2024 draft pick Jeremiah Trotter Jr., has a skill set that would be an excellent complement to Payton Wilson for the foreseeable future.
Round 3 | Pick 85: Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
The Steelers need depth at guard and tackle, and Drew Shelton could offer both. Shelton, a Penn State product, spent most of his collegiate career as a left tackle, but he has a size profile that could force him inside to guard at the next level.
Shelton could compete with Brock Hoffman for the starting left guard role. If he's not able to earn the job as a rookie, he could be a swing tackle or backup guard early in his Steelers career.
Round 3 | Pick 99 (comp.): Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
The connection between the Steelers and Garrett Nussmeier is undeniable. Head coach Mike McCarthy already knows Nussmeier well, as his father, Doug Nussmeier—a former NFL quarterback—was the quarterbacks coach in Dallas under McCarthy for three seasons from 2020 to 2022.
Garrett Nussmeier doesn't have an elite skill set or size profile, but he's accurate and can deliver the ball on time as he goes through progressions. He projects as an NFL backup QB who could eventually start for a short stretch in a pinch.