We've said it throughout the process—trading up is a likely option for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. With 12 selections this season, general manager Omar Khan could package a Day 2 pick and move up for a player they wish to secure.
Khan traded up three spots in Round 1 for Broderick Jones in the 2023 NFL Draft. If Pittsburgh moves up in the first round this year, most can safely assume this will be for one of the top three wide receivers in the class.
But the latest NFL mock draft suggests the Steelers could have something else in mind.
On Monday, Nate Davis of USA Today released a mock draft with a few projected trades. In this mock, Davis has the Steelers trading from pick No. 21 up to pick No. 13 with the Los Angeles Rams. However, it's not for wide receiver Jordyn Tyson or Makai Lemon; it's for Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano.
Davis attempted to justify the Steelers' shocking first-round decision to move up for an offensive lineman in this mock draft.
"[Spencer] Fano was a standout tackle in college and could still be in the NFL, but his shorter arms seem to suit him more for guard or center. Regardless, [Aaron] Rodgers, the next guy, and the running game could use one more elite blocker as this organization strives to get out of the playoff friend zone."
The Pittsburgh Steelers can't afford to trade up for Spencer Fano if the team doesn't view him as an offensive tackle
With a dozen selections, there are several possible first-round trade-ups you might be able to talk me into, but trading up for a player who profiles as a guard or center at the next level isn't one of them.
I like Spencer Fano as much as the next draft analyst. His tape over the past two seasons at Utah has been exceptional, and he proved at the NFL Combine that he has elite athletic traits for the position. However, teams will be scared to death by his 32 1/8'' arms (3rd percentile) and 9'' hands (2nd percentile).
His short arms and small wingspan could end his NFL career as an offensive tackle before it even begins. While there's a chance Fano can defy the historic odds and be a quality tackle with some of the shortest arms we've ever seen at the position, we can't bet on it. Just last year, first-round rookie Will Campbell (32 5/8'' arms, 9 1/2'' hands) struggled mightily in the playoffs and the Super Bowl, and Campbell has a similar profile.
This doesn't mean that Fano couldn't be an excellent interior offensive lineman at the next level. But should the Steelers really trade up eight spots in the first round for a guard?
My answer would be a resounding 'no'. And I hope Khan's would be too.
While Davis didn't specify what the Steelers gave up in this trade, we can assume it was at least their second-round pick (No. 53 overall). That's a pick that could be used to land a starting football player.
If Fano falls to the Steelers organically at pick No. 21 in the first round, by all means, run the card to the podium for the standout Utah offensive lineman. Heck, even if he falls within 2-3 picks and it costs Pittsburgh a compensatory third, at least we can have a reasonable discussion about that.
However, there's no way the Pittsburgh Steelers can justify packaging their first and second-round draft picks this year to move up for a player they likely view as a guard. Even with 12 picks entering the 2026 NFL Draft, this would be an egregious decision. There simply isn't enough value in the position to get a return on this type of investment.