With Mike McCarthy in town as the new head coach, Pittsburgh Steelers fans are hoping this change comes with a major boost on the offensive side of the ball. But that won't come without investments. Just two weeks ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, fans are hoping general manager Omar Khan addresses the wide receiver position or the offensive line.
Unfortunately, Pittsburgh's latest 30 visit raises a big red flag.
On Thursday, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reported that USC star Makai Lemon was set to meet with the Steelers. This is what fans wanted to see. However, Pittsburgh's brass was also hosting Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren for a pre-draft visit.
And just like that, a potential nightmare could unfold at pick No. 21 in the NFL Draft.
McNeil-Warren is a respectable defensive back with impressive size and range. In 2025 for the Rockets, the 6'3 1/2'' safety recorded 77 tackles and 5.5 tackles for a loss with a pair of interceptions and a defensive touchdown.
While the Steelers could use youth and depth in the secondary, taking a safety in Round 1 feels like overkill and a complete neglect of Pittsburgh's more pressing draft needs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can't afford to target Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in Round 1
McNeil-Warren is a good player, but he's not a perfect prospect. Despite his impressive college career, the 22-year-old is coming from the MAC and has rarely played against NFL-caliber prospects. This doesn't mean he shouldn't go in the first round, but it's something to consider.
But it's less than about McNeil-Warren as a prospect and more about the draft philosophy of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Safeties are relatively easy to find. It's why the Steelers were able to scoop up Jaquan Brisker in free agency for pennies and how they were able to ink DeShon Elliott to a two-year, $6 million contract during the 2024 offseason. This is also a deep safety class, so there's even less incentive for Pittsburgh to take one with its top pick.
Taking a safety in Round 1 would mean passing on both a wide receiver and an offensive lineman. There's little question that one of these two positions would do more to help the team—both in the short term and for the future.
The Steelers know they are going to have to take their big quarterback swing in the 2027 NFL Draft, and not setting the next QB up with a wide receiver room and an offensive line to help him succeed would be roster-building malpractice.
There's no guarantee that the Steelers are going to land a true first-round prospect when they are on the board at pick No. 21, and quite frankly, McNeil-Warren might be one of the best remaining talents. But at the end of the day, valuing safety in today's NFL over an offensive player who could move the needle for McCarthy's new offense would be a mistake.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a good football player, and this wouldn't be considered a reach pick by most experts. But this would be a nightmare selection in Round 1 for many Pittsburgh Steelers fans.