Welcome to Draft Week! The Steelers enter the 2026 Draft with the most selections of any team. In the first round they have the 21st pick for the second straight year. On Friday, the Steelers have four selections with #53 (2nd round) and three 3rd round picks (#76, #85, and #99). The Steelers also have two fourth round selections which has given to speculation that the Steelers may package some picks to be aggressive in moving up the draft board. Considering the Steelers are hosting the draft in Pittsburgh, they will certainly want to make a splash for the home crowd. Tune into the SCB Steelers Podcast on Thursday night during the Draft to hear our LIVE reactions to the Steelers pick!
Historical Trends
This will be the fourth draft of the Omar Khan/Andy Weidl era at the helm of the front office. The major change this year is Mike McCarthy’s dramatically different approach to the pre-draft process. While Mike Tomlin generally went to 5 or 6 Pro Days per year and had assistants and position coaches very involved in the scouting process, McCarthy only went to one Pro Day (Georgia) and position coaches did not hit the road often. This would point to even more weight being placed on players who made pre-draft visits to Pittsburgh. All three of Omar Khan’s first round picks since becoming GM have made pre-draft visits. The Steelers have generally tended towards players from winning programs as 21 of their last 24 first round picks came from teams that finished the season in the Top 25. In that timespan, only Ben Roethlisberger came from a non-power conference school (though that Miami OH team did finish in the Top 25).
Out of Range
With the Steelers holding the 21st overall pick, assuming they don’t trade up there will be 20 players taken before the Steelers make a selection. Even if the Steelers do make a trade, it is unlikely they would move up higher than 10th overall. This means consensus Top 10 players like Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiah Love, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, David Bailey, Monsoor Delane, Carnell Tate, Reuben Bain, and Caleb Downs will be taken before the Steelers have a chance at a selection. If the Steelers stay at 21, other players including Francis Mauigoa, Jordan Tyson, Jermond McCoy, Kenyon Sadiq, Dillon Thieneman, and Kendrick Faulk will likely be taken.
Vega Ioane (OG-Penn State)
Why the Steelers Will Draft Him: Ioane is the top guard in the draft class and would immediately be able to step in at left guard to fill the starting role vacated by Isaac Seumalo. He came to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit and is a nasty mauler in the trenches. Ioane did not give up a sack or take a holding penalty over the last two seasons. He plays with a physical tenacity that would make him an ideal Pittsburgh Steelers lineman. While Ioane is likely a Top 15 player in this class, we could see a “David DeCastro Scenario” where because of the perceived lack of value at the guard position, he falls down the board in the first round to Pittsburgh at #21.
Why the Steelers Won’t Draft Him: As the top guard in the class and one of the safest O-line prospects, it is very possible that Ioane goes in the Top 15. The worst case scenario would be him landing in Baltimore with the 14th overall pick.
Spencer Fano (OT-Utah)
Why the Steelers Will Draft Him: Broderick Jones reportedly suffered a setback in his rehab of the late-season neck injury. The Steelers will continue to evaluate but that elevates the need for a potential long-term replacement at left tackle. Fano is Dane Brugler’s top-rated tackle in the Draft class but his best long-term position may be at guard where his athleticism (sub-5 second 40) and shorter arms will be an asset. He came to Pittsburgh for a Pre-Draft visit and played on a team that finished in the Top 25 though just outside the Playoff.
Why the Steelers Won’t Draft Him: If teams are concerned about Miami OT Francis Mauigoa’s injury history, Fano is likely the top tackle off the board. Even though this isn’t a great tackle class, the relative value of the position still makes him a likely Top 15 pick in the draft. The only way I can see him slipping to 21 is if teams are concerned about his arm length and ability to play tackle in the NFL. That said, he has the skill set to be an All-Pro guard if a team moves him inside.
Monroe Freeling (OT-Georgia)
Why the Steelers Will Draft Him: Given the recent Broderick Jones news, the need for an offensive tackle is elevated. While Freeling did not make a pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh, the Steelers brass did attend Georgia’s Pro Day. In fact, Georgia was the only Pro Day which Mike McCarthy attended in person and one of just two (Pitt being the other) that Omar Khan attended. Freeling’s profile is very similar to Broderick Jones in that he is a massive athlete with huge arms and wingspan but still very raw in his technique. Freeling is the only player on this list who played for a team that reached the Playoff last season.
Why the Steelers Won’t Draft Him: Freeling has a lot of work to do to be molded into an NFL left tackle. He certainly has the frame, athleticism, and upside to take those steps but with just one year as a full-time starter he does not have significant game experience and is very raw. Similar to the commentary on Spencer Fano above, Freeling is probably one of the Top 3 tackles in the draft class but if Mauigoa’s injury history concerns teams, he could be off the board in the Top 20. Also, he is the only prospect on our list who did not come to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit, which has been a staple of the Omar Khan era as general manager.
Makai Lemon (WR-USC)
Why the Steelers Will Draft Him: Lemon is an explosive, well-rounded receiver who runs great routes, is sharp with the ball in his hands and steady at the catch point. He is slightly undersized at 5’11” but that hasn’t stopped the Steelers from finding players like Antonio Brown or Emmanuel Sanders previously. Lemon has drawn comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown and can operate either out of the slot or out wide. He was USC’s leading receiver each of the last two seasons and almost half his yards last season came after the catch. Lemon came to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit and USC finished the season in the Top 25.
Why the Steelers Won’t Draft Him: The Steelers haven’t taken a wide receiver in the first round since Santonio Holmes in 2006. Mike McCarthy has only drafted one first round receiver in his 18 years as head coach, which was CeeDee Lamb in Dallas. Given the market for WRs in the NFL right now and the value of receivers on a rookie contract, teams in the 10-20 range of the Draft will likely see tremendous value in Lemon. He did have some odd interviews at the Combine and may not be the most team-oriented player.
Denzel Boston (WR-Washington)
Why the Steelers Will Draft Him: The Steelers have a need for depth at wide receiver with only DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman on the roster as established NFL-caliber talents. Boston seems like almost a carbon copy of Pittman – a big-bodied receiver with strong hands who isn’t afraid of going across the middle. He came into Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit after consecutive seasons with 60+ catches and 800+ yards. He scored 20 TDs over the last two years and has the size and strength to win jump balls down the field.
Why the Steelers Won’t Draft Him: Boston doesn’t have breakaway speed and can have some issues separating from man coverage. Most scouts see him as a borderline 1st/2nd round player, depending on what a team needs. Wide receiver has typically been a position where both the Steelers and Mike McCarthy have found gems on Day 2, and it is possible that Boston slips out of the first round.
Chris Johnson (CB-San Diego State)
Why the Steelers Will Draft Him: With Clemson CB Aveion Terrell tweaking his hamstring again in pre-draft workouts, Johnson has solidified himself as the #3 CB in this draft class. He has the size (6’0″ 195) and speed (4.4 40) to excel as an NFL corner. The Steelers have a need here with just JPJ, Jamel Dean, and Brandin Echols on the roster as corners. Johnson is smooth in coverage, shows good anticipation in zone and is aggressive to the ball. He had 8 passes defended and 4 interceptions last year. Johnson is willing to stick his nose in against the run – a trait the Steelers value in corners, and reportedly is a great team leader.
Why the Steelers Won’t Draft Him: While it seems likely that Johnson will be available at 21 for the Steelers, they may have him ranked behind some of the other players on this list. Everything depends on what happens in the first 20 picks of the Draft, and it is possible that a big name falls to them at 21. The Steelers under Kevin Colbert generally drafted players from “Power” conference schools and shied away from smaller school players in the early rounds. Taking Johnson would be the first time since 2004 (Ben Roethlisberger) that the Steelers took a Group of Five player in the first round.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S-Toledo)
Why the Steelers Will Draft Him: The Steelers don’t have a true “Free” safety on the roster. EMW is a rangy, tall safety with good speed on the back end to play both sideline-to-sideline while also exhibiting positional responsibility. He has good hands and goes after the ball (9 forced fumbles). EMW has the flexibility to play either safety position and can play physical and make tackles over the middle without taking targeting penalties (just one penalty in his college career). Displayed loyalty to Toledo by not transferring before this season after a strong junior season and reportedly is a “strong silent type” in the locker room who doesn’t bring a lot of ego.
Why the Steelers Won’t Draft Him: As mentioned above, the Steelers haven’t picked a player in the first round from a non-Power Conference school since Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. Some of his tackling mechanics leave a little to be desired. While he does not shy away from contact and is a willing tackler, he can either go after the ankles or will throw his shoulder without wrapping up a receiver.
Someone Else
Why the Steelers Will Draft Someone Else: There are seven players listed here, six of whom came to Pittsburgh for pre-draft visits. With the new coaching staff, the pre-draft process looked very different this year than it did in prior years when you could hang your hat on the Steelers picking someone who had Mike Tomlin at their Pro Day. Georgia was the only Pro Day that Mike McCarthy attended. Could the Steelers have their eyes on Bulldogs LB CJ Allen? There is always a player that surprisingly slides down the board, be it for injury concerns or scheme fits. What if that happens to Ohio State safety Caleb Downs? Would the Steelers make a move up the board to land Downs and his outstanding playmaking abilities? There has been some late buzz around Arizona DB Treydan Stukes who also came to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit. While Stukes did run a 4.33 40-yard dash, most have him graded in the 2nd-3rd round range and taking him in the first would be reminiscent of reaching for Terrell Edmunds.
Why the Steelers Won’t Draft Someone Else: Omar Khan’s tenure as GM has been defined by taking players in the first round who came to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit. Khan said in his pre-draft press conference he did not recall a time when the Steelers did not have a first round pick that came to Pittsburgh for a visit. It did happen a few times during Kevin Colbert’s tenure, including with TJ Watt. That said, Khan’s answer should serve as a good indicator that the players who came to Pittsburgh are the ones the Steelers have zeroed in on for their top pick, even if it means moving up the draft board to get them.
Trade Up
Why the Steelers Will Trade Up: The Steelers have 12 picks in this draft, the most of any team. Three of those picks are in the third round. Packaging a 1st and 3rd round pick together would likely give them the ability to get up into the 15-17 range if a player they want makes it past Baltimore at #14. In that range, the Jets at #16 have two first rounders but no 3rd rounder and could be looking to add another pick between #44 and #103. The Lions at #17 also have no 3rd round pick. If the Steelers want to get ahead of the Ravens at #14, Les “F Them Picks” Snead and the Rams at 13 are usually open to draft day dealings. There are only about 18 guys in this class with bona fide “first round” grades, so a move up from #21 to get one of those guys would make some sense. Especially if the Steelers covet a player like Ioane, Fano or Lemon, they will likely have to move up the board to get them.
Why the Steelers Won’t Trade Up: It takes two to tango and the Steelers would have to find a willing trade partner. A lot of teams in the Top 10 may be looking to move down but it is unlikely the Steelers have the ammo to get up that high. The Jets (#2 & #16), Giants (#5 & #10), Browns (#6 & #24), Chiefs (#9 & #29), Dolphins (#11 & #30), and Cowboys (#12 & #20) all hold multiple first round picks. The Browns, Saints (#8) and Rams (#13) are always active movers on Draft weekend and Jerry Jones is an absolute wild card. Given that there isn’t a first round QB after Fernando Mendoza, the Steelers would have to have a player they really covet to make a move up in the first round.
Trade Down
Why the Steelers Will Trade Down: “The Godfather Scenario” where someone makes you an offer you can’t refuse. That could be a combination of picks or picks and a current player (like when the Steelers traded for Jerome Bettis). The teams behind the Steelers don’t have a ton of draft capital. Only Chicago (two 2nds), Houston (two 2nds), and Philadelphia (two 3rds) have more than 2 Day 2 picks in their arsenal. Given the prospective quality of the 2027 Draft Class, if a team offers their 2027 first round pick (particularly if it’s someone like Miami who picks at #30 and is rebuilding) then that is definitely an offer worth considering.
Why the Steelers Won’t Trade Down: The Draft is in Pittsburgh. Art Rooney, Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy are going to want to make a splash. They are not going to move out of the first round and not make a pick on Thursday in front of the home crowd. They could move down a few spots, particularly if it comes with adding a 2027 pick, but the teams behind them don’t have a ton of draft capital to offer in 2026 terms. Also, the Steelers already have the most picks of any team in the 2026 Draft so adding more does not seem to be a high priority.
