The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night in Pittsburgh. The Steelers currently hold the 21st overall pick in the first round and have the most selections of any team. Typically, the Steelers full draft board contains around 200 players. Even if the Steelers do not have a major need at a given position, a player will still appear on their board, because at some point they would likely become a value pick. For instance, the top edge rushers might be ranked lower on the Steelers board than they are for other teams because they don’t have an immediate need there, but at some point in the draft they would be the best prospects remaining. The only things that could take a player completely off the Steelers draft board would be scheme fits, injuries, or off-field issues where the team simply has too many concerns to even consider drafting the player.
Omar Khan has been a little more aggressive in moving around the draft board the last few years than Kevin Colbert typically had been. All three of Khan’s first round picks came to Pittsburgh for Pre-Draft Visits. This year’s pre-draft process was a bit different without Mike Tomlin as McCarthy only went to one Pro Day and Khan went to two. Seemingly this would indicate that the Steelers are placing more weight on the pre-draft visits to Pittsburgh.
In this spirit of how the Steelers operate, the staff at SCB got together over the last week to do our best to put together a Steelers-specific Draft Board based on both player abilities and team needs. Along with trading for Michael Pittman, the Steelers have signed free agents to fill roster gaps including CB Jamel Dean, RB Rico Dowdle, DL Sebastian Joseph-Day, and S Jaquan Brisker. The Steelers biggest need is at quarterback, but as we have discussed numerous times on the SCB Podcast, we don’t believe the long-term solution is available in this draft. Other needs include fixing the left side of the line with a tackle and guard as well as adding depth at wide receiver and corner. It would not be surprising to see the Steelers use multiple selections on offensive linemen, defensive backs, and wide receivers. Other needs in the middle rounds could include linebacker, tight end, and quarterback depth.
Tune into the SCB Steelers Podcast on Thursday night during the Draft to hear our LIVE reactions to the Steelers pick!
The Top 21
1. Arvell Reese (EDGE-Ohio St)
The top player on this year’s SCB Steelers Draft Board is the defensive chess piece out of Ohio State. Reese played both inside and outside and has a bit of a “tweener” feel to him like Micah Parsons. The team drafting him will need to have a plan for where to play him, but his athleticism and ability to disrupt the offense are off the charts, regardless of where he lines up. At 6’4″ 241, Reese has the frame to add some bulk and play as a 3-4 OLB or could slide inside as a rangy inside backer. If he goes to a 4-3 team, his best spot is likely as a strongside backer where he can set the edge, rush the passer, or drop into coverage.
2. Jeremiyah Love (RB-Notre Dame)
The explosive Notre Dame back can do it all and is a weapon in both the ground game and passing attack. He has breakaway speed (ran a 4.36 40) and excellent play strength and balance. Love might be the most refined back to come out of college in some time and will hear his name called in the Top 5 on Thursday.
3. Sonny Styles (LB-Ohio St)
If the Steelers were picking in the Top 10, this would absolutely be the guy we would be pounding the table for. To start, his nickname “Sonny” came from his parents likening his fiery temperament to Vito Coreleone’s oldest child. He grew up a Steelers fan and with a Godfather nickname, it’s a shame he won’t wind up in Pittsburgh. On the field, Styles is a freak athlete at linebacker who can play sideline to sideline and arrives at the ballcarrier with violent intentions.
4. Caleb Downs (S-Ohio St)
Downs is a play-making strong safety who is an elite tackler. He has next-level intelligence to diagnose plays in front of him and attack the ball. Downs has a few injury question marks which could cause him to slide a little down the board, but on the field his tape shows all the traits of a Pro Bowl-caliber safety. His game is more of a Cover-2 Strong Safety who can attack downhill into the box than a true single-high centerfielder. If Downs can stay healthy in the NFL, his combination of intelligence, leadership, aggressiveness, and play-making ability to be a star in the league.
5. Mansoor Delane (CB-LSU)
Delane is the top cornerback in the Draft. He has solid size and experience (a four-year starter in college). Delane can stick to receivers in man coverage and also close quickly in zone. He flashes good hands and play-making abilities. Over the last two years he had 6 interceptions and 20 passes defended. Delane is a true outside corner who will go out and compete every snap.
6. Fernando Mendoza (QB-Indiana)
The top quarterback in the draft who will be the #1 overall pick to the Raiders on Thursday night. Mendoza led Indiana to the National Championship. While he didn’t put up eye-popping yardage numbers, his strong accuracy and 41-to-6 TD to INT ratio are definitely noteworthy. Mendoza was at his best in clutch situations, particularly in the red zone and in the fourth quarter.
7. Carnell Tate (WR-Ohio St)
Tate is the top wide receiver in the class. He has a well-rounded skill set and can win all over the field. Tate’s best trait is his ability to locate an snatch the ball out of the air. Even though he didn’t put up a blazing 40 time (4.53) he is fast enough and strong at the catch point to win contested throws. Tate is a refined route-runner who can execute at all three levels and is one of the best deep ball targets in the draft.
8. David Bailey (EDGE-Texas Tech)
EDGE rushers will likely fly off the board early in this draft, but the Steelers depth at the position caused us to prioritize other players on our Big Board. Bailey is an explosive EDGE rusher who absolutely fits the mold of a modern defender. He has the blend of size, speed, athleticism, and productivity to be an impact defender. Bailey’s question marks (and what dropped him down our board) are around his maturity where he took multiple personal foul penalties (including stomping on an opponents helmet) and had some off-field issues.
9. Rueben Bain Jr (EDGE-Miami)
On tape, Rueben Bain is one of the most physically dominant EDGE rushers college football has seen in many years. He is undersized and has short arms but just obliterates tackles with power and speed to collapse the pocket and get to the quarterback. Bain routinely made game-changing plays to help lead Miami to the National Championship Game. Like Bailey, Bain also had some off-field question marks including his involvement in a reckless driving incident a few years ago.
10. Olaivavega “Vega” Ioane (OG-Penn St)
The top offensive lineman on our board is a guard who has all the traits to be a successful pro. Ioane is a mauler in the middle who can anchor against the pass and has strong technique. He did not allow a sack or take a penalty over the last two seasons. Vega is certainly on the Steelers radar after coming to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit and was one of our “potential first round picks” for the Black and Gold.
11. Spencer Fano (OT-Utah)
Like Vega Ioane, Fano also came to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit. While he played left tackle at Utah, his best spot in the NFL may be at guard. This isn’t a great class for offensive tackles, and Fano’s versatility give him the edge in this group. Our concern with Fano is his shorter arm length (one of just two OT prospects with arms shorter than 33″). That is mitigated somewhat by his athleticism (one of 5 OTs to run a sub-5 second 40). Fano has the look of a player who could be a capable tackle but an All-Pro guard if a team moves him inside.
12. Francis Mauigoa (OT-Miami)
From a raw ability standpoint, Mauigoa is the best true tackle in the class. However, there are some injury concerns that have popped up during the pre-draft process that led us to sliding him behind Fano. At 6’5″ 330 he has the frame of an NFL tackle and plays the game with raw power and determination. He was durable over his career at Miami, starting 42 games over the last 3 seasons. Mauigoa mostly played Right Tackle at Miami, which might be his best spot in the pros where he can use his strong base and patient hands.
13. Dillon Thieneman (S-Oregon)
Thieneman is a rangy free safety who has sideline-to-sideline speed and is a true Cover 1 / centerfielder type player. On tape, Thieneman is involved in almost every play and can fly all over the field. He is a willing run defender who can also add immediate value on special teams coverage units. Thieneman ran a 4.35 40 at the Combine and the speed shows up on tape with his ability to make plays at all three levels.
14. Makai Lemon (WR-USC)
Lemon primarily was a slot at USC but has the hands, route-running, and short-area quickness to lead the Trojans in receiving each of the last two years. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in the nation. His playing style has drawn comparisons to former USC receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. He snatches the ball outside his frame and is shifty in traffic to make defenders miss. Nearly half of his years came after the catch. Steelers brass, including Omar Khan, had glowing things to say about their pre-draft visit with Lemon after some teams had mixed reviews of his interviews at the Combine.
15. Jordyn Tyson (WR-Arizona St)
Tyson is one of the most polarizing receivers in the draft class. He has some of the best highlight-reel catches of any receiver in college football. Tyson is a sharp route runner who will win every time he gets a free release from the line. If he gets off the line cleanly, he can beat any defensive back with his shakes and quickness in a route and has an acrobatic catch radius. The knock on Tyson is when he has to deal with press coverage off the line he can get thrown off his route and doesn’t always fight through the contact. His wide receivers coach at Arizona State was Hines Ward, who will attend the Draft with him.
16. Kenyon Sadiq (TE-Oregon)
This is not a great class for tight ends, but Sadiq is head and shoulders above the rest. He is the only tight end appearing on our first round draft board. Sadiq is an athletic freak who can play the “slot TE” role like Antonio Gates or Vernon Davis. He is quick and shifty for a player of his size who is also a capable blocker. Sadiq does only have one year as a starter but at just 21 years old, there is plenty of upside for a team willing to invest in his development.
17. Monroe Freeling (OT-Georgia)
Freeling is an athletic tackle whose draft profile sounds reminiscent of Broderick Jones. Freeling has the size, athleticism, and upside that NFL teams will see as moldable into a starting NFL tackle. However, he is still very raw in his technique and needs a bit of development after having just one year as a starter. Georgia’s Pro Day was the only one that Mike McCarthy attended this year.
18. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S-Toledo)
While Caleb Downs is more of a strong safety and Dillon Thieneman is a true free safety, EMW has positional versatility to play either safety spot. He is long and rangy, producing numerous turnovers and big plays during his time at Toledo. For as aggressive as EMW plays, he only took one penalty in his time at Toledo and is a strong locker room presence.
19. Omar Cooper Jr (WR-Indiana)
While Cooper didn’t come to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit, the Steelers have some familiarity with him as WR coach Adam Henry coached Cooper at Indiana in 2022. He was the anchor on the outside for the National Champion Hoosiers. Cooper is a solid and consistent receiver with strong hands and excellent body control. He is strong through contact, both at the catch point and has the ability to stay on his feet to generate extra yards after the catch. Cooper can play either in the slot or outside and will provide a very comfortable safety blanket for any quarterback.
20. Chris Johnson (CB-San Diego St)
Johnson is a lengthy corner out of San Diego State whose 4.4 40 elevated him into the first round conversation. He is smooth in coverage and aggressively anticipates throws. Johnson had 8 passes defended and 4 interceptions last year. The mark of a true Steeler – he is willing to stick his nose in against the run to help set the edge. He came to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit and reportedly has great locker room leadership traits.
21. Denzel Boston (WR-Washington)
Boston is a big-bodied receiver who the Steelers brought in for a pre-draft visit. Scouts have drawn comparisons between Boston and new Steelers receiver Michael Pittman. Boston isn’t going to run away from anyone, but is strong at the catch point and a good route runner. He isn’t afraid to go over the middle and will make tough grabs in traffic. Boston was a productive college player with 60+ catches and 800+ yards each of the last two seasons, finding the end zone 20 times.
The Next 11
With 32 picks in the first round of the Draft, we did rank 32 prospects overall. These are all guys that we like for their talent but feel would be a bit of a reach for the Steelers if they stay at 21. We would be comfortable with picking any of these players if the Steelers trade down from 21st overall.
22. Jermod McCoy (CB-Tennessee)
McCoy missed all of 2025 with a torn ACL but rehabbed and ran a blazing 4.37 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. Over the last week, some additional injury question marks have popped up and he may need surgery to repair a bone plug, unrelated to his ACL. In his sophomore campaign in 2024, he was an All-American talent (13 passes defended, 4 INTs). McCoy’s medical evaluations will be the key to his draft stock. We put him just outside our Top 21 due to those concerns but it is very likely a team could gamble on him higher up the draft board.
23. Keldric Faulk (EDGE-Auburn)
After the top three EDGE rushers there is a bit of a dropoff. Faulk is the Shemar Stewart of this year’s draft class – he generated a lot of pressure and “almost” play but his overall production numbers are a bit lacking. Faulk his big and strong on the edge at 6’5″ 275 and can anchor in run defense while also having quick hands and an explosive step to gain penetration. EDGE rusher is the Steelers deepest position and they did not spend a lot of time scouting this spot in the draft class so while Faulk will likely be a mid-first rounder, we had him outside our Top 21 due to a lesser need at the position.
24. Kayden Proctor (OT-Alabama)
Proctor played left tackle at Alabama and is a massive human being. At 6’6″ 350, he looked closer to 375 on tape. His huge mass is difficult for defenders to move and he packs a massively heavy punch when it lands. On the flip side, he looks very heavy-footed and he doesn’t have a lot of lateral quickness. Proctor is a young prospect (will turn 21 this year) and his technique needs a lot of work but with a frame built like the Hulk, teams will be willing to gamble on his upside.
25. KC Concepcion (WR-Texas A&M)
This year’s darling of Draft Twitter is KC Concepcion. He is a crafty route-runner who works very well out of the slot and has a great release off the line. Conception is one of the most dangerous players with the ball in his hands, but does have some concerns with drops both on film and with his technique.
26. Caleb Lomu (OT-Utah)
Both Utah tackles landed on our First Round Draft Board. Lomu is a redshirt sophomore who played left tackle the last two seasons for the Utes. As a young player he is still raw in his technique but has the size (6’6″ 310) and athleticism (4.99 40-yard dash) to be a quality starter. Lomu’s speed and foot quickness show up on tape with his ability to get to the next level and make blocks. He was one of just 5 OTs in the draft class to run the 40 in under 5 seconds.
27. Avieon Terrell (CB-Clemson)
Another corner with some medical question marks who has first round-quality tape. Avieon is the younger brother of former first round pick AJ Terrell. He is just 5’11” but competes all over the field and excels in press man coverage situations where he can use his hands and physicality up close. Terrell isn’t afraid to stick his nose in against the run and has the versatility to play inside or outside in the defensive scheme. He started 31 straight games at Clemson but had some soft tissue injuries in the pre-draft process. He wasn’t able to participate in Clemson’s Pro Day then tweaked his hamstring during a private workout.
28. Kayden McDonald (DT-Ohio St)
This is not a great class of defensive tackles, and at the top of the class the players are either run stuffers or pass rushers but not many that possess both traits. McDonald is the best run-stuffer in the class who plays angry in the trenches and mauls offensive linemen. Ohio State’s linebackers were kept clean and able to attack the ball thanks to McDonald occupying blockers in the trenches. He only had 3 sacks during his career at Ohio State (all 3 coming last season) but also ramped up his TFL numbers (9 last year) showing that the penetrating part of his game has grown.
29. Peter Woods (DT-Clemson)
While McDonald is a run-stuffer, Woods is more explosive and can find his way into gaps to disrupt plays in the backfield. He had a much better 2024 than 2025 with his production numbers dropping off across the board. But his 2024 tape was very good, including 8.5 TFLs and 3 sacks in 11 games. When he is at his best, Woods is able to use his athleticism and lateral quickness to defend gaps and can hold his own against outside zone runs. Woods is also a high-effort defender and will continue to chase down plays from behind. If the defensive line thing doesn’t work out, a team could convert him to fullback as he played a handful of offensive snaps in his Clemson career and scored two rushing TDs.
30. CJ Allen (LB-Georgia)
The Georgia linebacker has been hailed for his leadership and locker room presence. Georgia was the only Pro Day that Mike McCarthy attended and quotes from his coaching staff reflect his high character and work ethic. Allen rang up a ton of tackles as the leader of the Bulldogs defense and didn’t commit a penalty while in college. He is more of a downhill attacking defender who can key and diagnose against the run. His zone drops sometimes leave him searching but his intangibles will find him a place on an NFL team.
31. Akeem Mesidor (EDGE-Miami)
Mesidor was part of Miami’s dynamic pass rushing duo with Rueben Bain. While Mesidor’s numbers jump off the page (12.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles), his draft stock is a little lower due to his age (already 25 years old). He has some injury history but also plays with consistent fire and intensity. He lined up in various spots across Miami’s front and has the size and burst to be scheme-versatile, possibly even sliding inside in nickel defense packages to provide more of an interior rush.
32. Blake Miller (OT-Clemson)
Miller looks the part of an NFL offensive tackle. At 6’6″ 320 and an 83″ wingspan, Miller absolutely has the frame of a player you want on the outside. He also has the physical traits, toughness, and athleticism to thrive at the next level. The only knocks on Miller is that he can play a bit upright at times and 32 of his 34 career starts came at right tackle, where the Steelers have an entrenched starter in Troy Fautanu.
The Next Best
These are the guys we did not view as first round-worthy prospects for the Steelers. These are players that who should definitely be on the radar in the second round.
QB – Ty Simpson (Alabama)
RB – Jadarian Price (Notre Dame), Mike Washington Jr (Arkansas), Emmett Johnson (Nebraska), Kaytron Allen (Penn State)
WR – Germie Bernard (Alabama), Chris Bell (Louisville), Elijah Sarratt (Indiana), Ted Hurst (Georgia St), Malachi Fields (Notre Dame)
TE – Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt), Oscar Delp (Georgia)
OL – Max Iheanachor (Arizona State), Markel Bell (Miami), Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon), Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M), Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech)
DT – Christen Miller (Georgia), Caleb Banks (Florida), Domonique Orange (Iowa St), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)
EDGE – TJ Parker (Clemson), Malachi Lawrence (UCF), Zion Young (Missouri)
LB – Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), Jake Golday (Cincinnati), Kyle Louis (Pitt)
CB – Colton Hood (Tennessee), D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana), Brandon Cisse (South Carolina)
S – Treydan Stukes (Arizona), Keionte Scott (Miami)
