🏈 Steelers NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
With Mike McCarthy taking over as head coach and Aaron Rodgers' future still up in the air, the Pittsburgh Steelers enter draft week with the No. 21 pick and a roster that needs reinforcements on both sides of the ball - starting with the question of who plays quarterback long-term.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Steelers' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Pittsburgh will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Steelers draft picks 2026
See where the Steelers rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 21 |
| 2 | No. 53 |
| 3 | No. 76, 85, 99 |
| 4 | No. 121, 135 |
| 5 | No. 161 |
| 6 | No. 216 |
| 7 | No. 224, 230, 237 |
🆘 Steelers team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: QB, OL, WR, LB, DB
- Key additions: Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, via trade), Jamel Dean (CB), Rico Dowdle (RB), Jaquan Brisker (S)
- Key departures: Isaac Seumalo (OG, Cardinals), Adam Thielen (WR, retiring), Kyle Dugger (S, Bengals), Jonnu Smith (TE), Jabrill Peppers (S)
The elephant in the room is quarterback - the 42-year-old Rodgers has yet to commit to a 2026 return under new head coach McCarthy, and Pittsburgh spent just a sixth-round pick on Will Howard last year. Even if Rodgers comes back, the Steelers need a long-term plan at the position. Seumalo's departure in free agency leaves a hole at left guard, and while DK Metcalf and the newly acquired Pittman give Pittsburgh a strong top two at receiver, the depth behind them is thin after Thielen's retirement.
🏈 Steelers draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Steelers' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 21 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State | 7.25 | It's hard to imagine a better player for Pittsburgh than Ioane, who could start at left guard right away and help continue the Steelers' improved offensive line play - he's the type of prospect assistant GM Andy Weidl would love |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana | 7.20 | If the Steelers want to add one more piece to their wide receiver room in hopes of enticing Aaron Rodgers to return, Cooper would be perfect with his ability to play inside or out, and his physicality after the catch and as a blocker |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama | 7.10 | Proctor would be an interesting add for the Steelers, who could move him inside to left guard, with his gargantuan size and jaw-dropping athleticism for a big man - another player Weidl would certainly be interested in |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Steelers mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Steelers' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect Pittsburgh to draft at No. 21:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana |
| Charles McDonald (Yahoo) | Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State |
Three of the top six mock drafts entering this week project the Steelers to take Penn State guard Vega Ioane, who would be an immediate replacement at left guard for Isaac Seumalo and is the pick for our draft expert, too. The other three mocks are split between addressing quarterback (Ty Simpson) and wide receiver (Omar Cooper Jr. or Jordyn Tyson).
🔮 Steelers draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 21: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
- Pro comparison: Orlando Brown Jr.
- Measurables: 6'7" | 352 lbs | 20 years old | RAS: 8.79
Assuming Aaron Rodgers is returning to Pittsburgh for Mike McCarthy's first season at the helm, the Steelers need to add a receiver or an offensive lineman. Assistant GM Andy Weidl comes from the Philadelphia Eagles organization, one that always prioritizes massive men in the trenches, so Kadyn Proctor makes complete sense. The All-American is surprisingly explosive at his size, and when he gets his hands on defenders, it's game over. Proctor could play left tackle or left guard.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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