The air in Pittsburgh is usually crisp in April, but this year it’s electric. For the first time, the draft isn't some distant spectacle happening in Vegas or Detroit—it’s right here, sprawling across the North Shore and the Point.
Honestly, the pressure is on.
Coming off a 10-7 season that ended with a frustrating Wild Card exit to the Texans, the "Khan Artist" (GM Omar Khan) is at a crossroads. We’ve got the 21st overall pick. We’ve got a projected 12 picks in total—the most since the early 90s. And most importantly, we’ve got a massive question mark under center.
Aaron Rodgers’ stint in the black and gold was… well, it was a ride. He’s 42 now. He’s a free agent. Even if he comes back for a swan song, the 2026 offseason is the moment the Steelers have to stop kicking the can down the road.
But here’s the thing: everyone is clamoring for a quarterback at 21, yet the board might suggest otherwise.
The Quarterback Conundrum: Reach or Wait?
Let’s be real. This isn't the 2024 class. You aren't finding a Caleb Williams or a Jayden Daniels at 21 this year.
If you look at the names surfacing in early Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 mock draft projections, you see guys like Trinidad Chambliss from Ole Miss or Ty Simpson out of Alabama. Chambliss is the name everyone is circling because of his playoff heroics, but is he a Day 1 starter? Probably not.
I’ve seen some mocks suggesting the Steelers trade up. Omar Khan isn't afraid to move—he did it for Broderick Jones. But with the roster needing a serious infusion of youth at wide receiver and defensive line (Cam Heyward isn't immortal, sadly), burning capital to jump into the top 10 for a "maybe" prospect feels like a gamble this team can't afford.
What if they wait?
There’s a growing sentiment among scouts that the value in this class sits in the second and third rounds. Someone like Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) or even Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) could be available on Day 2. It’s not the sexy "hometown hero" pick, but it allows the team to use that first-rounder on a blue-chip talent at a different position of need.
The DK Metcalf Factor and the WR Void
Last year’s trade for DK Metcalf was a massive splash. It gave the offense a heartbeat. But with George Pickens gone and Calvin Austin III hitting free agency, the cupboard is surprisingly bare behind Metcalf.
If the Steelers pass on a QB at 21, keep an eye on KC Concepcion from Texas A&M.
He’s basically the perfect "Z" receiver to complement Metcalf’s "X." While DK is out there bullying corners on the perimeter, Concepcion is a nightmare in the slot. He’s twitchy. He’s got that "dog" in him that Mike Tomlin talks about in every single press conference.
Honestly, a Metcalf-Concepcion duo would be the best receiving tandem Pittsburgh has seen since the AB and Martavis Bryant days. It gives whoever is playing QB—whether it’s a veteran bridge or a rookie—a legitimate chance to succeed.
Trench Warfare: Life After Cam Heyward
We have to talk about the defensive line.
Derrick Harmon, the 2025 first-rounder, looks like a hit. He had three sacks in 12 games and really stabilized the run defense when he was healthy. But Cam Heyward is 36. He’s a retirement candidate. Even if he stays, he’s a rotational piece at this point.
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The Steelers’ identity is built on the trenches. If a guy like Peter Woods from Clemson or Christen Miller from Georgia falls to 21, Khan might just sprint to the podium.
Miller is particularly interesting. He’s 6'4", 300+ pounds, and moves with a violence that just screams "AFC North football." Pairing him with Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon would give the Steelers a young, terrifying interior for the next half-decade.
A Sample 3-Round Mock for the Steelers
To give you a better idea of how this could shake out, here’s a look at a path that prioritizes long-term stability over a desperate QB reach.
- Round 1 (Pick 21): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Steelers fans might groan about "another receiver," but this is about building a modern offense. You can't win in 2026 with one target. - Round 2 (Pick 53): Emmanuel Pregnon, OT, Oregon
Broderick Jones has had some health issues (that neck injury was scary), and the depth at tackle is thin. Pregnon is a powerhouse who can play guard if needed but projects as a long-term starter at tackle. - Round 3 (Pick 85): Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Wait, he fell? In this scenario, the QB-heavy teams at the top of the draft took the "sure things," and Chambliss’s slightly lower floor caused a slide. This is the ultimate "Khan Artist" move—getting the high-upside QB without the first-round price tag. - Round 3 (via Dallas): T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
You can never have enough pass rushers. With Nick Herbig entering a contract year, getting a technician like Parker to rotate with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith is a classic Steelers depth move.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Draft
The biggest misconception is that the Steelers must walk away from Round 1 with a quarterback.
Look at the history. This franchise doesn't panic. They didn't panic when Ben Roethlisberger retired, though the Kenny Pickett experiment didn't exactly pan out. They waited for the right value.
The 2026 draft being in Pittsburgh adds a layer of theater, sure. The Rooney family wants to make a splash in their own backyard. But the smartest move might be the boring one: bolstering the lines and the secondary while finding a QB later who doesn't have the weight of a #21 overall tag on his shoulders.
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Also, don't sleep on the secondary. Avieon Terrell (Clemson) or Mansoor Delane (LSU) could be wildcards if the board falls a certain way. Joey Porter Jr. has been a lockdown corner, but the spot opposite him has been a revolving door of veterans like Asante Samuel Jr.
Actionable Insights for Steelers Fans
If you're tracking the Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 mock draft cycle, here is what you should actually be watching:
- The Senior Bowl Roster: Watch for guys like Max Iheanachor (OT, Arizona St) and Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, UCF). The Steelers' front office lives at the Senior Bowl. If they spend a lot of time talking to a specific mid-round prospect, that's your future Round 3 pick.
- The Salary Cap Moves in March: We have roughly $65M in space. If Khan spends big on a veteran corner or another receiver in free agency, it tips his hand for the draft. A big WR signing means they are likely eyeing a defensive lineman or QB in the first round.
- The Quarterback Pro Days: If Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan show up together at Ole Miss or Alabama, then you know the "wait until Round 3" theory is dead.
The draft isn't just about the three days in April; it’s about the chess match happening right now. For a team with 12 picks and a hometown crowd, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Keep an eye on the official Senior Bowl weigh-ins this week. If the Steelers are scouting heavy on interior defenders, it tells you everything you need to know about Cam Heyward's future.
The 2026 offseason is going to be a legacy-defining stretch for the Khan-Tomlin era. Don't let the "home team" hype distract you from the fact that this roster still needs a lot of work to become a true contender again.
Next Steps for the Offseason:
Review the updated NFL salary cap figures once the league year officially begins in March to see how much of that $65M remains after the initial wave of signings. This will give a clearer picture of which holes the draft will be expected to fill. Keep a close eye on the "Futures" signings, like Doug Nester and Brandon Smith, as these low-level moves often indicate where the team feels they need the most camp competition. Finally, monitor the Pro Day schedule to see where the Steelers' brass is focusing their attention. These visits are the most reliable indicator of their true first-round intentions.