On Thursday night, the Steelers missed out on Makai Lemon when the Eagles jumped ahead of them to scoop up the USC receiver. It was a disappointing development, but Day 2 likely has Steelers fans feeling better.

Pittsburgh got aggressive to nab a solid Plan B at receiver (Alabama’s Germie Bernard), generated buzz with a project quarterback (Drew Allar) for Mike McCarthy to develop, and finished the night by trading up to secure a fan-favorite, Iowa guard Gennings Dunker, who potentially fills a major need.

After two trade-ups on Friday, the Steelers have five Day 3 picks to work with, rather than their original seven. Still, that’s plenty to round out a promising draft class with a few of the following prospects.

Another wide receiver, a tight end, a linebacker, a safety and a defensive tackle would appear to be near the top of the list of priorities, not necessarily in that order. (Note: Asterisk denotes pre-draft visitor.)

Wide receivers

A double-dip has appeared likely for a while. The Steelers hosted several pre-draft visitors expected to go on Day 3.

Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State: He ran the fastest 40 at the combine (4.26).
Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Skyler Bell*, UConn
Kendrick Law*, Kentucky
Jeff Caldwell*, Cincinnati
Colbie Young, Georgia
Malik Benson, Oregon
Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech
Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri
Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati
Josh Cameron, Baylor

Linebackers

Five pre-draft visitors came from this position group. A Day 3 player, especially a downhill, thumper, has felt likely.

Kyle Louis*, Pittsburgh
Keshaun Elliott, Arizona State
Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU
Jack Kelly*, BYU
Harold Perkins Jr.*, LSU
Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Jimmy Rolder, Michigan
Red Murdock, Buffalo
Aiden Fisher, Indiana
Justin Jefferson, Alabama
Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma
Wade Woodaz, Clemson
Taurean York, Texas A&M
Jaden Dugger*, Louisiana

Tight ends

Two of the pre-draft visitors are gone, but the position remains a need with just two players in the room.

Justin Joly, NC State
Jack Endries, Texas
Joe Royer, Cincinnati
Dallen Bently, Utah
Riley Nowakowski, Indiana
Josh Cuevas, Alabama
Michael Trigg, Baylor
Khalil Dinkins*, Penn State: A physical, blocking-style tight end, Dinkins could slip into the UDFA range. He would be a priority target in free agency if he falls out of the draft.

Defensive tackles

It was interesting that the Steelers only hosted two defensive tackles for pre-draft visits, and both were players with Day 3 grades.

Darrell Jackson Jr.*, Florida State
Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
Rayshaun Benny, Michigan
Nick Barrett, South Carolina
Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
Cameron Ball, Arkansas
DeMonte Capehart, Clemson
Zane Durant, Penn State
Rene Konga, Louisville
Brandon Cleveland, NC State
Bryson Eason, Tennessee
Landon Robinson, Navy
James Thompson Jr.*, Illinois

Safeties

Safety body types make good special teamers. The Steelers also could use a more pure free safety to round out the room.

Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
Keionte Scott, Miami
Genesis Smith, Arizona
Kamari Ramsey, USC
VJ Payne, Kansas State
Michael Taaffe, Texas
Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma
DeShon Singleton, Nebraska
Dalton Johnson, Arizona
Bishop Fitzgerald, USC

Cornerbacks

The Steelers probably filled a void there, but with so many pre-draft visitors still on the board, maybe they circle back around.

Jermod McCoy, Tennessee: McCoy was once considered a top-10 pick, but the 6-foot, 195-pound corner sustained a torn ACL during offseason workouts in January 2025 that robbed him of his junior season. He didn’t participate during the NFL Scouting Combine, and was likely pushed out of the draft’s first three rounds due to medicals.

Malik Muhammad*, Texas
Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Chandler Rivers, Duke
Ephesians Prysock*, Washington: He is an incredibly long corner (6-3 with 33 1/8-inch arms) with nearly 50 games of collegiate experience.
Devin Moore, Florida
Jadon Canady, Oregon
Latrell McCutchin Sr., Houston
Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
Will Lee III, Texas A&M
Avery Smith, Toledo
Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina
TJ Hall, Iowa
Collin Wright, Stanford

Offensive guards

If they want to go pure sicko mode and just keep drafting linemen…

Jalen Farmer, Kentucky
Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame
Beau Stephens*, Iowa
Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma
Logan Taylor, Boston College
Kage Casey, Boise State
Alex Harkey, Oregon
Anez Cooper, Miami
Evan Beerntsen, Northwestern
Jeremiah Wright, Auburn
Fernando Carmona, Arkansas
Carver Willis, Washington