The All-Star games are behind us, and the path to the draft is churning on. As the Steelers fill roles on their coaching staff, the path they take in talent acquisition becomes clearer. With that said, welcome to the third edition of Steelers Mock Draft Monday! As a reminder, this is not what I expect the organization to do, but one of many alternative paths they may take. Let’s have some fun!

Round 1: Olaivavega Ioane/IOL/Penn State

Expected Role: Year 1 Starter

Analysis: If the Steelers move on from pending free agent Isaac Seumalo, it would be wise for them to continue building their young offensive line. While the question remains who will be the starting signal caller in 2026, nothing helps a quarterback more than protection up front. 

Insert the first-team All-American in Ioane, who didn’t give up a sack in over his two seasons of play. There are no sure bets in the draft, but Ioane’s pass protection is the most “pro ready” part of his game as he dominates with patience, balance, and a strong base. The 6-4, 330-pounder has the size and strength to absorb inside power without giving up positioning. He possesses heavy hands that deliver a stunning strike and stonewall even the most powerful rushers. His swift jump set makes him just as successful against speed rushes. 

While pass protection is the most impressive part of his game, Ioane is no slouch in the run game. He’s a hard-nosed mauler who can uproot defenders with his power and consistent leg drive. His firm grip steers defenders out of their assignments and creates movement at the line. Areas of concern in his game are habits that he can erase with proper coaching. 

His pad level rises at the snap, surrendering his leverage, and his strike timing also needs refinement. Although his strike is powerful, Ioane is too often late with his initial punch, forcing him into recovery mode.

Despite the flaws, his production on the interior has been nearly excellent. Ioane would set the Steelers up with a dominant interior of the line for the foreseeable future.  

Others Considered: Avieon Terrell/CB/Clemson, Kayden McDonald/IDL/Ohio State, Jermod McCoy/CB/Tennessee, Denzel Boston/WR/Washington

Round 2 – Elijah Sarratt/WR/Indiana

Expected Role: Year 1 Starter

Analysis: The Steelers’ wide receiver room requires a talent boost. With six of seven draft picks from last year coming out of the Big Ten, the organization dips into the well again here.

After posting 15 touchdowns during his final season with Indiana, Sarratt would provide the dependable contested-catch threat the Steelers desperately need on the outside. DK Metcalf is a physical force, but his hands were inconsistent in 2025. Pairing him with Sarratt would free Metcalf up to do what he does best: pick up yards after the catch.

Sarratt is not just a 50-50 ball guy either. There’s savvy to his game. As a route runner he understands how to leverage his matchup and identify soft spots in zone coverage. His downside is his lack of twitch or explosiveness. He primarily wins off his technical prowess, but he also shows limited short-area quickness and top-end speed. 

Imagine a young Keenan Allen with a specimen like Metcalf. That is the type of player Sarratt can be.

Others Considered: Dillon Thieneman/S/Oregon, Ja’Kobi Lane/WR/USC, D’Angelo Ponds/CB/Indiana, Chris Brazzell II/WR/Tennessee

Round 3 – Omar Cooper Jr./WR/Indiana

Expected Role: Year 1 Starter

Analysis: Why not make it 3-for-3 with Big Ten selections? Pairing Cooper with Sarratt would bring a familiar dynamic in the wide receiver room, and both players win in different ways. Cooper possesses strong contact balance, stemming from his running back frame. YAC potential makes him an intriguing option in a West Coast offense that Mike McCarthy favors. Also, new wide receivers coach Adam Henry coached Cooper during his redshirt freshman season at Indiana.

Cooper’s stop-start ability and acceleration off the line position him to succeed in the NFL when separating in man coverage. He can win 1-on-1, but he needs to become more consistent in that area. He also needs to sharpen his routes to become a true separator at the next level. Most of his appeal comes from his work against zone coverage, finding openings in the defense and creating a window for the quarterback to throw to.

While 6-0, Cooper plays bigger than his size when attacking the ball in the air. He has a knack for the acrobatic catch and consistently tracks the ball down the field. Cooper played all over the field at Indiana, but paired with Metcalf and Sarratt, his future will likely be on the inside. 

Adding him would provide an explosive and reliable matchup in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field.

Others Considered: Keionte Scott/CB/Miami (FL), Josiah Trotter/LB/Missouri, Julian Neal/CB/Arkansas, Dontay Corleone/IDL/Cincinnati

Round 3 – Genesis Smith/S/Arizona

Expected Role: Rotational Depth/Potential Year 1 Starter

Analysis: Given the uncertainty of Jalen Ramsey’s role and DeShon Elliott returning from injury, it’s time for the organization to begin a youth movement in its secondary. Smith isn’t the twitchiest, but he has smooth movement and possesses enough burst to close on the ball. 

He’s also a willing tackler who loves to get downhill in a hurry. He played multiple positions at Arizona, serving as a single-high safety, free safety in a split shell, and spending extended time in the slot. He has an aggressive mentality, which is mostly good but can cause trouble. He can be overaggressive as a tackler, leading to inconsistent wrapping up and Smith often chasing highlight-reel plays.

In coverage, Smith has a very sound understanding of what unfolds in front of him. His lack of raw speed hurts him in man coverage, but as a complementary piece to Ramsey and Elliott, Smith will have an opportunity to play freely and make plays. 

Others Considered: Brian Parker II/OT/Duke, Derrick Moore/EDGE/Michigan, Dontay Corleone/IDL/Cincinnati, Darrell Jackson Jr./IDL/Florida State

Round 3 – Harold Perkins Jr./LB/LSU

Expected Role: Rotational Depth/Potential Year 1 Starter

Analysis: For a Steelers defense in need of playmakers, enter the position-less Perkins, who is a stick of dynamite waiting to explode. He played LSU’s “Star” position, doing everything from rushing the passer to dropping into deep coverage. He offers impressive athleticism and range as a heat-seeking missile who plays sideline to sideline.

He initially played at LSU as a full-time edge rusher and flashed exceptional potential. His blend of speed and flexibility created chaos for offenses in the early stages of his career. After moving positions due to his size, the 6-1, 220-pound Perkins maintained his pass-rush success. 

His bonus comes from his coverage ability. Although raw, he shows tremendous fluidity in his movement, giving him upside as an effective coverage defender. The term “position-less” sounds intriguing for a player of Perkins’ potential but drafting him carries risk. 

He likely won’t thrive in a traditional defensive role and needs a coordinator who maximizes his strengths. With Patrick Graham hired, Perkins becomes a versatile chess piece for the new Steelers defensive coordinator to deploy. 

Others Considered: Chandler Rivers/CB/Duke, Daylen Everette/CB/Georgia, Oscar Delp/TE/Georgia, Justin Joly/TE/NC State

Round 4 – Tacario Davis/CB/Washington

Expected Role: Rotational Depth/Potential Year 1 Starter/Special Teams Contributor

Analysis: The Steelers have plenty of questions at cornerback. None greater than who will start opposite of Joey Porter Jr. in 2026. With Asante Samuel Jr. and James Pierre pending free agents, the DB room could look significantly different going into next season. Ideally, the Steelers will sign one or both players for stability, making Davis a luxury pick instead of a need.

Davis has a frame that resembles an “Avatar.” At 6-4 and 200 pounds, he specializes in getting physical with receivers at the line of scrimmage and initiating contact. Primarily a zone specialist, he is effective when he can side-shuffle and keep his eyes on the quarterback. Davis’ wingspan allows him to attack the ball in the air, as evidenced by his 25 pass deflections in 37 career games (including 15 in 2023). 

There are some concerns about his size, which creates stiffness when flipping his hips. He takes extra steps when transitioning out of his backpedal and is slower to change direction laterally. Still, Davis can be an impactful player in a Cover 3 scheme. 

Others Considered: Eli Raridon/TE/Notre Dame, Tim Keenan III/IDL/Alabama, Drew Allar/QB/Penn State, Treydan Stukes/CB/Arizona

Round 4 – Zxavian Harris/IDL/Ole Miss

Expected Role: Rotational Depth/Potential Year 1 Starter

Analysis: Pending Steelers great Cam Heyward’s future, the organization needs a plan to fix its run defense. Selecting Harris would do wonders for that. The 6-7, 330-pounder offers an immediate high floor as a run stopper at the nose tackle position.

His tremendous lower-body strength allows him to anchor against any push from the offensive line. His size also allows him to use a very effective stack-and-shed technique that keeps linemen at bay and lets him peek into the backfield before using his swim-or-shuck move to shed the blocker. 

While his NFL projection as is primarily as a two-down run-stuffing specialist, there is upside to his pass rush. There’s immense strength in his game, and Harris utilizes every bit of it to drive his matchup into the quarterback’s lap with his bull rush. His arsenal isn’t expansive, but he does have a nice secondary move in his push-pull that he utilizes when his sheer power isn’t enough. Harris also has surprising quickness for a big man with a first step that has decent pop. 

Drafting a 0-tech like Harris would allow the team to move Keeanu Benton from nose tackle and build on his pass-rushing upside.

Others Considered: Aiden Fisher/LB/Indiana, Zane Durant/IDL/Penn State, Michael Taffe/S/Texas, Louis Moore/S/Indiana

Round 5 – Cole Payton/QB/NDSU

Expected Role: Depth/Developmental Prospect

Analysis: It’s not a splash selection, but the organization will likely add to its quarterback room during the offseason. And this pick would be taking a chance on a prospect who dominated in his one year at the FCS level with 29 combined touchdowns and a 71.9-percent completion percentage.

He’s got a lively arm but relies heavily on his upper body to generate power in his throws. There will also need to be growth in layering the ball, as Payton tends to drive every pass, taking a toll on his efficiency. The most significant upside with Payton is his dual-threat capability. He’s built like a tank and is very difficult to bring down on first contact. He also shows legitimate open-field speed. His game is predicated on his running ability and his accuracy in the short-to-intermediate range, fitting McCarthy’s offensive vision. 

He will need to refine his mechanics and sync his upper and lower body to achieve more consistent accuracy. However, the physical promise is there with legitimate starting potential, but it’s all about putting everything together.

Others Considered: Mike Washington Jr./RB/Arkansas, Cole Wisniewski/S/Texas Tech, Nadame Tucker/EDGE/Western Michigan, Chris McClellan/IDL/Missouri

Round 6 – Vincent Anthony Jr./EDGE/Duke

Expected Role: Rotational Depth/Special Teams Contributor

Analysis: With a decision on a Nick Herbig contract extension looming, it would be wise for the Steelers to strengthen their edge depth. The 6-6 Anthony has good size and is a highly productive edge rusher from the ACC, recording 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss in 2025.

His quick get-off allows him to immediately pressure his matchup, forcing an over-set and allowing him to counter from the inside. His speed is his greatest asset, and he uses it to race around the arc. He isn’t a one-trick pass rusher either. Anthony displays good power that he generates through his speed. He brings a solid Day 1 set of moves, using a long arm to jab the tackle and prevent engagement.

Anthony is relatively raw, primarily winning through athleticism rather than technique, but his tools are intriguing. His run defense isn’t stellar, but that won’t be his primary purpose. 

Others Considered: Aaron Graves/IDL/Iowa, Caleb Douglas/WR/Texas Tech, Barion Brown/WR/LSU, Jamal Haynes/RB/Georgia Tech

Round 6 – Sam Roush/TE/Stanford

Expected Role: Sub-Package Player

Analysis: An old-school, tight end who loves to get his hands messy in the ground game, Roush is an ideal player to supplement Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth. With Jonnu Smith a cut candidate after his lackluster first season with the team, and a likely Washington extension in the future, the organization may add some beef to its TE room.

The 6-5, 260-pound Roush isn’t a speedster or a vertical threat. He is a reliable in-line tight end who runs good routes and provides great effort in the ground game. Roush creates separation with varied tempo that freezes defenders in man coverage. He is a reliable hands catcher who high points the ball and uses his size to box out smaller defenders.

Most of Roush’s initial success will come from his excellent run blocking. His fit and drive capability, which demonstrates good hand placement and leg drive, is among the best in this draft class. He and Darnell Washington would pave the way for a dominant rushing attack.

Used correctly, Roush can turn into a player who might ultimately be a Day 3 steal.

Others Considered: Tristan Leigh/OT/Clemson, Cole Brevard/IDL/Texas, Caden Barnett/OT/Wyoming, VJ Payne/S/Kansas State

Round 7 – Josh Moten/CB/Southern Miss

Expected Role: Rotational Depth/Special Teams Value

Analysis: Making selections late in the draft is trying to hit a needle in a haystack. Banking on production and upside is a good way to approach the process. In a secondary that needs playmakers, Moten, who had five interceptions and 11 pass breakups in 2025, would be a good addition.

He is a longer corner at 6-1 but possesses good speed and fluidity to match receivers in man coverage. Moten stays patient with his technique, avoids overcommitting, and mirrors effectively to stay in phase. At 175 pounds, Moten lacks jam strength, relying on a mirror-and-match soft press instead of an aggressive approach. 

When he does get beat deep, his speed is good enough for him to recover and make a play on the ball. Better in man than zone, Moten uses a savvy bail technique to bait throws before breaking on the ball. 

Concerns about him stem from his lack of mass. Moten has a slender frame and concerns about strength at the next level, which affects his willingness to tackle in run defense. Because of his size, he projects as a slot corner, but his coverage skills and ball production make him a worthwhile late-round gamble.

Others Considered: Devan Boykin/S/Indiana, Jaydn Ott/RB/Oklahoma, Sam Hecht/IOL/Kansas State, Jeffrey M’ba/IDL/SMU

Round 7 – Le’Veon Moss/RB/Texas A&M

Expected Role: Rotational Back/Short-Yardage Specialist

Analysis: After Kaleb Johnson’s disappointing rookie campaign, the Steelers may add some competition to the running back room. Moss is a gem of a player, but his stock will likely drop due to injuries ravaging his 2024 and 2025 seasons. 

If able to overcome the injury bug, Moss’ physical talents rival those of ball carriers projected to go earlier. His most attractive trait is his contact balance. His 215-pound dense frame absorbs and bounces off hits like a bowling ball. He runs with an upright style, limiting his lateral movement and increasing vulnerability to bigger hits.

Although his lateral agility is limited, his linear speed and explosiveness are impressive. He is a north-south runner who explodes through the hole when he detects it. His excellence is primarily in gap and power schemes, but there is promise in zone schemes as well. Moss is a one-cut type of back who presses the line of scrimmage and gets vertical in a hurry.

He is also a willing pass protector who has a good feel for identifying the free rusher. If his medical history wasn’t an issue, this is a talent worthy of a Day 2 selection. The team has had success with a previous running back named Le’Veon. Let’s see if history repeats itself. 

Others Considered: Zavion Thomas/WR/LSU, Nyjalik Kelly/EDGE/UCF, Desmond Reid/RB/Pitt, Delby Lemieux/IOL/Dartmouth