The Steelers were on the phone with Makai Lemon when the Eagles jumped ahead of them to steal the USC receiver. As if Pittsburgh’s desire to draft a receiver early wasn’t already abundantly clear from their pre-draft process and current depth chart, that turn of events should underscore that the WR position is a priority for Day 2.

A pair of receivers who took pre-draft visits to Pittsburgh — Washington’s Denzel Boston and Alabama’s Germie Bernard — are still available. Notable pre-draft visitors at other positions include Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Arizona DB Treydan Stukes and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. A handful of cornerbacks who were projected to go in the first round are also in play.

Later in Day 2, when the Steelers have a trio of third-round picks and may begin considering a quarterback, perhaps Miami’s Carson Beck. Here’s a look at how the potential draft targets stack up for Day 2. (Note: Asterisk denotes pre-draft visitor.)

Wide receivers

McCarthy has said he’s looking for versatile receivers capable of playing all three spots. For that reason, I took out a few of the smaller, slot-only players like Antonio Williams and Deion Burks.

Denzel Boston*, WR, Washington: At 6-4 and 212 pounds, Boston is a big target with outstanding hands. The knock on his game is that he’s not the most explosive athlete. However, he’s still considered a top-tier red-zone threat and one of the better receivers in this year’s draft.

Germie Bernard*, Alabama: He led all combine participants with a 6.71-second three-cone drill.

Chris Bell, Louisville
Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss


Elijah Sarratt, Indiana


Ted Hurst, Georgia State: There’s been a ton of buzz around Hurst as the draft approaches, with some saying he’ll be a steal on Day 2.
Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State: He ran the fastest 40 at the combine (4.26).
Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

Safeties

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren*, Toledo: At 6-2 and 202 pounds, McNeil-Warren fits best as a physical down safety. However, he lacks the versatility of others in his class and would have a somewhat overlapping skill set with DeShon Elliott.

Treydan Stukes*, Arizona: We’ll put Stukes in the safety category, but “defensive back” is a better descriptor. He has experience at outside corner, nickel and safety. That versatility fits the Steelers’ vision for a defense with a lot of moving pieces.

A.J. Haulcy, LSU
Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
Bud Clark, TCU
Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina


Keionte Scott, Miami: I’ve heard the Steelers likely have him lower than Brugler, who ranks him as a possible second-round pick, but it’s still worth including him given the need at the position.

Cornerbacks

The Steelers hosted five cornerbacks that span the spectrum, from Round 1 to Round 5. That gives them a lot of options.

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, so his medicals are a bit of a question mark.

Avieon Terrell, Clemson: Terrell fits the Steelers’ turnover culture. The 5-11, 180-pound DB forced eight fumbles over the last two years and, in the words of Brugler, plays with a “Honey Badger” aura.

Colton Hood, Tennessee: At 5-11 and 188 pounds, Hood isn’t the longest corner, but he is one of the more physical ones in this class. His skill set translates best to press-man coverage, and he’s also a willing participant in the run game. That seems to fit the Steelers’ identity.

D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana: The Steelers met with Ponds at the combine. He packs a much bigger punch than you’d expect for a 5-8, 180-pound player. Still, his physical limitations could push him down the board a bit.

Brandon Cisse, South Carolina: If the Steelers are betting on long-term upside, Cisse is intriguing. He’s not as pro-ready as some others in this range, but his ceiling could be higher. With Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean already penciled in as starters, Cisse would have time to develop.
Malik Muhammad*, Texas


Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State: He has similar strengths (length, physicality) and weaknesses (penalty problems in 2024) to Joey Porter Jr. If Igbinosun can cut down on the penalties, as he did in 2025, he’d form an intriguing tandem with Porter down the line.
Chandler Rivers, Duke
Daylen Everette, Georgia

Offensive guards

The Steelers hosted two of the top four guards and visited with several others.

Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon: He met with the Steelers at the combine.
Gennings Dunker, Iowa
Jalen Farmer, Kentucky
Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame

Quarterbacks

Carson Beck*, Miami: McCarthy said he’s hoping to add a QB “at the right time” (read: middle rounds), with long arms, big hands and a high floor. Beck best checks all of those boxes of the players in this range. While Brugler gave him a fourth-round grade, often you need to take a QB one round higher than you’d like, which could push him into Day 2.

Drew Allar, Penn State: He has some outstanding physical traits, but hasn’t put it together on the field as hoped.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU: The Steelers met with Nussmeier at the Senior Bowl. His father, Doug, coached with McCarthy in Dallas.

Linebackers

Jacob Rodriguez*, Texas Tech: Most players on the Steelers’ pre-draft visitors were in the mid-Day 3 range. Rodriguez was the outlier. Like Payton Wilson, Rodriguez won almost every possible award for a player at his position, including the Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Butkus Award.

CJ Allen, Georgia
Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Josiah Trotter, Missouri: The Steelers hosted a number of linebackers for pre-draft visits, showing they’re considering tapping into one of the deepest position groups in this draft. Trotter is one of my favorites because of his physical, downhill style. He would fit what they need as a younger upgrade to Malik Harrison.
Kyle Louis*, Pittsburgh

Keshaun Elliott, Arizona State
Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU

Defensive tackles

It was interesting that the Steelers only hosted two defensive tackles for pre-draft visits, and both were Day 3 players. Some earlier options include:

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State:  This is not a great year for early-round defensive linemen, but McDonald is one worth mentioning. A first-team All-American and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2025, he brings a 6-3, 326-pound frame and hot motor to the NFL. His overall strength makes him a dominant run stuffer, but he doesn’t have much from a pass-rush perspective. He may fit best as a pure nose tackle.

Christen Miller, Georgia
Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

Domonique Orange, Iowa State

Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M
Chris McClellan, Missouri