Welcome to Mock Draft Monday, version 8.0!<\/p>\n
With free agency kicking off this week, we should start to get a clearer picture of which positions the team might prioritize in the draft. The next Mock Draft Monday will likely be shaped by the moves they make over the coming days. For now, this mock isn\u2019t a prediction of what I think will happen. It\u2019s simply one of many alternate scenarios to consider as draft season unfolds.<\/p>\n
Round 1 (#21 Overall): Peter Woods\/IDL\/Clemson<\/p>\n
Expected Role:\u00a0Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n
Analysis: Cam Heyward\u2019s playing future remains uncertain, and the lingering possibility of his retirement should be a clear signal for the club to invest long term up front. That process began last year with the first-round selection of Derrick Harmon, a move that has already started to pay dividends. Adding Woods would create a dangerous pairing with the second-year lineman, thanks to Woods\u2019 sheer dominance and high-end athleticism on the interior.<\/p>\n
Woods has been a standout talent since his high school days. Even at a blue-blood program like Clemson, he consistently looked like one of the most physically imposing players on the field. His defining trait is a lightning-quick first step that gets him out of his stance before his matchup can even react. He generates tremendous force from his lower body, effortlessly converting speed to power and collapsing the pocket in a hurry.<\/p>\n
A gifted athlete, Woods also shows real nuance in his game. He can win with either finesse or power, using active, violent hands to swipe away blockers and keep his frame clean. The raw production has not always jumped off the stat sheet, and there are still fair questions about his finishing ability. But much of that can be traced to offenses scheming away from him and designing protections to neutralize his impact.<\/p>\n
Woods is a problem up front. Pairing him with Harmon would give the team a formidable interior duo for years to come. Don\u2019t let the box score fool you\u2014his presence changes the game from the very first snap.<\/p>\n
Others Considered: Monroe Freeling\/OT\/Georgia, Avieon Terrell\/CB\/Clemson, Caleb Banks\/IDL\/Florida, CJ Allen\/LB\/Georgia<\/p>\n
Peter Woods Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 2: Chase Bisontis\/IOL\/Texas A&M<\/p>\n Expected Role: Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: Setting yourself up for NFL success starts in the trenches. With Isaac Seumalo\u2019s return looking increasingly unlikely, the team needs to invest inside. Bisontis offers the versatility to thrive in schemes that lean on his power while also asking him to operate in space. For a 315-pound lineman, he moves exceptionally well, and it shows in both his pass protection and run blocking.<\/p>\n His pass protection is built on a foundation of light feet. He shows rapid, controlled footwork that allows him to mirror interior defenders. And he\u2019s far from just a finesse player\u2014Bisontis has serious power in his game. He carries plenty of mass in his lower half and can maintain balance when he drops his anchor to shut down bull rushes. The next step in his development will be refining his hand placement at the next level, as he too often lands wide and leaves his chest exposed.<\/p>\n In the run game, he\u2019s a mauler. Bisontis has excellent short-area quickness, allowing him to fire out of his stance with force and displace defenders at the point of attack. He plays with a finisher\u2019s mentality, looking to bury opponents and drive through the whistle. There\u2019s also more hip flexibility than you\u2019d expect for his size. He can execute hook blocks and pulling assignments at a high level, thanks to his lateral agility and ability to redirect.<\/p>\n Bisontis is still growing as a player, but he\u2019d be an outstanding building block for new offensive line coach James Campen to mold on the interior.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Anthony Hill Jr.\/LB\/Texas, Jake Golday\/LB\/Cincinnati, D\u2019Angelo Ponds\/CB\/Indiana, Zachariah Branch\/WR\/Georgia<\/p>\n Chase Bisontis Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 3:\u00a0Antonio Williams\/WR\/Clemson<\/p>\n Expected Role: Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: The Steelers are desperate for help at receiver, and it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see them address the position as early as this week in free agency. In this mock, they add an undervalued pass catcher who\u2019s done nothing but produce. After posting a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine, Williams confirmed he has real speed to pair with excellent short-area quickness and agility.<\/p>\n This offense is starving for a dominant route runner, and Williams fits that mold. He\u2019s not the type who will consistently line up outside and take the top off the defense, but he wins with detail and craft. He uses advanced maneuvers to generate separation at the top of his routes\u2014head fakes, jab steps, and subtle foot stutters to manipulate defenders. He\u2019s also adept at finding soft spots in zone coverage, gearing down and presenting a clean, friendly target for his quarterback.<\/p>\n Despite a slighter frame at 187 pounds, he\u2019s fearless in traffic. Williams is a natural hands catcher who doesn\u2019t flinch when contact arrives. His overall catch radius is inherently limited by his size, but that hasn\u2019t stopped him from making acrobatic grabs. He shows impressive body control and the ability to adjust to off-target throws.<\/p>\n Williams\u2019 route running and reliability project him as a quality Day 1 starting option in Mike McCarthy\u2019s offense. A true inside separator will stress defenses underneath and allow DK Metcalf to make more impact outside.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Kamari Ramsey\/S\/USC, Josiah Trotter\/LB\/Missouri, Zakee Wheatley\/S\/Penn State, Emmett Johnson\/RB\/Nebraska<\/p>\n Antonio Williams Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 3: Devin Moore\/CB\/Florida<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Potential Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: With James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr. set to hit free agency, cornerback is becoming a top need. Drafting Moore would give new DC Patrick Graham a high-upside, toolsy player to develop. Despite December surgery, the 6-3 Moore ran a 4.50 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, posting impressive results while recovering.<\/p>\n Moore is a man-coverage specialist. He has rare hip fluidity for a cornerback with his length, allowing him to flip and run with ease. He\u2019s very comfortable carrying receivers vertically and staying attached through the stem. His preferred alignment is in a soft press, where he can lean on his footwork, patience, and mirror ability. When asked to get physical at the line, he\u2019s shown he can do that as well.<\/p>\n His zone coverage, however, remains a work in progress. Moore sometimes gets in trouble with his eyes, staring down the quarterback and focusing too much on the action ahead of him. That tendency can open windows behind him and create opportunities for receivers to slip free. He can get flat-footed in zone, slowing his trigger and limiting his burst when breaking on the ball.<\/p>\n Moore is an intriguing talent with the size and athletic profile to meet\u2014and even exceed\u2014NFL standards. With proper coaching on zone technique and eye discipline, he has the tools to become a high-quality perimeter starter.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Julian Neal\/CB\/Arkansas, Drew Allar\/QB\/Penn State, Ted Hurst\/WR\/Georgia State, Genesis Smith\/S\/Arizona<\/p>\n Devin Moore Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 3: Treydan Stukes\/S\/Arizona<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Potential Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: The Steelers are in need of a succession plan at both safety spots, and Stukes fits the bill as a versatile option who can play either. He dominated the Combine, running a 4.33 40-yard dash and posting a 10\u201910\u201d broad jump, tying for best among safeties. The tape backs up the numbers\u2014he plays every bit as fast, making him an ideal and rangy safety prospect.<\/p>\n At Arizona, Stukes primarily operated in the \u201cstar\u201d role. He emerged as a true jack-of-all-trades defender, aligning in split-safety looks, dropping into a robber role, or blitzing from the nickel. He thrives in coverage with sharp instincts in zone and the range to cover a ton of ground. He can get flat-footed reading the quarterback, but his speed provides a larger margin for error than most.<\/p>\n His man-coverage limitations may ultimately limit him as a nickel corner and push him toward a full-time safety role. He has elite straight-line speed, but limited lower-body twitch slightly slows his change of direction. He\u2019ll also open his hips a bit early at times, giving up inside leverage and creating easy access for receivers.<\/p>\n Stukes was already rising in draft circles before the Combine, and his testing in Indianapolis likely pushed his stock even higher. It wouldn\u2019t be surprising if he works his way into firm early Day 2 consideration as the process unfolds.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Ted Hurst\/WR\/Georgia State, Jalon Kilgore\/S\/South Carolina, Ja\u2019Kobi Lane\/WR\/USC, Genesis Smith\/S\/Arizona<\/p>\n Treydan Stukes Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 4: Bryce Lance\/WR\/North Dakota State<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Developmental Prospect\/Potential Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: Lance is another riser in draft circles who made a statement in Indianapolis. He presents an intriguing case as a starting boundary receiver thanks to his size-speed combination. With Antonio Williams dominating the slot, the offense needs an outside deep threat\u2014and Lance has the potential to fill that role.<\/p>\n His calling card is his hands and ball-tracking ability. He rarely suffers from concentration lapses when attacking the ball in the air. At 6-3, he fully leverages his frame, drawing on his basketball background to dominate in 50\/50 situations. Lance uses his body extremely well to shield off defenders and shows impressive flexibility to adjust to off-target throws.<\/p>\n Where he needs the most development is as a route runner. Limited experience with multi-break routes has slowed his growth, and he often telegraphs breaks by leaning early. On complex routes, lower-body stiffness can dull the sharpness of his cuts. At the next level, his position coach must refine his route craft\u2014manipulating leverage, disguising breaks, and compensating for lower-body limitations.<\/p>\n Ideally, the Steelers add a reliable veteran receiver in free agency and reinforce the room through the draft. Starting Lance too soon could hinder his development, but a managed role would let him deliver high-impact plays.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Carson Beck\/QB\/Miami (FL), Sam Roush\/TE\/Stanford, Deion Burks\/WR\/Oklahoma, Dontay Corleone\/IDL\/Cincinnati<\/p>\n Round 4: Kaytron Allen\/RB\/Penn State<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Sub-package contributor<\/p>\n Analysis: With free agency kicking off this week, the likelihood of losing Kenneth Gainwell is growing. Adding a back like Allen would be a smart investment in a potential replacement. He\u2019s a good-but-not-elite athlete\u2014fast in open space but lacking wiggle and lateral elusiveness in tight areas.<\/p>\n Allen\u2019s running style is straightforward and punishing. He runs behind his pads with a low center of gravity, absorbing contact and staying upright. His contact balance is his defining trait as he rarely goes down on first contact. Allen is a physical bruiser who consistently falls forward and wears down defenses as the game goes on.<\/p>\n His patience with the ball in his hands is superb. He presses the line of scrimmage, letting blockers gain leverage before planting and accelerating. There\u2019s very little wasted movement\u2014once he diagnoses the lane, he gets downhill in a hurry.<\/p>\n I tend to be higher on backs who aren\u2019t overly scheme-dependent, and Allen fits that mold. He can stretch plays in a zone scheme or grind out tough yards in a gap-blocking system. While not the receiver Kenneth Gainwell is, he\u2019d still add a reliable, physical presence to the Steelers\u2019 backfield.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0DeMonte Capehart\/IDL\/Clemson, Charles Demmings\/CB\/Stephen F. Austin, Bryce Boettcher\/LB\/Oregon, Aiden Fisher\/LB\/Indiana<\/p>\n Kaytron Allen Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 5: Eli Raridon\/TE\/Notre Dame<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Sub-package Contributor<\/p>\n Analysis: With Jonnu Smith released, the focus shifts to Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, and adding late-round value like Raridon is tough to pass up. He\u2019s a very athletic, toolsy in-line tight end at 6-6 and 245 pounds, though his knee history could push him down draft boards.<\/p>\n For his size, he\u2019s an impressively fluid route runner, able to drop his weight and use subtle moves to freeze defenders. He\u2019s at his best working vertically on seams and corners, where his long strides quickly eat up cushion.<\/p>\n Blocking is the biggest area where he needs to improve. The effort and temperament are there, but he leans too much on a strong initial blow and needs to learn to latch and sustain with his hands instead of just throwing a shoulder.<\/p>\n If Raridon is still there later on Day 3, you sprint to the podium. His ceiling is too high to ignore, and his floor is an immediate contributor in the tight end room with room to grow.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Sawyer Robertson\/QB\/Baylor, Fa\u2019alili Fa\u2019amoe\/OT\/Wake Forest, Hezekiah Masses\/CB\/Cal, Aamil Wagner\/OT\/Notre Dame<\/p>\n Round 6: Cole Wisniewski\/S\/Texas Tech<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Special Teams Contributor\/\u201dStar\u201d Defender<\/p>\n Analysis: The Steelers\u2019 defense is trending younger, and adding more positionless chess pieces like Wisniewski makes sense. A converted linebacker who moved to the back end, he still plays with an attacking mindset. And at 6-4 and 220 pounds he has outstanding size for a safety, even if he isn\u2019t the most fluid athlete in the class.<\/p>\n Wisniewski is at his best in the box, where he quickly processes blocking schemes, diagnoses run concepts, and triggers downhill with real violence. He\u2019s a reliable wrap-up tackler whose size lets him dictate contact with a true \u201chit stick\u201d mentality.<\/p>\n His coverage is more mixed. In zone, he shows strong eye discipline and diagnostic skills, using his massive frame to squeeze throwing lanes over the middle, but he\u2019s far more effective near the line of scrimmage. In man coverage, he lacks the range and twitch to consistently mirror shiftier receivers in space.<\/p>\n Wisniewski isn\u2019t a classic linebacker or a traditional safety, but he is a playmaker near the line when he\u2019s allowed to roam and play fast. In the right scheme, he projects as an effective \u201cstar\u201d or hybrid defender who can fill multiple roles in a modern, flexible defense.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0TJ Hall\/CB\/Iowa, Cade Klubnik\/QB\/Clemson, Lorenzo Styles Jr.\/CB\/Ohio State, Fernando Carmona\/IOL\/Arkansas<\/p>\n Cole Wisniewski Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 6: Kaleb Elarms-Orr\/LB\/TCU<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Special Teams Contributor<\/p>\n Analysis: Behind Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen, the Steelers are thin at inside linebacker, and adding a dynamo like Elarms-Orr would help fix that. He tested off the charts in Indianapolis with a 4.47 40 and 40-inch vertical, and while he\u2019s not technically polished yet, his athleticism should carry him early.<\/p>\n A highly productive tackler with 130 stops in 2025, he consistently finds the football, though his process can be hit or miss. He explodes downhill as a one-gap penetrator, but his reads can lag and he\u2019ll occasionally lock into a single gap instead of flowing laterally.<\/p>\n Elarms-Orr is further along in coverage. He clogs passing lanes, anticipates well off the quarterback\u2019s eyes, and plays with real physicality when re-routing receivers. His hips aren\u2019t the most fluid against shiftier targets, but his speed gives him recovery ability.<\/p>\n He may not be a classic tone-setting MIKE\u2014especially as a late Day 3 pick\u2014but he brings much-needed athleticism and playmaking behind the starters. He can contribute early in a rotational role and on special teams.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Andre Fuller\/CB\/Toledo, Nick Barrett\/IDL\/South Carolina, Red Murdock\/LB\/Buffalo, Devon Marshall\/CB\/NC State<\/p>\n Round 7: Kaden Wetjen\/WR\/Iowa<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Return Specialist\/Sub-Package Contributor<\/p>\n Analysis: Wetjen has shown up in previous mocks, and for good reason. The Steelers desperately need juice in the return game, and he\u2019s arguably the best return talent to come out of college in years. Both his production and athletic profile back that up.<\/p>\n With six career return touchdowns and blazing acceleration, he\u2019s a threat to score every time he touches the ball. His open-field vision is outstanding, Wetjen using leverage and patience to set up blocks before exploding through creases, rather than relying on straight-line speed.<\/p>\n With Williams and Lance already in place, Wetjen wouldn\u2019t be heavily relied on as a receiver, though he flashed more ability at the Shrine Bowl than Iowa\u2019s run-heavy offense allowed him to showcase. Realistically, he\u2019s depth on offense but a centerpiece on special teams.<\/p>\n A two-time Jet Award winner as the nation\u2019s top returner, Wetjen is exactly the spark this unit has been missing\u2014turning the return game from a liability into a real weapon.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Justin Jefferson\/LB\/Alabama, Keagen Trost\/IOL\/Missouri, Aaron Anderson\/WR\/LSU, Jeff Caldwell\/WR\/Cincinnati<\/p>\n Round 7: Albert Regis\/IDL\/Texas A&M<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth<\/p>\n Analysis: While Woods projects as Derrick Harmon\u2019s long-term running mate, the defense still lacks dependable run depth up front. Regis would be an ideal interior addition after testing as a top-five athlete among defensive linemen in the 40, vertical, and broad jump at the Combine.<\/p>\n A true run-stopping specialist at Texas A&M, he pairs a relentless motor with lateral quickness to offset a lighter 295-pound frame. Regis rarely gets moved off his spot and consistently holds his gap.<\/p>\n His limited pass-rush ceiling could cause him to slide, as he relies heavily on power and shorter arms make it easier for bigger linemen to swallow him up. To be more than an early-down run stuffer, he\u2019ll need to develop counter moves off his bull rush.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t expect a late Day 3 pick to become a Pro Bowler, but Regis would fill a crucial niche as a rock-solid run defender for a front that badly needs more brick walls against the run.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Nolan Rucci\/OT\/Penn State, Joe Fagnano\/QB\/UConn, David Gusta\/IDL\/Kentucky, Jalen Husky\/S\/Maryland<\/p>\n Albert Regis Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Previous Steelers Mock Draft Mondays<\/p>\n January 19th<\/a>
January 26th<\/a>
February 2nd<\/a>
February 9th<\/a>
February 16th<\/a>
February 23rd<\/a>
March 2nd<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome to Mock Draft Monday, version 8.0! With free agency kicking off this week, we should start to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":133513,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[31803,73,75,74,1833,995,7666],"class_list":["post-133512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-2026-nfl-draft","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-trending","tag-weekly"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=133512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/133513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=133512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=133512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=133512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}