With the Pittsburgh spectacle only a few weeks away, the hype train continues to build. Championships are won through the draft, and soon we\u2019ll see who the newest Steelers will be. That said, this is just one of many possible scenarios and does not reflect what I expect to happen once the actual picks are made.<\/p>\n
Round 1 (21st Overall): Omar Cooper Jr.\/WR\/Indiana<\/p>\n
Expected Role:\u00a0Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n
Analysis: After trading for Michael Pittman, the perimeter threats in this offense are solidified. They still lack a true playmaker who can own the middle of the field and make life easier on their top targets. Cooper Jr. is one of my draft crushes, and despite elite production and top-tier athleticism, he still feels undervalued.<\/p>\n
As a route runner, he handled a wide range of assignments throughout his career. Early on, he worked as a nuanced flanker who won underneath with suddenness on in-breakers and out-breakers. As he gained experience, his role shifted to a more vertical, slot-heavy usage. His athleticism is more than enough for him to become a lethal separator on the inside.<\/p>\n
His defining trait is a toss-up between his dominance at the catch point and his effort after the catch. Attacking the ball in the air comes naturally to him. He rarely drops anything and can finish even the most difficult, high-effort attempts. His leaping ability and concentration allow him to consistently win 50\/50 balls.<\/p>\n
With the ball in his hands, he\u2019s a nightmare for defenses. Statistically, he ranked among the most dangerous post-catch creators, adding nearly 500 yards to his total and forcing 27 missed tackles. His contact balance is outstanding, and he has an innate feel for finding daylight in traffic.<\/p>\n
Cooper is arguably the draft\u2019s biggest riser, and he\u2019s earned that status. He\u2019s a true jack-of-all-trades who has performed at a high level for multiple seasons, with the athleticism to back it up. Adding him to this offense would give them a nasty top trio.<\/p>\n
Others Considered:\u00a0Caleb Lomu\/OT\/Utah, Kadyn Proctor\/OG\/Alabama, Kenyon Sadiq\/TE\/Oregon, Jordyn Tyson\/WR\/Arizona State<\/p>\n
Omar Cooper Jr. Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 2 (53rd Overall):\u00a0Emmanuel Pregnon\/OG\/Oregon<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: After signing Brock Hoffman, the Steelers shouldn\u2019t feel pressured to spend an early pick on the interior unless a talent like Pregnon falls into their lap. One of college\u2019s top offensive linemen last season, he\u2019s rock-solid in both pass protection and run blocking. Adding a player of his caliber would lock down the interior offensive line for years to come.<\/p>\n He pass-protects like a heavyweight fighter. With 11-inch hands and nearly 34-inch arms, he stuns defenders with a heavy initial punch, quickly locking them out. Once he gets his hands inside, he clamps down with a vise-like grip that makes shedding blocks a chore.<\/p>\n Pregnon plays with real nastiness in the run game. He consistently imposes his will, generating powerful leg drive and using his massive frame to displace defenders. He routinely resets the line of scrimmage by firing out of his stance and initiating contact on down blocks.<\/p>\n While taking an interior lineman this early isn\u2019t a pressing need, Pregnon is too talented to pass up if he\u2019s on the board.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Anthony Hill Jr.\/LB\/Texas, Lee Hunter\/IDL\/Texas Tech, Christen Miller\/IDL\/Georgia, A.J. Haulcy\/S\/LSU<\/p>\n Emmanuel Pregnon Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 3 (76th Overall): Josiah Trotter\/LB\/Missouri<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Potential Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: With the linebacking corps failing to live up to expectations, this hole is more gaping than it appears. The run defense struggled for much of last season, and there were too many breakdowns in coverage. Adding a talent like Trotter would inject much-needed competition into a room that currently lacks depth.<\/p>\n Trotter has always understood how to play on the interior, as he\u2019s the son of Eagles Hall of Famer Jeremiah Trotter. His confidence shows up in his play style: he often sets the tone of the defense with his violent physicality. He\u2019s a downhill thumper with an explosive trigger who isn\u2019t afraid to take on bigger linemen.<\/p>\n Coverage will be his biggest hurdle as he makes the jump to the NFL. His primary issues show up when he\u2019s isolated in space. He\u2019s a bit high-cut, which limits his change-of-direction fluidity. In zone, he can get caught staring into the backfield, allowing routes to develop around him.<\/p>\n Early in his career, he\u2019ll shine on early downs and in run defense. He\u2019s a work in progress in coverage, but his youth (he\u2019ll be just 21 during his rookie season) and athleticism give him plenty of room to grow.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Keith Abney II\/CB\/Arizona State, Treydan Stukes\/S\/Arizona, Domonique Orange\/IDL\/Iowa State, Kamari Ramsey\/S\/USC<\/p>\n Josiah Trotter Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 3 (85th Overall): Davison Igbinosun\/CB\/Ohio State<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Future Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: Despite the strong addition of Jamel Dean and the retention of Asante Samuel Jr., it would still be ideal for the team to add a developmental corner in the draft. Igbinosun offers a talent who can step in immediately in the event of injury, while still having the upside to grow into a long-term starter.<\/p>\n His game is built on physicality. He fits the modern prototype of a tall boundary corner, using his 33-inch arms to disrupt receivers early in their routes. In press coverage, he plays with heavy, powerful hands and excels at pinning receivers to the sideline.<\/p>\n Right now, his success largely hinges on landing initial contact. In off-coverage, or when a receiver avoids his jam, he can get stuck with static feet. He can struggle to mirror more agile route runners because he lacks top-tier twitch.<\/p>\n When he keeps the play in front of him, however, there\u2019s real value. He reads the quarterback\u2019s eyes well and sinks efficiently when working the flat. As the ball is in the air, he plays aggressively and disruptively at the catch point.<\/p>\n Igbinosun is still raw. But with proper development, he has the traits to become a long-term running mate for Joey Porter Jr.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Genesis Smith\/S\/Arizona, Darrell Jackson Jr.\/IDL\/Florida State, Bryce Lance\/WR\/NDSU, Garrett Nussmeier\/QB\/LSU<\/p>\n Davison Igbinosun Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 3 (99th Overall): Bud Clark\/S\/TCU<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Future Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: The Steelers boosted the potential of the secondary by adding Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage, but it would be wise to invest for the future in this draft. Clark has flown under the radar despite strong career production and a standout showing at the Senior Bowl.<\/p>\n One of the premier ballhawks in this class, Clark tallied 15 interceptions and 20 pass breakups over his career. He has a true nose for football and plays with outstanding anticipation. He urgently triggers downhill and arrives with bad intentions against the run.<\/p>\n His versatility makes him especially intriguing. He has enough range to patrol the deep middle as a single-high safety, but he\u2019s also comfortable in split-field looks and matching up with tight ends or slot receivers in man coverage.<\/p>\n His ultra-aggressive style is a double-edged sword. He makes a ton of plays, but he also leaves some on the field by trying to do too much at once.<\/p>\n Clark is a potential middle-round steal given his production and athletic profile. If he can harness his aggression and cut down on the recklessness, he has the tools to become an impact defender on the back end.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Zakee Wheatley\/S\/Penn State, Julian Neal\/CB\/Arkansas, Deion Burks\/WR\/Oklahoma, Jalon Kilgore\/S\/South Carolina<\/p>\n Bud Clark Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 4 (121st Overall): Drew Allar\/QB\/Penn State<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Backup\/Future Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: Until Aaron Rodgers is officially confirmed to be coming back, the Steelers\u2019 plan at quarterback remains unsettled. As such, they\u2019ve done their homework on this class and made it clear they\u2019re targeting a prototypical AFC North quarterback. From a purely physical standpoint, Allar fits that mold perfectly.<\/p>\n Allar unquestionably has the most impressive arm in this draft. His passes jump out of his hand with effortless velocity and can reach every blade of grass on the field. He shows impressive upper-body flexibility, adjusting arm angles and firing lasers even when he isn\u2019t fully set. On top of that, he brings a towering, classic pocket-passer frame that allows him to easily see and work the field.<\/p>\n But Allar has some red flags. His footwork is erratic at best. Too often, he fails to drive through his throws. Under pressure, he has a bad habit of drifting backward and throwing off his back foot, which tanks his accuracy and ball placement. Even routine \u201clayups\u201d can look difficult, signaling he needs a full mechanical reset from the ground up.<\/p>\n Physically, there\u2019s nothing Allar can\u2019t do, but something still hasn\u2019t clicked. If quarterback development truly is McCarthy\u2019s calling card, this is the kind of project he should be able to piece together to unlock Allar\u2019s considerable upside.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Chris McClellan\/IDL\/Missouri, Zxavian Harris\/IDL\/Ole Miss, Tacario Davis\/CB\/Washington, Dontay Corleone\/IDL\/Cincinnati<\/p>\n Drew Allar Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 4 (135th Overall): De\u2019Zhaun Stribling\/WR\/Ole Miss<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Depth\/Future Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: Taking Cooper in the first round shored up the slot, but the room still lacks developmental depth. Stribling is the type of athlete teams could be higher on than the media. At 6\u20192\u201d and 207 pounds, he has ideal outside size and backed it up in Indianapolis, where he ran a 4.36 in the 40 with a 1.53 10-yard split.<\/p>\n Stribling is an underrated route runner who knows how to separate vertically and in the intermediate area. He understands pacing \u2014 when to accelerate, throttle down, or settle into soft spots against zone \u2014 and he can snap off routes cleanly to create separation against man. He\u2019s more of a long-strider than a jitterbug, so he lacks the suddenness to consistently win underneath. But in the right scheme, he won\u2019t be asked to live there.<\/p>\n His hands are generally reliable. With 10-inch mitts, he can pluck the ball out of the air and has enough body control to adjust to off-target throws. However, the metrics aren\u2019t kind to his contested-catch work. Despite his size and athleticism, he struggles to consistently box out bigger, more physical corners at the top of the route.<\/p>\n Stribling will be a work in progress, but he offers a strong baseline paired with an elite trait. If he can round out the rest of his game, he can be a middle-round steal.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Kage Casey\/OG\/Boise State, Rayshaun Benny\/IDL\/Michigan, Zane Durant\/IDL\/Penn State, Drew Shelton\/OT\/Penn State<\/p>\n De\u2019Zhaun Stribling Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 5 (161st Overall): Tim Keenan III\/IDL\/Alabama<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/0-tech<\/p>\n Analysis: Cam Heyward\u2019s return and Sebastian Joseph-Day\u2019s addition ease the pressure to address the trenches early, but the team still needs a developmental nose tackle. Keenan fits the bill as an old-school, do-the-dirty-work interior presence.<\/p>\n He\u2019s unlikely to become a consistent backfield disruptor, but his impact shows up in other ways. Keenan is a classic space-eater in the middle, with his value rooted in controlling the A-gaps and stonewalling rushing attacks. He has a thick lower half that rarely gives up ground and routinely absorbs double teams. He won\u2019t light up the box score, but he makes life easier for teammates.<\/p>\n Keenan\u2019s projection as a two-down space eater stems from his limited upside as a pass rusher. Right now, his arsenal is basically a bull rush that leans on his lower-body strength. Without a top-tier initial burst, he struggles to consistently collapse the pocket with pure power.<\/p>\n This pick comes with a very specific role in mind. He\u2019s a traditional nose who can swallow space in the middle \u2014 exactly what this defense needs to free up its linebackers and other linemen to make the splash plays.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Diego Pounds\/OT\/Ole Miss, Taurean York\/LB\/Texas A&M, Nate Borekircher\/TE\/Texas A&M, Landon Robinson\/IDL\/Navy<\/p>\n Tim Keenan III Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 6 (216th Overall): Matthew Hibner\/TE\/SMU<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Sub-package Contributor\/Special Teams Contributor<\/p>\n Analysis: The Steelers have lost more than they\u2019ve added in the tight end room this offseason. Bringing in a talent like Hibner would give them a developmental piece who can contribute now. He brings true seam-stretching speed, showcased at the Combine with a 4.57 40-yard dash and 1.61 10-yard split.<\/p>\n Beyond his speed, his ball skills and body control stand out right away. With a 77-inch-plus wingspan and explosive leaping ability, his catch radius is massive. He\u2019s a quarterback\u2019s best friend, as he\u2019s able to turn off-target throws into completions. His reliable hands hold up well in heavy traffic.<\/p>\n Hibner only had two seasons to display his route-running chops after primarily serving on special teams at Michigan. His straight-line speed makes him highly effective on deep-third routes, and the threat of his vertical presence naturally creates more cushion for him underneath. He still needs refinement due to limited exposure, but he can generate separation.<\/p>\n Despite acing the offseason process, his stock remains undervalued. If a talent like Hibner is on the board at this stage, it\u2019s an easy call to add a dynamic playmaker to the tight end room.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Adam Randall\/RB\/Clemson, Aamil Wagner\/OT\/Notre Dame, Jakobe Thomas\/S\/Miami (FL), Tanner Koziol\/TE\/Houston<\/p>\n Matthew Hibner Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 7 (224th Overall): Lorenzo Styles Jr.\/DB\/Ohio State<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Special Teams Contributor<\/p>\n Analysis: Although Lorenzo doesn\u2019t have the same pre-draft buzz as his brother Sonny, his impressive Combine showing put him squarely on the radar. After a blazing 4.27 in the 40 \u2014 the fastest ever by an Ohio State player \u2014 teams and analysts rushed to his tape. Right now, he looks more like a premium athlete than a finished defensive back.<\/p>\n A big reason is his relative inexperience on defense. Before Ohio State, he began his career at Notre Dame as a wide receiver. That time on offense now benefits him on the back end. Working as a deep safety or in the flat, his elite speed allows him to close throwing windows. He diagnoses route concepts quickly and drives aggressively on intermediate throws.<\/p>\n His man coverage is far more raw at this stage. Despite his blazing straight-line speed, he plays with relatively stiff hips that limit his change of direction. In the slot, he can struggle to mirror sudden, twitchy receivers. He has trouble flipping his hips and running vertically, and can get caught with his feet stuck in the ground.<\/p>\n Styles is unlikely to see heavy defensive snaps right away, but that\u2019s not the expectation late in the draft. At this point, you\u2019re betting on rare traits \u2014 and his pure speed on the back end is exactly that.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Red Murdock\/LB\/Buffalo, Eric Rivers\/WR\/Georgia Tech, Robert Spears-Jennings\/S\/Oklahoma, Lander Barton\/LB\/Utah<\/p>\n Lorenzo Styles Jr. Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 7 (230th Overall):\u00a0Kaden Wetjen\/WR\/Iowa<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Return Specialist<\/p>\n Analysis: Wetjen is one of my favorite players to mock to the Steelers in this draft. He has appeared in plenty of versions already, and I\u2019ll keep pounding the table for him. Prospects with his blend of production and return ability are rare.<\/p>\n Viewing him strictly as a wide receiver sells his game short. Above all, he\u2019s an elite, game-changing return specialist. He shows outstanding vision, constantly scanning pursuit angles and manipulating blocks. His explosiveness stems from his decisiveness \u2014 once he sees a crease, he hits it at full speed without hesitation.<\/p>\n His contact balance is superb as well. Even at 193 pounds, he\u2019s well-proportioned and bounces off initial contact. He regularly runs through arm tackles and refuses to go down on the first hit.<\/p>\n It\u2019s unlikely he\u2019ll be a major factor at receiver, but his path to a roster spot is clear. The first player ever to win the Jet Award \u2014 given to the nation\u2019s top return specialist \u2014 twice, Wetjen is a special-teams weapon the Steelers should plan to add in this draft.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Skyler Gill-Howard\/IDL\/Texas Tech, Aaron Anderson\/WR\/LSU, Cole Wisniewski\/S\/Texas Tech, Travis Burke\/OT\/Memphis<\/p>\n Kaden Wetjen Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 7 (237th Overall): Carver Willis\/OT\/Washington<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Depth\/Swing Tackle<\/p>\n Analysis: The Steelers may select a developmental tackle earlier in the draft. But with positive news on Broderick Jones\u2019 injury and Dylan Cook\u2019s late-season surge, they don\u2019t have to force it. Willis is a respectable option \u2014 a solid athlete who can play either tackle spot and has played center when needed.<\/p>\n Run blocking is his calling card. He brings a physical edge to the trenches and fires quickly from his stance. His feet are nimble and active, allowing him to latch on and drive defenders off their spots. For a player north of 300 pounds, he moves impressively well in space and excels at climbing to the second level.<\/p>\n Pass protection is where Willis needs the most work. With just over 32-inch arms, he\u2019s likely to struggle on an island against NFL edge rushers. To compensate, he\u2019ll overextend, throwing off his balance and exposing his chest.<\/p>\n While Willis probably won\u2019t immediately push for a starting role, he offers valuable, multi-position depth across the offensive line. His run-blocking ability gives him a sturdy baseline to build on as he continues to develop.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Andre Fuller\/CB\/Toledo, Jordan van den Berg\/IDL\/Georgia Tech, Nolan Rucci\/OT\/Penn State, Toriano Pride\/CB\/Missouri<\/p>\n Previous Steelers Mock Draft Mondays<\/p>\n January 19<\/a>
January 26<\/a>
February 2<\/a>
February 9<\/a>
February 16<\/a>
February 23<\/a>
March 2<\/a>
March 9<\/a>
March 16<\/a>
March 23<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With the Pittsburgh spectacle only a few weeks away, the hype train continues to build. Championships are won…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":158503,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[31803,73,75,74,1833,995,7666],"class_list":{"0":"post-158502","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pittsburgh","8":"tag-2026-nfl-draft","9":"tag-pittsburgh","10":"tag-pittsburgh-headlines","11":"tag-pittsburgh-news","12":"tag-pittsburgh-steelers","13":"tag-trending","14":"tag-weekly"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158502","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=158502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158502\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}