{"id":168285,"date":"2026-04-17T05:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T05:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/168285\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T05:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T05:38:14","slug":"clark-pittsburgh-steelers-2026-mock-draft-final-version","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/168285\/","title":{"rendered":"Clark: Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 Mock Draft (Final Version)"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the draft less than a week away, I\u2019ve compiled my final Steelers mock draft. Since you all LOVED my first one so much<\/a>, I hope this one can meet the same expectations. Again, we\u2019re operating under the assumption that Aaron Rodgers returns, and I\u2019m obviously picking for what I think the team will do, not necessarily what I want it to do. Unlike last time, I\u2019ve incorporated trades because I don\u2019t see a way the Steelers actually make all 12 selections.<\/p>\n

Without further ado, let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n

Round 1 \u2013 Pick 21: OLAIVAVEGA IOANE\/OG\/PENN STATE<\/p>\n

Omar Khan and Andy Weidl have built up the trenches since Khan took over as Pittsburgh\u2019s GM, and Ioane would be the third offensive lineman taken in the first round by the Steelers in the last four years. It might not be an extremely sexy pick, but Ioane is the best guard in the draft and could be a future All-Pro. It\u2019s hard to pass up on a player of his caliber, and the Steelers hosted him for a pre-draft visit. Khan has yet to take a player in the first round who hasn\u2019t taken a pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh. I\u2019m not banking on that changing this year.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, WR Denzel Boston, WR Makai Lemon<\/p>\n

Olaivavega Ioane Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round 2 \u2013 Pick 53: GERMIE BERNARD\/WR\/ALABAMA<\/p>\n

Keeping this pick from my original mock. The Steelers hosted Bernard for a pre-draft visit and had a formal meeting with him at the Combine. A potential option in the slot who excels as a route runner and is a willing blocker. He just feels like a Steelers receiver to me. This team needs to take a receiver with one of its top two picks, and Bernard should be one of the better options remaining here in the second round.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: WR Zachariah Branch, WR De\u2019Zhaun Stribling, LB Jake Golday<\/p>\n

Germie Bernard Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

TRADE: STEELERS SEND NO. 76 AND NO. 121 OVERALL TO THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS FOR NO. 58 OVERALL<\/p>\n

Before we get to the pick, let me explain my logic on the trade. The 49ers have just six picks in this draft, so they add an extra selection to their total. Trading draft picks is an inexact science, but I tried to mirror historical trades and what\u2019s considered fair value based on various draft charts. I know that based on a lot of trade value charts the Steelers \u201clost\u201d this trade, but I don\u2019t foresee San Francisco (or any team) dropping down 18 picks without getting another pretty solid selection in return.<\/p>\n

Round 2 \u2013 Pick 58: DOMONIQUE ORANGE\/DT\/IOWA STATE<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll admit I\u2019m going out on a limb a little bit here because the Steelers haven\u2019t demonstrated a ton of pre-draft interest in Orange. But he\u2019s the type of player the team *should* be interested in. He can play off the end or at nose tackle, and he\u2019s a run stuffer with a bit of pass-rush upside. The Steelers defensive line still needs another piece, even after signing Sebastian Joseph-Day. Orange is someone who I think fits well, especially with how much Pittsburgh has struggled defending the run.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: LB Anthony Hill Jr., CB Keionte Scott, WR Elijah Sarratt<\/p>\n

Domonique Orange Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round 3 \u2013 Pick 85: DAYLEN EVERETTE\/CB\/GEORGIA<\/p>\n

The Steelers had both Mike McCarthy and Omar Khan at Georgia Pro Day, where Ike Taylor was spotted talking to Everette<\/a>. Pittsburgh also had a formal meeting at the Combine with Everette, an athletic cornerback who could develop behind Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean. The Steelers showed a lot of interest in cornerbacks at the Combine and with their pre-draft visits, so I\u2019m under the impression that they\u2019ll take one within the first 100 picks. Everette makes sense later in the third round.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: OT Travis Burke, CB Malik Muhammad, S Genesis Smith<\/p>\n

Daylen Everette Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round 3 \u2013 Pick 99: DREW ALLAR\/QB\/PENN STATE<\/p>\n

The Steelers brought Allar in for a pre-draft visit earlier this week. I\u2019m of the belief they\u2019re going to take a quarterback fairly early, and Allar is a decent swing to take. His Penn State tape didn\u2019t always match the hype, but he has NFL-caliber traits and was once considered a potential first-round pick. He fits the mold of what Mike McCarthy might be looking for in a quarterback, and while he\u2019s no sure thing, he\u2019s worth the flier in this spot.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: OT Markel Bell, S Kamari Ramsey, WR Skyler Bell<\/p>\n

Drew Allar Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

TRADE: STEELERS SEND NO. 135, NO. 216 AND NO. 230 TO THE BILLS FOR NO. 126<\/p>\n

The Steelers move up nine spots here at the cost of their existing fourth rounder, their sixth-round compensatory pick and a seventh-round pick. After trading No. 121 to San Francisco, the Steelers use their excess of picks to move back up. With this trade, the Steelers will still make nine selections, a much more reasonable number than 12. I just don\u2019t foresee the team being able to roster 12 rookies, and moving up the board to get better talent is what I think will happen next week.<\/p>\n

Round 4 \u2013 Pick 126: JAKOBE THOMAS\/S\/MIAMI (FL)<\/p>\n

The Steelers add another player they brought in for a pre-draft visit, a versatile safety who takes away vertical routes and plays well against the run. Thomas fits Patrick Graham\u2019s defense well, and after not taking a safety early in the draft, the Steelers trade up to get the best available here. He has the potential to be a future starter and had five interceptions as an anchor of Miami\u2019s secondary last season.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: LB Jack Kelly, TE Marlin Klein, WR Josh Cameron<\/p>\n

Jakobe Thomas Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round 5 \u2013 Pick 161: HAROLD PERKINS JR.\/LB\/LSU<\/p>\n

Perkins played multiple different positions as LSU, and at one point in his career was receiving first-round buzz. He\u2019s a prospect who has a lot of impressive raw traits but still needs to be coached up to become a consistent NFL contributor. But he also possesses special teams value, and the upside is high for a fifth-round pick. Perkins also came in for a pre-draft visit.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: LB Red Murdock, TE Will Kacmarek, DT Rayshaun Benny<\/p>\n

Harold Perkins Jr. Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round 7 \u2013 Pick 224: EMMANUEL HENDERSON JR.\/WR\/KANSAS<\/p>\n

I also had Henderson in my initial mock, and the big reason I\u2019m keeping him is his upside as a returner. He\u2019s a speed threat on the outside who wouldn\u2019t need to contribute immediately but can be used to try to take the top off the defense while also serving as a return man.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: FB\/TE Riley Nowakowski, LB Jaden Dugger, TE Tanner Koziol<\/p>\n

Round 7 \u2013 Pick 237: MATTHEW HIBNER\/TE\/SMU<\/p>\n

Hibner had a strong Senior Bowl and tested well at his Pro Day. He\u2019s a reliable blocker with good hands who can slide right into Pittsburgh\u2019s tight end room behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: LB Taurean York, OT J.C. Davis, P Brett Thorson<\/p>\n

Matthew Hibner Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Final Thoughts\/Recap<\/p>\n

1.21: OG Olaivavega Ioane
2.53: WR Germie Bernard
2.58: DL Domonique Orange
3.85:\u00a0CB Daylen Everette
3.99: QB Drew Allar
4.126: S Jakobe Thomas
5.151:\u00a0LB Harold Perkins Jr.
7.224:\u00a0WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr.
7.237:\u00a0TE Matthew Hibner<\/p>\n

A pretty balanced draft with five offensive players and four defensive players. My big gripe is not coming away with a tight end sooner, but I do like adding high-potential depth at safety and linebacker in the fourth and fifth rounds. Most of the team\u2019s big needs are addressed early. Trading up for Orange is a bit of a projection but I do think beefing up the trenches is important, though it\u2019s fair to wonder if the Steelers will address the defensive line that early.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, there\u2019s going to be one position that\u2019s taken later than we think, and in this case, with how the board breaks, I have it being tight end.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With the draft less than a week away, I\u2019ve compiled my final Steelers mock draft. Since you all…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":164427,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[31803,67346,63990,60466,68921,63989,75770,75771,75772,66080,73,75,74,995],"class_list":{"0":"post-168285","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-daylen-everette","10":"tag-domonique-orange","11":"tag-drew-allar","12":"tag-emmanuel-henderson-jr","13":"tag-germie-bernard","14":"tag-harold-perkins-jr","15":"tag-jakobe-thomas","16":"tag-matthew-hibner","17":"tag-olaivavega-ioane","18":"tag-pittsburgh","19":"tag-pittsburgh-headlines","20":"tag-pittsburgh-news","21":"tag-trending"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168285","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=168285"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168285\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/164427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}