The Pittsburgh Steelers under GM Omar Khan did some wheeling and dealing in the first week of free agency, making some splash moves to help the roster for the 2026 season take shape.
Though some holes still remain for now, particularly along the offensive line and on special teams, things are looking up for the Black and Gold after the likes of Michael Pittman Jr., Jamel Dean, Rico Dowdle, Darnell Savage, Jaquan Brisker, and Sebastian Joseph-Day were added via trade or free agency.
Others like Asante Samuel Jr. and Esezi Otomewo were re-signed, and Cameron Heyward landed a revised deal with an extension.
Quite a bit of business has happened, and more moves will be made in the coming weeks. But for now, I’m shifting my attention back toward the 2026 NFL Draft. The Steelers have 12 picks to work with, and while Khan and Co. could trade up or down throughout the three-day draft, I didn’t do that here in my latest mock draft.
I continue to assume that Aaron Rodgers will be back for a second season and that the Steelers won’t spend a first-round pick on a quarterback after they’ve hyped up Will Howard all offseason. I believe there will be a great emphasis on the trenches on both sides of the football once again, too.
Below is my latest mock draft, post-free agency edition.
ROUND 1 (21ST OVERALL) – WR KC CONCEPCION, TEXAS A&M
Analysis: Even with the trade for Michael Pittman Jr., the Steelers still need to continue adding dynamic play-making abilities  to the wide receiver room. Pittman himself said as much Friday. The Steelers need speed and the ability to create after the catch in the wide receiver room, and Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion brings both of those in abundance.
Though he had some focus drops during his time at Texas A&M in 2025, he was an explosive playmaker for the Aggies, earning All-American honors as a punt returner, while also nearly eclipsing 1,000 yards as a receiver. He’s slippery after the catch and is tough to get a good clean shot on, which helps him survive at his size of 5115, 196 pounds. He’s drawn some comparisons to Randall Cobb, so that has to be enticing for Mike McCarthy as his first draft pick.
Others considered: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State; Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee; Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Previous selection: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington (version 1.0)
ROUND 2 (53RD OVERALL) — iOL GENNINGS DUNKER, IOWA
Analysis: After losing Isaac Seumalo in free agency to the Arizona Cardinals, the Steelers appear set to lean on Spencer Anderson to be the starting left guard moving forward. He’s earned that opportunity, but with a new offensive line coaching staff in James Campen and Jahri Evans, the Steelers need to add some additional high-end talent to the room. Iowa’s Gennings Dunker just feels like a Steeler.
He already looks great in the Black and Gold from his time at Iowa, and though he was a standout tackle for the Hawkeyes, he projects betters on the interior at guard. Slotting him in next to Zach Frazier for the foreseeable future would be very intriguing. He’s a mauler up front and is just so sound in the run game and in pass protection.
Others considered: Chase Bisontis, iOL, Texas A&M; Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama; Keionte Scott, CB, Miami (FL)
Previous selection: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (version 1.0)
Gennings Dunker Scouting Report
ROUND 3 (76TH OVERALL, FROM COWBOYS) — CB DAYLEN EVERETTE, GEORGIA
Analysis: Yes, the Steelers made a splash signing with Jamel Dean at cornerback and did well to re-sign Asante Samuel Jr., but both of those are essentially one-year deals. Losing James Pierre in free agency hurt, both from a defensive and special teams perspective. The Steelers need depth at the position — and young depth, too.
That’s where Georgia’s Daylen Everette comes into the picture as an early target for me. He’s another player the Steelers had a formal meeting with at the Combine, and the Steelers tend to love their Georgia guys. The Steelers also tend to like big, long physical corners, and that’s exactly what Everette is. He’s good in man coverage but needs some development in zone, and needs to clean up some of his technique that led to penalties at Georgia. In Pittsburgh’s CB room, he wouldn’t be pressed into action right away, which would allow him to develop properly under new secondary coaches Joe Whitt Jr. and Jason Simmons.
Others considered: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame; Mike Washington, RB, Arkansas; Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
Previous selection: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU (version 1.0)
Daylen Everette Scouting Report
ROUND 3 (85TH OVERALL) — QB DREW ALLAR, PENN STATE
Analysis: All signs continue to point to Aaron Rodgers returning for a second season, and there still remains a great deal of hype for Will Howard in the Steelers’ building. But I just can’t buy that Pittsburgh would put a ton of chips in the developmental basket of Howard, and pass on taking a swing on a quarterback with one of their three third-round picks this year.
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier makes some sense, as does Miami (FL)’s Carson Beck. But landing Penn State’s Drew Allar is a big swing worth taking for McCarthy and the Steelers. When Allar is on his game, he looks like a true franchise quarterback. He has all the tools: size, strength in the pocket, arm strength and accuracy. The issue is, he was far too inconsistent.
Still, with those tools and the foundation Allar has to work with, McCarthy as a QB whisperer could do wonders with him. This might be a pick that upsets many reading this, and it’s understandable. But Allar’s tools are far too intriguing for me.
Others considered: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama; Carson Beck, QB, Miami (FL), Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
Previous selection: Darrell Jackson Jr., DL, Florida State (version 1.0)
ROUND 3 (99TH OVERALL — COMPENSATORY) — OT MARKEL BELL, MIAMI (FL)
Analysis: Left tackle is a major question mark for the Pittsburgh Steelers with Broderick Jones’ health up in the air after a season-ending neck injury, and Dylan Cook’s future unknown as an inexperienced player. Knowing that, this is a bit later than I would have ideally liked to address the position, but landing a developmental piece that is a true ball of clay in Miami (FL) left tackle Markel Bell is a nice addition here.
Bell was recently an official pre-draft visitor for the Steelers, so there is obviously interest, especially for new offensive line coaches James Campen and Jahri Evans. Measuring in at 6092, 346 pounds, they don’t make many bigger than that. He also has 36 3/8-inch arms, so the length is preposterous. He had a strong 2025 season with the Hurricanes and was stout in their run to the national championship game, but he still has a lot of work to do in pass protection. The size and the athletic traits are definitely worth taking a swing on.
Others considered: Genesis Smith, S, Arizona; Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas; Markel Bell, OT, Miami (FL)
Previous selection: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson (version 1.0)
ROUND 4 (121ST OVERALL) — WR/KR KADEN WETJEN, IOWA
Analysis: Losing Calvin Austin III to the New York Giants hurt strictly from a special teams perspective, particularly as a punt returner. Now, the Steelers have a glaring hole in the return game. While Antonio Williams can provide some answers there, having your third receiver, one who should play a lot of offensive snaps, as your main return man doesn’t seem all that smart.
Landing the hands-down best return man in the country two years in a row in the NFL Draft does seem smart, though. That would be Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen. He won the Jet Award in back-to-back years, becoming the first player to ever do that. He doesn’t bring much to the table as a receiver right now, but he is coming from the Iowa offense, so there’s a real chance that was holding him back as a slot receiver some. He’s going to make his mark in the NFL in the return game though. With a major emphasis on special teams once again across the league, the Steelers should be wise to invest in a kick and punt returner. They won’t find one better in the draft than Wetjen.
He was one of the most dynamic weapons in all of college football last season, then dominated at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Get new special teams coordinator Danny Crossman a game-changing weapon here.
Others considered: Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State; Bud Clark, S, TCU; Tauren York, LB, Texas A&M
Previous selection: Bud Clark, S, TCU (version 1.0)
ROUND 4 (135TH OVERALL, COMPENSATORY) — DL DEMONTE CAPEHART, CLEMSON
Analysis: Full disclosure — I was initially eyeing defensive line in the first round when I was initially putting this mock together, specifically Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald. Then, Khan and the Steelers signed Sebastian Joseph-Day Friday afternoon, shoring up the depth chart for 2026. They need to keep adding youth to the room though, and Clemson’s DeMonte Capehart is a name that is rising in recent weeks.
He didn’t have much production at Clemson and didn’t stand out all that much at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl. But then he had a strong Combine and Pro Day, generating a lot of buzz, sending many back to the tape. He can play up and down the line of scrimmage and is a solid player against the run, leaning into his power. He doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher right now, but checking in at 6047, 313 with 33 7/8-inch arms, he’s worth a look, especially with a compensatory pick here.
Others considered: Harold Perkins, LB, LSU; Tim Keenan II, DL, Alabama; Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU
Previous selection: Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State (version 1.0)
DeMonte Capehart Scouting Report
ROUND 5 (161ST OVERALL) — CB EPHESIANS PRYSOCK, WASHINGTON
Analysis: Double dipping here at cornerback. It might be a bit head-scratching for some, considering Dean and Samuel will be around and play quite a bit with Joey Porter Jr. in 2026. But depth is still an issue, and this selection — much like Daylen Everette earlier — is with an eye on the future.
The Steelers recently hosted Washington cornerback Ephesians Prysock for an official pre-draft visit, and the interest makes sense as Prysock is another long, physical cornerback. He measured in at the Combine at 6033, 196 pounds with 33 1/8-inch arms. That is elite length and size for the position. He’s still relatively raw at the position, but you can’t teach that size. Landing him as a developmental piece could go a long way in the future for the Steelers.
Others considered: Michael Taffe, S, Texas; Skylar Gill-Howard, DL, Texas Tech; Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
Previous selection: Ar’maj Reed-Adams, iOL, Texas A&M (version 1.0)
Ephesians Prysock Scouting Report
ROUND 6 (216TH OVERALL, COMPENSATORY) — LB RED MURDOCK, BUFFALO
Analysis: Yes, the Steelers surprisingly re-signed Cole Holcomb, and trade rumors continue to swirl about Patrick Queen, though they appear to be unfounded at the time. So, for now, inside linebacker looks strong on paper. That said, they need some youth and some play-making, and Buffalo’s Red Murdock brings that in abundance.
Murdock set the all-time college record for forced fumbles in a career with 17 and had 130+ tackles in each of the last two seasons. He’s been dealing with a high-ankle injury since the end of his final season at Buffalo, which caused him to miss the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Combine. But he has terrific tape and can be that downhill thumper the Steelers need, all while providing a key special teams piece alongside Carson Bruener moving forward. He’d be an upgrade over Malik Harrison.
Others considered: Desmond Reid, RB, Pittsburgh; Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana; Pat Coogan, iOL, Indiana
Previous selection: James Thompson, DL, Illinois (version 1.0)
ROUND 7 (224TH OVERALL, FROM PATRIOTS) — FB/TE MAX BREDESON, MICHIGAN
Analysis: With Connor Heyward signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, and McCarthy having a role for a fullback within his offense everywhere he’s gone, the Steelers have a need. They can dip into the Michigan well they like so much and land a player with NFL bloodlines in FB/TE Max Bredeson.
Bredeson is the younger brother of former Ravens and current Buccaneers lineman Ben Bredeson, so he checks that box for the organization. He’s tough as nails and was considered the heart and soul of Michigan’s last two football teams. He’s much better suited for a fullback role, can catch the football out of the backfield and can be a core special teams piece, which is an area the Steelers need to address moving forward.
Others considered: Eric Gentry, LB, USC; Fa’alili Fa’amoe, OT, Wake Forest; Riley Nowakowski, FB/TE, Indiana
Previous selection: Xavian Sorey Jr., LB, Arkansas (version 1.0)
ROUND 7 (230TH OVERALL, FROM COLTS) — S LORENZO STYLES, OHIO STATE
Analysis: The brother of Ohio State star linebacker Sonny Styles, a likely top 10 pick, Lorenzo Styles is no slouch in his own right. He had a dominant Combine showing, too, and is the son of a former Pittsburgh-area high school football star. Though the Steelers did sign Darnell Savage and Jaquan Brisker at the position, I like taking a swing here on a height/weight/speed athlete in the secondary.
He was a valuable piece for Ohio State in recent years, holding down a depth role, and can provide special teams snaps early on in his rookie contract. He’d have to compete with someone like Sebastian Castro for the special teams role at safety, but with his athleticism and speed, I’d give Styles the edge. He can even develop into that serviceable single-high deep safety, too.
Others considered: Jaedyn Lukas, CB, Clemson; Deven Eastern, DL, Minnesota; Ceyair Wright, CB, Nebraska
Previous selection: Riley Nowakowski, FB/TE, Indiana (version 1.0)
Lorenzo Styles Scouting ReportÂ
ROUND 7 (237TH OVERALL) — iOL MICAH MORRIS, GEORGIA
Analysis: Taking one last swing here on the offensive line from a depth perspective, much like I did in my first mock draft of the year. This time, I’m taking another interior offensive lineman in Georgia’s Micah Morris, a guy I really liked at the East-West Shrine Bowl and circled as a name to watch moving forward as one of those late-round guys.
Morris measured in at 6052, 344 at the Combine with 33 5/8-inch arms. He’s a huge body that moves very well for his size, both in the run game and mirroring in pass protection. He can play left and right guard, and he brings a ton of strength and physicality to the table. He’d be a guy worth trying to sneak onto the practice squad and continue to develop for future seasons this late in the draft.
Others considered: Riley Mahlman, OT, Wisconsin; Dillon Bell, WR, Georgia; DeVonta Smith, CB, Notre Dame
Previous selection: Riley Mahlman, OT, Wisconsin (version 1.0)