The NFL Draft is finally here, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have to capitalize. They have already shaken up the roster this offseason, adding players like Michael Pittman Jr, Jamel Dean, Jaquan Brisker, and Rico Dowdle, to name a few. Now, it’s time for General Manager Omar Khan and his associates to hit a home run in this draft. Some serious players in this draft class can make a difference in the Steel City.
It doesn’t feel likely that Makai Lemon makes it to the 21st pick, but the Steelers have to run the card if he does. He’s the ideal slot receiver for this offense. Lemon wins more combat catches than he loses. Last year at USC, he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 96.3 yards per game. He was a unanimous All-American and won the Biletnikoff Award. Scouts have pegged his NFL player comparison as Amon-Ra St. Brown. It would be hard to pass that up if it’s available.
The Steelers signed Brock Hoffman, but they still need to make guard a priority in the draft. Chase Bisontis is a tough guard with heavy hands and ideal length. He can adjust and land against moving targets, according to NFL scouts. His footwork is good, but he can get excitable and sloppy at times. Last season, Bisontis played all 13 games and started 12 of them at left guard for Texas A&M. In an ideal world, Pittsburgh gets Olaivavega Ioane at 21, but if they can’t, Bisontis is a good backup plan.
It’s not a secret that the Steelers are thin at linebacker. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson are pegged to be their starters, but beyond that, it gets scary. Drafting one early would be a smart idea. Josiah Trotter could be their guy. He stacks backfield production with well-timed blitzes and good rush work. His coverage abilities are a big question mark, but if Patrick Graham can keep him away from running backs and tight ends, he can be successful. Last season at Missouri, Trotter racked up 13 tackles for loss and two sacks.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Pittsburgh to double-dip at wide receiver in this draft. The current room is D.K. Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr, and Roman Wilson. Ted Hurst could be the Calvin Austin replacement, at 6’3”. He’s a vertical wideout with blazing speed, as he showed at the NFL Combine with a 4.43 40-yard dash. Last season at Georgia State, Hurst caught 71 passes for 1,001 yards and six touchdowns. In 2024, he caught nine touchdowns. Adding him and Lemon to the receiver room would be a big boost.
Although the Steelers would be better off finding their quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, it feels like they want to get one in this draft. Art Rooney II has said that they aren’t taking a quarterback in the first round. One of the mid-round guys could be a lottery ticket worth scratching. Drew Allar isn’t a perfect quarterback, but he would be a fun project for Mike McCarthy if they aren’t confident in Will Howard. It’s all about throwing darts until they find the next franchise quarterback.
This draft can be a fun one for the Steelers. The signings that they made during the free agency period make them flexible in the first round to an extent. There is a strong chance that Pittsburgh is active in the trade market on Thursday night and throughout the draft. They have a league-leading 12 draft picks, but there is no chance that they sign 12 rookies. It wouldn’t hurt to move some picks to get another pick in the higher rounds. The 2026 NFL Draft is going to be fun.
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