Way to Early Steelers 2026 NFL Draft Needs
This one’s for the draft sickos like myself—those of us who spend months deep in tape, mock drafts, and scouting reports… only to take a single day after the draft ends before diving headfirst into next year’s class.
In this article, I’m taking a way-too-early look at what potential holes the Steelers could be facing on their roster by the time the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around. Of course, this is all pure speculation, with zero insight into how the 2025/26 season or free agency will play out.
Still, I’ll toss out a few names at each projected position of need—keeping in mind that, as always, things can change fast. Just look at where we were a year ago, when Georgia’s Carson Beck was widely considered a potential No. 1 pick. Now? He’s transferred to Miami and will be hoping to starting fresh in 2025.
Let’s dive in anyway.
Quarterback:
As it stands post-draft, the Steelers’ quarterback room consists of Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and sixth-round pick Will Howard. There’s also continued buzz about the team potentially bringing in Aaron Rodgers for the 2025 season. If that move materializes—and Rodgers is indeed on a one-year deal—the Steelers could enter the 2026 offseason with the exact same QB situation they have now, minus a long-term solution.
That would make it pretty easy to connect the dots: if Rodgers is a short-term fix, most of Steelers Nation will be expecting the team to go quarterback in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’s worth noting the Steelers are projected to have 11 picks next year, thanks in part to the four compensatory selections they earned from 2025 free agency losses. Add to that the fact that the city of Pittsburgh will be hosting the 2026 NFL Draft, and you’ve got quite the storyline brewing—a potential opportunity for the team to select the future face of the franchise on their home turf.
Some of the names who could be coming out: Arch Manning (Texas), Nico Iamaleava (UCLA), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Drew Allar (Penn State), Cade Klubnick (Clemson), Carson Beck (Miami) and John Mateer (Oklahoma)
Wide Receiver:
The 2025 receiver class hasn’t had huge hype at the top of the draft, so teams around the NFL who need playmakers on the outside will be hoping that the 2026 class carries some more high-end talent and depth through Days 2 and 3.
The Steelers, come this time next year, could be one of those teams. Two of their top three current players at the position — Calvin Austin and George Pickens — are going into the final year of their rookie deals with the franchise. This is coupled with the uncertainty surrounding Roman Wilson, who was clearly injured for the majority of last season. This could leave them in a position where, if they don’t re-up either Pickens or Austin III, the Steelers may be in need of some serious reinforcements alongside DK Metcalf.
Some of the names who could be coming out: Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Nyck Harbor (South Carolina), Eugene Wilson III (Florida), Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M) and Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
Corner Back:
The Steelers didn’t really address the cornerback position in the 2025 class, outside of seventh-round pick Donte Kent, who is viewed primarily as a slot corner. With the signing of Darius Slay this offseason being a one-year deal, the Steelers will likely head into 2026 with just Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice on the outside.
When it comes to Porter Jr., we believe he’s probably good enough to be a CB1 in the NFL, but he’ll need to show a resurgence in form during the 2025 season. As for Trice, it’s all about health. Coming out of the 2023 draft — where he fell to the seventh round due to injuries — he’s shown flashes of promise in his limited time on the field. However, he has sustained multiple injuries during his tenure with the Steelers so far which has limited progression. These factors leave the clear possibility that corner could be a position of need come 2026.
Some of the names who could be coming out: Jermod McCoy (Tennessee), Avieon Terrell (Clemson), Malik Muhammad (Texas), A.J. Harris (Penn State) and D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana)
As I’ve said already — but I’ll say it again — these are just names we know of based on information from the 2024 college football season, and in some cases, they’re purely projections. The same goes for the Steelers’ potential needs — it’s all early speculation, so take it with a grain of salt.
But for anyone out there who loves the process like I do, let me know if there are any names at these positions you think could be early picks! Or even different potential needs the Steelers might have 365 days from now?
Consider including
guard and safety.
Agree. With guard a higher priority, imo.
I agree, I was surprised there was no investment along the line during this years draft
I’m all in on Cade Klubnik. Dual threat and a great leader/high character guy.
Personally I haven’t seen loads of Cade, but at this very very early stage of the process I am big on LaNorris Sellers. Big arm, elite athlete, awesome in the pocket, and he has great intangibles
Quarterback first, of course, and then who knows?
Possible starting position openings:
Doc, I’d add in Elliott at S, he’s 28 and plays a physical style.
Yep certainly lots of questions to be answered, I expect them to trade up for their QB and then still have maybe 8 of their 11 picks in next years class to fill in those holes plus FA
Selfishly, as a Pitt fan, I don’t like the thought of a Penn State QB playing for the Steelers. Heck, I can still barely bring myself to cheer for Pat Freiermuth. Oh well, if it happens, it happens.
Forgetting the Steelers for a moment, Arch Manning could be an interesting case study on NIL. There are rumors that he would be in line for about $10 million in NIL next year (2026 season). Cam Ward is expected to make almost $9 million this year. I know it’s a long way off and a lot of things can happen between now and then but might Manning be the first player to opt out of the NFL because they are making just as much, if not more, in college? It’s probably bound to happen at some point.
As a Pitt grad, Penn State QBs should be avoided altogether. NIL is what it is. Love of money, it can bite you, ask Iamaleava. He’s another “no go”, for me.
Personally I am not huge on Allar at this point of the process and have other names in mind, but at the end of the day whoever is the best prospect when they are on the board is who would want them to take
My two cents? I can’t see it happening with a guy like Manning. He’d be looking at a one year 10M deal. He’s absolutely getting more total money than that as a high first round draft pick in the NFL. Also, if you gamble playing out that last year in NIL, you could get injured and not make the pros, at all.
I think the more likely player that stays is one that’ll be a late round pick or UDFA whose NFL life is gonna be bouncing around as a depth player that never dresses or a practice squad guy. If that guy is a good college player / fan favorite at school X he’s likely smarter to take an NIL deal.
Such as Carson Beck.
Garrett Nussmeier from LSU should probably be somewhere in the middle of your QB list. It’ll be interesting when the time comes, to see whether they use those compensatory picks to bring a full boat from the draft or leverage them to move up at the top.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s in 2026 I hope Steelers Omar Khan already traded George Pickens for a high 2026 draft pick and I also hope both CB Joey Porter Jr. and CB Cory Trice Jr. are starting at CB 2nd draft a replacement for Cameron Heyward draft a safety to help out Minkah Fitzpatrick and a slot safety to cover the tight ends and running backs and a quarterback, wide receiver
Best offer so far for GP was 4th round pick from Dallas, if report is to be believed. GP would be wise to grow up a bit for all concerned, including himself.