The 2026 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday, April 23, when the first round begins in Pittsburgh. The second and third rounds will take place on Friday, April 24, followed by rounds four through seven on Saturday, April 25.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the more intriguing NFL franchises, as they traditionally like to build through the draft. With five picks over the first two days, will the Steelers be able to drastically improve their roster and return to postseason glory?
Below, we’ll put together a Steelers 2026 NFL Mock Draft for the first three rounds, which includes five selections. Plus, some of the 2026 NFL Draft predictions can be directly made as picks on PrizePicks.
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Steelers 2026 NFL Mock Draft
The Steelers have an abundance of draft capital in 2026, paced by the 21st overall pick in the first round. Pittsburgh has selected in the No. 20 to No. 24 range in four of the last five NFL Drafts, so finding value will be a theme once again for the iconic AFC franchise.
Trading up is always a possibility, and the organization has done so recently. Penn State OT Olaivavega Ioane and USC WR Makai Lemon, who are both top 15 prospects on our 2026 NFL Draft Big Board, make a ton of sense, but the Steelers would likely have to move up in the draft to select them.
For the purpose of this exercise, we will assume that the Steelers are staying put at No. 21 in the first round and beyond.
Here’s a list of Pittsburgh’s selections in the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft:
- Round 1: Pick 21
- Round 2: Pick 53
- Round 3: Pick 76
- Round 3: Pick 85
- Round 3: Pick 99
Who could the Steelers target with their first three selections? Let’s dive into how the team could draft with our Steelers 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
All 2026 NFL Draft payout data is from PrizePicks Team Picks. It's live as of writing but is subject to change.
Round 1, Pick 21: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Pittsburgh’s offensive line allowed 48 sacks throughout the 2025 season, which was the sixth-most across the NFL. According to Sumer Sports, QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked 5.22% of the time, ranking 11th in the NFL.
With Rodgers likely to return as the team’s starting quarterback, it would make a ton of sense to improve in the trenches.
After all, G Isaac Seumalo signed with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency, leaving a hole on the offensive line. In addition, 2023 first-round pick OT Broderick Jones has struggled at times, with a 57.7 overall grade (70th out of 89 offensive linemen) from Pro Football Focus in 2025. Jones is also currently recovering from offseason spinal fusion surgery.
Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor will likely be one of the top offensive linemen off the board, holding a 3.44x payout for “Yes” to be the first offensive lineman drafted (second-shortest payout) on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Proctor had a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 5.21 40-yard dash, recording a 32.5-inch vertical jump, and a 9'1” broad jump. According to Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar, Proctor became the first 350+-pound offensive lineman to tally at least a 32-inch vertical jump.
The Crimson Tide standout boasts versatility on the line, as he could slot in at tackle or guard, depending on the system. At the very least, the Steelers will likely have an open spot at guard, which could lead to playing time for Proctor out of the gate.
Pittsburgh First Position Drafted: Offensive Linemen – Yes 2.08x | No 1.21x
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Round 2, Pick 53: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
The Steelers made a steady effort to upgrade the wide receiver position in the last two offseasons. The team acquired WR DK Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025, followed by trading for Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason.
While adding Pittman to a solid complement to Metcalf, Pittsburgh saw speedy WR Calvin Austin III sign with the New York Giants in free agency. As a result, spending an early draft pick on the position certainly wouldn’t be out of the question.
Brazzell showed off his electric speed at the NFL Combine when he turned in a time of 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which tied for eighth among wide receivers. The Tennessee star wideout possesses the perfect combination of size (6’4") and speed, allowing him to be a downfield threat.
The Volunteers took a big leap in 2025 as he hauled in a career-high 62 passes for 1,017 yards and 9 TDs as a junior. Brazzell also registered four games in which he topped the century mark in receiving yards, including racking up 6 receptions for 177 yards and 3 TDs against Georgia.
Brazzell would be a very nice option in the slot for the Steelers with Metcalf and Pittman playing on the outside. While having a downfield threat is a positive, having a wideout that can also be a possession receiver between the hashmarks could be a huge benefit for this Pittsburgh offense.
Pittsburgh First Position Drafted: Wide Receiver – Yes 2.32x | No 1.23x
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Round 3, Pick 76: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
It’s no secret that the Steelers have been searching for their franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. The team thought they had their future signal-caller in former first-round pick Kenny Pickett, but that failed to pan out.
The Aaron Rodgers experiment was fairly successful during the 2025 season, and it appears that the veteran could return for another campaign, especially since his former Green Bay Packers head coach, Mike McCarthy, is now at the helm. However, at 42 years old, Rodgers likely doesn’t have much tread left on his tires.
Selecting a quarterback in the first round seems unlikely, given that there aren’t really any first-round prospects outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. However, given that the Steelers have three third-round picks, it won’t be surprising to see the franchise take a swing on a QB on Day 2.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is an option that could fit the bill. Nussmeier certainly has a ton of upside, but he dealt with multiple injuries in 2025 that limited his production under center.
Nussmeier averaged just 6.4 air yards per target in 2025, which ranked 130th in the FBS. This came after throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior in 2024.
If Nussmeier can stay healthy, the potential is there to be a talented quarterback down the road. For a team that has Mason Rudolph and Will Howard behind Rodgers, Nussmeier is the type of prospect worth taking a chance on.
Team to Draft Garrett Nussmeier: Pittsburgh – Yes 1.63x | No N/A
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Round 3, Pick 85: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
While linebacker is likely not Pittsburgh’s top priority, this is a position that the franchise has valued over the years. As a result, adding some depth to its linebacking core wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibilities.
In fact, the Steelers could choose to select a linebacker that’s right in their own backyard in the form of Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis.
Over three seasons in Pittsburgh, Louis racked up 198 tackles (93 solo), 10 sacks, 6 INTs, and 2 forced fumbles. The Panthers star may be a bit undersized (6’1" & 220 pounds), but he has impressive speed and athleticism that allow him to always find the football.
Louis likely projects as an outside linebacker at the NFL level. Obviously, the Steelers have a few very talented ones in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but securing depth in the front seven is never a bad thing.
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Round 3, Pick 99: Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
After beginning the draft with three picks on offense, it’s difficult to imagine the Steelers will continue to ignore the defensive side of the ball.
DT Cameron Heyward is still extremely productive at the position, but he will be 37 years old by the time the 2026 season begins. As a result, it wouldn’t hurt to add a defensive tackle to the rotation on day two.
Florida State DT Darrell Jackson Jr. began his career at Maryland with a stop at Miami but finally found his home at FSU over the past two seasons. In 2025, Jackson had his most productive season with a career-best 44 tackles (11 solo) and 1 sack for the Seminoles.
At 6’5" and 315 pounds, Jackson provides a huge interior presence and can occupy the line of scrimmage. He excels at slowing down opposing running backs and does so with a very long reach.
Pittsburgh has had a knack for developing talented defensive linemen, and the potential is there for Jackson.
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The Steelers may aim to improve on the offensive side of the ball in the 2026 NFL Draft. Will Pittsburgh spend most of its early-round picks on offense?
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