The Pittsburgh Steelers’ home city will host the 2026 NFL Draft for the first time ever. It is an exciting moment for the Steel City, but drama is also unfolding as Mike McCarthy becomes only the fourth head coach in Steelers history since 1969. As the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine got underway, Steelers General Manager Omar Khan spoke with the media, giving fans more clarity on where the organization stands in this new era.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy and General Manager Omar Khan during his introductory press conference in January 2026.
The Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They also possess a wealth of draft capital, with 12 selections in total. The greatest news for Pittsburgh is the simple fact, five of those 12 fall within the top 100. This gives Khan and McCarthy a rare opportunity to significantly retool the roster ahead of the 2026 season through the draft. Free agency is also about to begin, offering additional chances to improve the team, but many expect the bulk of the heavy lifting to occur during McCarthy’s first draft.
Steelers insider Mike DeFabo shared some of the names the team’s brass met with at the Combine. Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a potential first-round pick, Penn State’s Drew Allar, and Miami’s Carson Beck all met with Pittsburgh and, according to DeFabo, had very positive meetings. DeFabo also revealed that Pittsburgh met, both formally and informally, with numerous wide receivers, cornerbacks, defensive linemen, safeties, and offensive linemen.Â
“The Steelers met formally with three quarterbacks this week: Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a potential first-round pick, Penn State’s Drew Allar and Miami’s Carson Beck. I heard from several people that all three had positive meetings,” DeFabo said. “At least above the neck, they put their best foot forward. The team also met formally and informally with a ton of wide receivers and corners, many defensive linemen, some safeties and offensive linemen. None of that should be a surprise really, given their needs. (The inside linebackers also performed very well in on-field testing).”
He added a note of caution for Steelers fans trying to read too much into the interviews, pointing out that some meetings were reportedly part of a process of elimination.Â
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Former Miami Hurricanes QB Carson Beck looks on during the National Championship game.
DeFabo didn’t reveal which names may have been part of the process of elimination, but the possibility itself is intriguing. Steelers fans are now left speculating which players may have been interviewed solely to be removed from the team’s draft board.
“One thing to keep in mind: If the Steelers met with a specific player, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re more interested in him,” DeFabo said. “Without naming names, the interview process also crossed a few players off their list.”
As Pittsburgh prepares to host its first-ever NFL Draft, the spotlight is firmly on the Steelers’ front office and coaching staff. McCarthy’s arrival marks a rare turning point for a franchise that has seen remarkable stability at the head coaching position, and his first draft represents a key opportunity to shape the team’s future.Â
Steelers Set To Make Significant Impact In 2026 NFL Draft
With 12 picks in hand, including five in the top 100, McCarthy and Khan have the tools to make a significant impact, whether through high-profile selections or strategic depth additions. The combine interviews, both positive and possibly part of a process of elimination, hint at the careful evaluation underway, leaving fans both excited and curious.Â
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan looks on as the team sets up in front of fans to workout at the annual Friday Night Lights training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
While free agency offers additional paths to improvement, the draft remains the centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s roster-building strategy. For Steelers supporters, this is a moment of anticipation, speculation, and hope that will define the team’s trajectory for years to come.
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