Put Bryant McFadden in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft and he’ll come away with a receiver at the top followed by defensive help and a hopeful quarterback of the future. McFadden teamed up with CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson to build what they dubbed the “perfect” Steelers 7-round mock draft (at least, per the title of the video) to fix the franchise.

At No. 21, the pair agreed to draft Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson.

“His tape is hot. And also, we have inside intel about Jordyn Tyson because two-time Super Bowl winner Hines Ward has been coaching him the past few years at Arizona State,” McFadden said, banging the table to take him.

When healthy, Tyson’s tape was as productive and quality as anyone’s even if a recent poll of scouts questioned his talent. Nagging injuries, especially a hamstring issue, plagued him throughout the 2025 season and pre-draft process. He didn’t work out at the NFL Combine or Arizona State’s recent Pro Day. Instead, he’ll hold a private workout for scouts on April 17, days before the NFL Draft. Teams will need to feel comfortable with him medically to select him in the first round.

In the second round, McFadden addressed the Steelers’ secondary with Miami (FL) DB Keionte Scott.

“We’re drafting him to play that inside spot at the nickel, dime situation,” he said.

A versatile and physical defensive back, Scott may be best served playing inside to mitigate a lack of top-end speed. In 2025, Scott’s numbers were gaudy with 13 tackles for a loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pick-sixes.

McFadden stuck with defense with the Steelers’ first pick in the third round, selecting LB Anthony Hill Jr.

“Patrick Queen has one year left on his deal,” McFadden pointed out. “Anthony Hill is very, very athletic off-ball linebacker…I love Anthony’s physical mindset.”

Strong value in the third round, Hill broke out in 2024 with 16.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks. His 2025 numbers regressed but he still tallied seven TFLs and four sacks along with a pair of picks. Hill may not have a huge rookie role but could start in 2027.

McFadden couldn’t help but take a Florida State player in DL Darrell Jackson with the next third-round pick.

“I think he’s going to be a better pro than college player,” he said.

Well-built and looking like a Steelers defensive lineman at 6-5, 315 with nearly 35-inch arms, Jackson had only 12 career TFL and 7.5 sacks. McFadden is banking on a new coaching staff bringing the best out in Jackson to have production match physical traits.

With the Steelers’ final pick of the third round, McFadden shifted back to offense and took a quarterback – Miami (FL)’s Carson Beck.

“I think he goes in the second round,” Wilson said.

The two spent less time discussing the Beck pick than you might expect, the two debating if Beck or Will Howard was the better prospect coming out of school. Wilson leaned Beck, McFadden leaned Howard. A UCL injury’s sapped Beck of his arm strength, but his experience and pedigree are parts of his game to admire. Pittsburgh’s brought Beck in for a pre-draft visit, meaning McFadden’s pick could soon become reality.

In the fourth round, McFadden selected Georgia TE Oscar Delp and Alabama OG Jaeden Roberts. In the fifth, he tabbed Memphis OT Travis Burke, a hot name with more than a half-dozen pre-draft visits, before landing Utah EDGE Logan Fano in the sixth (similar to my last mock, where I had him in the seventh). With a trio of seventh rounders, McFadden landed on Georgia WR Colbie Young, Miami (FL) S Jakobe Thomas, and Ohio State OG Ethan Onianwa.

Here are the final results.

Round One – Jordyn Tyson/WR Arizona State
Round Two – Keionte Scott/CB Miami (FL)
Round Three – Anthony Hill Jr./ILB Texas
Round Three – Darrell Jackson/DL Florida State
Round Three – Carson Beck/QB Miami (FL)
Round Four – Oscar Delp/TE Georgia
Round Four – Jaeden Roberts/OG Alabama
Round Five – Travis Burke/OT Memphis
Round Six – Logan Fano/EDGE Utah
Round Seven – Colbie Young/WR Georgia
Round Seven – Jakobe Thomas/S Miami (FL)
Round Seven – Ethan Onianwa/OG Ohio State

In a word, McFadden’s draft is concentrated. Three offensive linemen and two wide receivers make up five of the Steelers’ 12 picks. Three players from Miami (FL) with two from Georgia. Defense at the top with three of the first four picks followed by offense the rest of the way accounting for five of the seven Day 3 selections.

Is it perfect? Maybe not. But it’s an interesting exercise and one with which McFadden seemed happy.