The Pittsburgh Steelers are flush with draft capital in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Could they use some of those picks to move up? Or will they perhaps trade out and stockpile picks in next year’s draft? Ryan Wilson’s new three-round mock for CBSSports.com suggests the Steelers will move up this year.

Just not from the 21st overall pick. Wilson has the Steelers standing pat with the first pick in the draft and selecting WR Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State.

“If Tyson is healthy, he’s battling for WR1,” Wilson wrote. “In Pittsburgh, he’ll take the Steelers WR room from ‘DK and everybody else’ to ‘three dudes,’ which is great news for Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, or whomever else might be under center in the Steel City.”

The Steelers have already added to that “DK and everybody else” wide receiver room this offseason by trading for WR Michael Pittman Jr. However, one player alone doesn’t fix all of the Steelers’ wide receiver issues. It’s why a lot of people still expect them to pursue a wide receiver in the first round.

Enter Jordyn Tyson. He caught 61 passes for 711 yards and eight touchdowns over nine games in 2025, averaging almost 11.7 yards per catch. When our own Nate Kosko watched Tyson’s tape, he saw Tyson’s speed, which makes him a consistent threat for big plays. That should make Tyson very appealing to the Steelers.

However, Kosko also saw some less-than-ideal traits on tape, too. He questioned Tyson’s play strength, particularly against press corners and while extending plays with the ball in his hand. Kosko noted Tyson’s route running was raw. Thankfully, both issues can be addressed by NFL-level coaching.

Whoever is under center, both in 2026 and beyond, will appreciate the Steelers adding Jordyn Tyson.

Speaking of under center, Ryan Wilson had one trade occur in his entire three-round mock. He had the Steelers package a second- and third-round pick (53rd and 76th) and send them to the Seattle Seahawks for the 32nd overall pick. With this pick, the Steelers took Alabama QB Ty Simpson.

“Yes, next year’s QB class is LOADED … but don’t we say that every single year, and every single year it’s never quite as loaded as we all predicted?” Wilson wrote. “Meanwhile, midway through the season, we talked about Simpson being in the running for QB1 until injuries changed the conversation.”

Ty Simpson started 2025 hot in his first (and only) year as the Crimson Tide’s starter, despite floundering in the season opener against Florida State University. Through Alabama’s first seven games, Simpson threw 18 touchdown passes to just one interception. However, things changed during the Crimson Tide’s eighth game. In the third quarter of that game, South Carolina pass rusher Dylan Stewart hit Simpson. He reportedly hurt his back on the play and was never right the rest of the season.

So, how would Ty Simpson have fared the rest of the season without his back injury? Analyst Dan Orlovsky still thinks he’s the best quarterback in the draft. If Orlovsky’s right, packaging a second- and third-round pick to get him at the end of the first would be stellar.

However, beat writer Ray Fittipaldo doesn’t believe the Steelers are all-in on Ty Simpson. They’ve certainly done homework on him, though. Perhaps if he fell further than expected, the Steelers would make a move.

Thanks to the Simpson trade-up, the Steelers don’t have a second-round pick in this scenario. They waited until the 85th overall pick, in the third round, to make another selection. There, Wilson has the Steelers taking OL Gennings Dunker out of Iowa.

Dunker played mostly right tackle for the Hawkeyes in his three years at Iowa. However, most people think he’ll translate much better as a guard. Our very own Jim Hester watched Dunker’s tape, and despite Dunker’s size, Hester sees him profile much better athletically at guard.

The Steelers also need a guard after LG Isaac Seumalo departed in free agency. Plus, the Steelers have committed to getting younger on the offensive line over the last few years. Dunker looks like a Steelers offensive lineman, both in stature and run-blocking acumen.

Finally, Wilson wraps up the Steelers’ third round with them taking Kansas State S VJ Payne.  The Steelers added two safeties in free agency: Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage. However, both profile as downhill, strong-safety types.

Enter Payne. Now, he may not be a big-play kind of guy like former Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick during his All-Pro era. What Jim Hester saw during his tape breakdown of Payne is a steady coverage guy who limits big plays. The Steelers could use a steady presence on the back end. Payne has spent most of his career snaps at strong safety, but has experience playing free safety and cornerback. He has played 1,178 snaps at strong safety, 619 at free safety, 540 in the slot, and 41 at outside corner. He may not be an elite cover safety, but he brings coverage experience, which is good late in the third round.