Mock draft season is rolling along across the NFL media landscape, and just a few weeks separate the league from the start of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers under GM Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl, all the vital information regarding the players in the draft class is gathered. Now, it’s about setting the draft boards, and hosting a few more players for pre-draft visits to get to know them a bit better, helping shape that board.

From a roster perspective, it’s clear what positions the Steelers need to address amid a busy offseason.

In the latest three-round mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., Field Yates, Jordan Reid, and Matt Miller, which saw the analysts alternate picks, the Steelers came away with players who address those needs, and even double-dipped on Penn State products, too.

In the three-round mock, the Steelers came away with the following players:

Round 1 – Olaivavega Ioane, iOL, Penn State
Round 2 – Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Round 3 – A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
Round 3 – Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Round 3 – Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State

The left side of the offensive line and wide receiver remain Steelers needs. Quarterback is a clear area of need as well as the franchise continues to wait on a decision from Aaron Rodgers, though talks sound like they are trending in a positive direction.

Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane has been a popular name connected to the Steelers throughout the pre-draft process, especially with the Steelers losing left guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency to the Arizona Cardinals. 

Like he did in his latest mock draft, Kiper paired the Steelers with Ioane at No. 21 overall.

“Let’s assume Aaron Rodgers is coming back to town and wait on the QBs. Instead, here is the Steelers’ Isaac Seumalo replacement,” Kiper writes of the selection. “Ioane is a powerful people mover who hasn’t allowed a sack since 2023.”

Ioane, as arguably the best offensive lineman in the draft, is a plug-and-play guy who could be an All-Pro talent in the trenches. He would bolster the left side of the offensive line in a hurry.

In the second round, Kiper had the Steelers’ pick once again, and paired them with Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II, a height/weight/speed guy who can take the top off defenses.

“Not enough value on the QB3 candidates here, so I’m going to continue building up the rest of the offense. Brazzell is 6-foot-4 with 4.37 speed and really good hands,” Kiper writes. “DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr. and Brazzell could be a dangerous pass-catching trio.”

Brazzell can do a bit of everything, which would complement Metcalf and Pittman well. He’s been connected to the Steelers at times, including in Miller’s latest seven-round mock draft, where he paired Brazzell with the Steelers in the third round.

In this mock draft, safety, quarterback and defensive line were addressed with the three third-round picks Pittsburgh holds.

At No. 76 overall, Yates paired the Steelers with LSU safety A.J. Haulcy before Kiper swung big on quarterback at No. 85, landing Penn State’s Drew Allar. 

Drew Allar measured in at 6’5”, 228lbs and has the BIGGEST ARM in the 2026 NFL Draft, and one of the biggest we’ve ever seen

Footwork is inconsistent and the accuracy is bad, but the physical tools constitute an intriguing long-term project at QB pic.twitter.com/j9sxTFb608

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 28, 2026

“OK, the QB board is finally lining up for the Steelers. Allar is coming off that ankle injury, but he has upside,” Kiper writes. “And he has the size we’ve seen under center in Pittsburgh; at 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, his frame reminds of Ben Roethlisberger.

“If Aaron Rodgers is back, Allar can learn from a legend. If not, he could potentially compete with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.”

While the Steelers have spoken highly about Will Howard all offseason, and have left the door open for a Rodgers return, McCarthy did hint during his media sessions at the owners meetings that he hopes there is a quarterback there for the franchise to take a shot on.

Allar has all the tools, but he came up small consistently in big games at Penn State. Still, he has the big, strong arm, moves well and has the prototypical build at the position that McCarthy and Khan could covet as a potential AFC North quarterback. 

Rounding out the mock draft, Reid paired the Steelers with Florida State’s Darnell Jackson Jr., adding size and strength to a defensive line room that continues to look very good on paper.

Overall, this would be a solid first three rounds for the Steelers. The Ioane selection isn’t flashy, but it’s necessary, while Brazzell adds serious speed to the receiver room. After that, taking a chance on Allar and adding depth in key defensive positions with Haulcy and Jackson are good opportunities for the Steelers.