The Pittsburgh Steelers have added plenty of depth to their secondary during the 2026 offseason. The front office has made it a point to address the defense with the available cap space. The secondary has been bolstered through moves like signing Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker. However, the Steelers have been linked to possible secondary additions through the draft as well. The upcoming contract extension of star corner Joey Porter Jr. looms, and the future of the defensive back room hangs in the balance.
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Steelers newly acquired safety Jaquan Brisker scans the field during an NFL game in his rookie season in 2022.
The Steelers have a dozen picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and one very well could be used on a safety or a cornerback. However, a player that has been mocked to Pittsburgh doesn’t seem like the right fit, according to Steelers beat writer Brian Batko. In a recent episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, Batko gave reasons as to why LSU defensive back AJ Haulcy wouldn’t be the right fit for Pittsburgh.
“There are a lot of doubts in his [Haulcy’s] scouting report about his speed and his overall kind of athleticism and his first step, and that’s what I think the Steelers need in any safety that they draft,” Batko said. “Someone in the post or in centerfield. I don’t know that that’s Haulcy’s game. If he succeeds at the NFL level, I don’t think that that’s necessarily going to be where or why.”
The existing Steelers safeties already have this key trait, and adding Haulcy would just give the defense another player of that archetype. Haulcy had a great college career and would be a solid pick if they wanted someone of this skill set for the future, but it wouldn’t make sense for their roster construction right now.
If Pittsburgh were to go with a safety, it would preferably be someone who excels in coverage and can cover a lot of ground. The Steelers have the chance to go witha player who checks those boxes with their abundance of picks.
X / AJ Haulcy @Atwice_
LSU safety A.J. Haulcy flexes after making a play.
Pittsburgh’s defense would greatly benefit from a true centerfielder, and there are plenty available in this draft. Having three third-round selections will greatly benefit the front office, as they have the versatility to go with a potential gem to add in the secondary. No matter what, any safety chosen by Pittsburgh would be purely depth initially, as Pittsburgh already has existing starters there, as mentioned before.
This draft will be a huge test for how the Steelers brass will attack the future of this secondary. Brisker is on just a one-year deal, and a safety could be in play if they want to develop someone who can plug into that spot.
Steelers Could Trade Up For A Safety If They’re Confident
The Steelers, having a ton of capital, will be presented with the flexibility to trade up. Players like Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman are considered the upper echelon of safeties in the whole draft class. Downs will most likely be picked within the top 10-12, and Thieneman could sneak down the board. The Steelers have pick 21 and could utilize one of their later draft picks to advance the board in order to select Thieneman.
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Former Ducks’ safety Dillon Thieneman during his time in college.
Thieneman could be the player of the future for Pittsburgh. They could look to take a chance on trading up for him if they want to be aggressive. The organization could be open to trading up in any capacity, and adding a top player in the secondary would be a smart choice for the future. This draft will tell a huge story about where the Steelers view their defense.