2026 NFL Draft•Steelers Analysis
Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Now that Mike McCarthy‘s coaching staff has been finalized, all eyes will be fixated on roster construction for the next few months leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft. While we have a general view of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest needs entering the new league year, the upcoming free agency period will give us much greater clarity in that regard.
Having spent the last several weeks getting preliminary evaluations on as many prospects as possible, I feel fairly confident with where the strengths and weaknesses lie with this cycle’s crop of prospects. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how those align with the Steelers’ current depth chart as a guide for how the organization could proceed at come April.
Strength: Off-Ball Linebacker
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles in a game against Penn State on Nov. 1, 2025. — Matthew Lynch / Nittany Sports Now
In seemingly almost every cycle, this position seems to be a weakness, but the football gods are truly blessing the league with a linebacker class that could change the game for years to come. The Ohio State backers, both flushed with traits with excellent film, headline the best class that I’ve ever personally evaluated in my time doing this. Sonny Styles is a long converted safety with an advanced feel for the position in both run defense and coverage, while also being an automatic tackling machine. Arvell Reese is a freak athlete from a short-area burst and range standpoint with strong take-on skills and pass-rushing upside. Beyond the game changers at the top, there’s also a good amount of depth present if you’re looking for a specific archetype for a rotation.
Even though linebacker isn’t quite near the top of the Steelers’ needs entering the offseason, the future of that room is pretty cloudy. Starters Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison are both entering the final years of their contracts with very little guaranteed money left on their respective deals.
Payton Wilson has shown some flashes but was still unable to seize a full-time role in his sophomore season. Taking an earlier shot on guys like Georgia’s CJ Allen or Missouri’s Josiah Trotter isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility, but they’d be wise to at least throw a dart at some point on draft weekend. You just never know when a class like this will come around again.
Weakness: Quarterback
Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) November 16, 2024 David Hague / Pittsburgh Sports Now
Last April, when the Steelers elected to punt on what was largely perceived as a down quarterback class, they were banking on a stronger collection of talent being available this year. Unfortunately, that never materialized, with most of the best underclassmen passers returning to school. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, a tough and deadly accurate pocket passer, earned my lone first-round grade this past summer and carried that QB1 mantle from start to finish.
Ty Simpson, a first-year signal caller from Alabama, looked like a top pick in October with how quickly he picked up the pre-snap operation while dicing defenses up over the middle of the field. But his play tailed off as time progressed, although some of that can be attributed to injuries.
Publicly, McCarthy has expressed a desire to bring back Aaron Rodgers for another spin, and it’s unlikely that the 42-year-old will have other suitors vying for his services. He’s also been complimentary of second-year quarterback Will Howard, whom the Steelers selected in the sixth round a year ago.
Mason Rudolph is a known commodity at this juncture—a fine backup option, but the team could save a small chunk of change by going in a different direction. By doing so, they could take a mid-round swing on one of the upperclassmen that failed to meet expectations, such as LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier or Cade Klubnik out of Clemson. If nothing else, it adds necessary competition at the sport’s most important position.
Strength: Wide Receiver
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State Athletics
College football provides the NFL with plenty of perimeter playmaking talent on an annual basis these days and that remains true for 2026. As it stands today, I have three receivers with true first-round grades on my board, with a couple more lurking in that range heading into the NFL Combine. Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson is a crafty route runner that separates consistently regardless of whether he’s playing on or off the ball and is capable of making acrobatic plays. USC’s Makai Lemon was wildly productive for two seasons versus both man and zone coverage, while playing way bigger than his size would suggest as a ball carrier and at the catch point. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is a throwback X-receiver that wins primarily on the vertical plane with good initial burst, plus body control and a vast catch radius.
It’s no secret that the Steelers are going to need to make a significant investment in the form of multiple receiver additions in order for McCarthy’s offensive system to be fully maximized. It’s fair to characterize their decision to acquire DK Metcalf a year ago as an overpay, and the rest of the room offers very little reassurance.
Regardless, the focus now needs to shift towards surrounding their WR1 with complementary pieces to take some of the pressure off his shoulders. Adding at least one guy who can get their own bucket on isolated routes is absolutely imperative, but adding multiple alignment-versatile players would give them the depth that they have so sorely lacked over the past couple seasons.
Weakness: Running Back
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown in the first half of a NCAA football game against Syracuse at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend, Ind. — Michael Clubb / Imagn Images Credit: MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It’s a down year for the running back position overall. With so many other holes on their roster, the Steelers simply can’t afford the luxury of taking one really early this spring, anyways. Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame is undeniably the crown jewel of the bunch: he’s a patient ball carrier with the ideal burst through the hole you’re looking for, combined with the speed to outrace pursuit angles.
Typically, this position can fall victim to the positional value argument, but it’s hard to see that being the case in this instance. Washington Huskies star Jonah Coleman was someone that caught my eye over the summer because of his blend of rare contact balance and pass protection savvy, but nagging injuries sapped his effectiveness in 2025. In short, this class mostly just consists of role players.
Jaylen Warren was one of the most efficient creators at his position last year, but he’s never been a true workhorse. Kaleb Johnson was a complete non-factor in his first year as a pro, and he’s more of a wide-zone runner anyways, which won’t be as big a part of the offense with Arthur Smith out of the picture.
The Steelers will surely try to retain the services of Kenneth Gainwell, knowing his pass game impact will be a glove-like fit for McCarthy’s West Coast system. If he does walk for a bigger payday than what they can reasonably afford, the Steelers would have no choice but to add someone who can pass protect and catch the ball out of the backfield.
Mentioned In This Article: 2026 NFL Draft Cade Klubnik Jeremiah Love Jordyn Tyson Pittsburgh Steelers Sonny Styles Steelers top Ty Simpson