NFL Draft season — and the speculation cycle that accompanies it — kicks into high gear next week when all 32 teams and more than 300 prospects converge at the combine in Indianapolis. On draft weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a chance to make a major splash, with a whopping 12 projected draft picks, including three in the third round and two in the fourth.

Given all that ammunition and general manager Omar Khan’s history of maneuvering, you can count on the Steelers jumping into position to land priority targets.

Here’s a first look at 17 possible first-round targets grouped into six tiers. When needs become more solidified after free agency and we gather more information from combine testing, pre-draft visits and discussions behind the scenes, we’ll update this list.

Tier 1: It’s fun to dream

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State: One of the best athletes in the draft, Downs is a can’t-miss prospect who is likely to be selected in the top five. Many consider him the best safety to come out of the draft in a long time. It feels virtually impossible for the Steelers to move into this range; on the modern Rich Hill trade value chart, Pick No. 21 is worth 261 points. Pick No. 5 is worth 468. To bridge that gap, the Steelers would need to give up their original first-round pick, a second-round pick and two thirds. Hey, it was fun to dream.

Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU: The Steelers need to find a Day 1 starter to play opposite Joey Porter Jr. Ranked seventh overall and CB1 by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, Delane didn’t allow a single touchdown and wasn’t flagged for a penalty in 2025. Similar to Downs, he would fill a key need in the secondary, but landing him would require Delane to fall and an aggressive move up the board. To get around the top 10, the Steelers might have to give up their original first-round pick (No. 21) and two thirds, based on most trade charts. That feels like a lot, but at least now you have an idea what the price tag is to move into the top 10. If Delane slides a bit, maybe this starts becoming more realistic.

Tier 2: Top three receivers — can the Steelers get there?

Now we’re starting to get more realistic. The Steelers have a glaring need at receiver. Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon are considered by most to be the top three, though the exact order is in the eye of the beholder. For now, Tate is ranked 10th by Brugler, Tyson is 12th and Lemon is 14th. That might change after the combine.

With four Day 2 picks — a second and three thirds — the Steelers have the capital to take a big swing if they fall in love. For example, on the Hill chart, the Steelers could hypothetically swap No. 21 (261 points) and their early third-round pick from the George Pickens trade (61 points) to get around pick No. 14 (325 points). That might be what it takes to get into the range to land one of the top three receivers.

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State: At 6 feet 3 and 195 pounds, Tate is a savvy route runner and big-play threat, averaging 17.5 yards per reception last year. Though he can add some strength, he’s expected to be an impact player as a “Z” receiver immediately. He’s a candidate to be selected as high as the top five.

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State: New head coach Mike McCarthy said he’s looking for versatile receivers who can play all three positions. Tyson, who was coached by Hines Ward at Arizona State, best fits McCarthy’s description as an all-purpose threat. The 6-2, 200-pound receiver possesses good body control, smooth route running and an excellent combat-catch radius. The big question: Can he stay healthy? He sustained a major knee injury in 2022, missed the entire 2023 season while recovering, endured a collarbone injury in 2024, and missed time with a hamstring injury and another undisclosed ailment in 2025. The injury question marks could deter some teams, but they also have the potential to push a top-10 to -15 talent closer to the Steelers’ range.

Makai Lemon, WR, USC: At 5-11 and 195 pounds, Lemon often draws comparisons to Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St.Brown. Though his physical dimensions don’t jump off the page like the other two, he’s expected to be one of the best slot receivers in the league from the moment he’s drafted. For that reason, some even believe he’ll be the best receiver in a deep class.

Tier 3: Small trade-up to fill need

According to most trade value charts, the Steelers could move into the No. 14-19 range by giving up one of their three third-round picks. Both of these corners are expected to go around that area.

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee: McCoy was once considered a top-10 pick, but the 6-0, 195-pound corner sustained a torn ACL during offseason workouts in January 2025 that robbed him of his junior season. That might be the reason he slips into this range.

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson: Meanwhile, Terrell (ranked 18th overall) fits the Steelers’ turnover culture. The 5-11, 180-pound DB forced eight fumbles over the last two years and, in the words of Brugler, plays with a “Honey Badger” aura.

Tier 4: Wideouts in range at No. 21

If the Steelers stand pat at No. 21 and choose to address their biggest need (outside of QB), these three receivers feel like realistic options. KC Concepcion (22nd by Brugler), Denzel Boston (25th by Brugler) and Omar Cooper Jr. (27th) have their strengths and could contribute early as WR2 behind DK Metcalf.

KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M: Concepcion is a bursty athlete who is quicker than he is fast, but his ability to work in tight spaces and uncover quickly meshes with the Steelers’ quick-game offense.

Denzel Boston, WR, Washington: At 6-4 and 210 pounds, Boston is a big target with sure hands.

Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana: The Steelers will likely value the way Cooper performed on a big stage during the College Football Playoff. His run-after ability fits the West Coast-based offense they’re installing.

Tier 5: The big QB question

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama: A 2026 QB class that once felt promising has almost entirely fallen apart, leaving Simpson as the only first-round QB reasonably in the Steelers’ range; you’re going to see him projected to Pittsburgh often during mock draft season. But how do the Steelers feel about him? That’s the biggest question that will shape the Steelers’ draft and the franchise’s future for years to come.

A former five-star recruit, Simpson is the son of longtime Tennessee-Martin head coach Jason Simpson. He processes the game like a coach’s son, moves well in the pocket and had an outstanding start to the season. The big knock is that Simpson started just one season (15 total games), and his play unraveled at the end. Perhaps the Steelers would feel comfortable letting Simpson sit for a year behind, say, Aaron Rodgers before turning the offense over to the young passer in 2027. Or maybe they’ll just wait until next year to draft their QB of the future.

Tier 6: If it’s not a QB or a WR at No. 21 …

It’s disappointing that the QB class isn’t what many expected, but the good news for Pittsburgh is that the wide receiver class is arguably this draft’s deepest and most talented position group. Should the Steelers choose to wait until Day 2 to address that need and punt on QB until 2027, they could fill some needs on defense in Round 1.

Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon: At 6-0 and 205 pounds, Thieneman is a versatile defensive back who can play both safety positions and in the nickel. A freshman All-American at Purdue who played his third and final season at Oregon, he racked up 306 tackles and eight interceptions. (Fun fact: I covered his brothers, Brennan and Jake, in my past life as a Purdue beat writer.)

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida: The Steelers need to continue to prepare for life after Cameron Heyward; a first-round interior defensive lineman would be a significant step in that direction. Banks certainly looks the part at 6-6, 334 pounds and with 35-inch arms. Though he missed the bulk of 2025 with an injury, he had a strong Senior Bowl and brings some pass-rush juice, logging four sacks in 2025.

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State: A first-team All-American and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2025, McDonald brings a 6-3, 326-pound frame and hot motor to the NFL. His overall strength makes him a dominant run stuffer, but he doesn’t have much from a pass-rush perspective yet.

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee: At 5-11 and 188 pounds, Hood isn’t the longest corner, but he is one of the more physical ones in this class. His skill set translates best to press-man coverage, and he’s also a willing participant in the run game. It will be interesting to see how he tests in the 40 at the combine, as shifty receivers have given him problems.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo: At 6-2 and 202 pounds, McNeil-Warren is a physical down safety. However, he lacks the versatility of others in his class and would have a somewhat overlapping skill set with DeShon Elliott.

Peter Woods, DT, Clemson: At 6-3 and 310 pounds, Woods has quick feet, a high motor and scheme flexibility.

Second-round prospects at positions of need

Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

Third-round prospects at positions of needs

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
Darnell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
Genesis Smith, S, Arizona
Devin Moore, CB, Florida
Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Keionte Scott, S, Miami
Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
Keyshaun Elliott, LB, Arizona State
Austin Barber, OT, Florida
Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
Billy Schrauth, G, Notre Dame
Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
Reggie Virgil, WR, Texas Tech
Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri
Trey Zuhn III, OL, Texas A&M
Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
Kage Casey, G, Boise State
Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan