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General manager Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers saw one of their head coaching candidates in Jeff Hafley land with the Miami Dolphins on Monday.
It was more than evident what the problem was for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. While both sides of the ball had their stretches of inconsistency, it was the offense that repeatedly failed to dig the team out of difficult situations.
With defensive-minded head coach Mike Tomlin stepping away, new head coach Mike McCarthy — who will call plays himself — is expected to put immediate emphasis on fixing that side of the ball.
Some upgrades could come in free agency. But what Steelers fans are most eager to see is how Pittsburgh handles its first-round selection.
Leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft — which will be held in Pittsburgh — most mock drafts project the Steelers to stay put at No. 21 overall and select either a Alabama quarterback like Ty Simpson or a top-tier wide receiver.
The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo sees it differently.
Steelers Predicted to Trade Up for Jordyn Tyson
In DeFabo’s trade scenario, the Steelers package one of their three third-round picks and move up six spots in a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to select Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 15 overall.
“Rather than waiting for No. 21 to see which receivers were still available, the Steelers used one of their three third-round picks to secure one of the three best players at his position,” DeFabo wrote. “He could be even higher on some boards and has the flexibility to play all three wide receiver spots, something new head coach Mike McCarthy said he values during his introductory news conference.”
Tyson has appeared in several mock drafts tied to Pittsburgh, but rarely in a trade-up scenario.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper currently ranks Tyson as the second-best wide receiver in the 2026 class behind Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. In DeFabo’s projection, Tate comes off the board at No. 9 to the Kansas City Chiefs, while USC’s Makai Lemon goes to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13 — prompting Pittsburgh to act aggressively.
The Steelers likely entered the offseason hoping their surplus of draft capital would position them to address quarterback. That still remains possible, but the pickings are thin at the position.
Nevertheless, DeFabo believes general manager Omar Khan may look to make an early splash.
“Expect GM Omar Khan, who earned his ‘Khan Artist’ nickname for his aggressive maneuvering in his first draft, to continue working the phones.”
Jordyn Tyson’s Talent Comes With Injury Concerns
What makes Tyson intriguing is both his upside and his medical history.
He has played in 33 career games in four seasons, totaling 158 receptions for 2,282 yards and 23 touchdowns. However, he has completed just one full season during his college career.
While at Colorado in 2022, Tyson suffered a devastating knee injury that included tears to his ACL, MCL and PCL — forcing him to miss the entire 2023 season. He transferred to Arizona State in 2024 and returned to form, though he later dealt with a collarbone injury that sidelined him during the College Football Playoff.
In 2025, Tyson once again missed time late in the season with a hamstring issue.
Despite that history, DeFabo notes the Steelers have not shied away from prospects with medical red flags.
“Tyson’s injury history may give some teams pause, but that hasn’t deterred the Steelers, who have taken their chances recently on others with more significant medical red flags like Payton Wilson and Darnell Washington. Even after the trade, the Steelers still have 10 draft picks, including a second, two thirds and two fourths.”
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
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