{"id":703391,"date":"2026-01-25T07:19:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T07:19:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/703391\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T07:19:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T07:19:28","slug":"steelers-load-up-on-talent-in-three-round-mock-draft-to-fix-franchise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/703391\/","title":{"rendered":"Steelers Load Up On Talent In Three Round Mock Draft To Fix Franchise"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of roster needs. The good news is the franchise has an unusually high amount of draft capital. Including projected compensatory selections, the Steelers are expected to have 12 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. A chance to infuse youth \u2013 and talent \u2013 across all areas of the roster. PFF\u2019s Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers<\/a> did their best to fix the franchise in a hurry in their Steelers\u2019 mock draft.<\/p>\n

Though rare for the franchise historically, the pair have the Steelers drafting Texas AM WR KC Concepcion at No. 21 overall. Their world also includes signing Green Bay Packers WR Romeo Doubs in free agency, quickly transforming the team\u2019s receiving depth chart.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo now the wide receiver group is DK Metcalf, Romeo Doubs, and KC Concepcion,\u201d Sikkema said. \u201cAnd then you have Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington out of the backfield you feel pretty good about going to in the passing game.\u201d<\/p>\n

It would be a facelift for an offense likely to lean more on its receivers than tight ends. Though a new head coach or offensive coordinator has not been tabbed, whoever is brought in is unlikely to have the same tight end-heavy philosophy Arthur Smith brought. That means more 11 personnel and less 12 and 13.<\/p>\n

Concepcion is one of the top receivers in a well-regarded class. Transferring from NC State to Texas A&M for the 2025 season, he caught 61 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. His career numbers weren\u2019t gaudy, but they were consistent.<\/p>\n

With their next two picks, attention turned to defense. Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round and Miami (FL) CB Keionte Scott with the team\u2019s first selection in the third round.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like McNeil-Warren\u2019s fit of being able to do every role\u2026he\u2019s so physical. He can play at the line of scrimmage. He\u2019s got enough range. He can cover in the slot if you need him to,\u201d said Rogers, who viewed him as a perfect fit in a Chris Shula-type defense.<\/p>\n

It was the same selection as our Ryan Paglia<\/a> in his recent team mock draft. As a senior, McNeil-Warren stuffed the stat sheet with 77 tackles (5.5 for a loss), five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a half-sack. Pittsburgh needs an infusion of youth and depth at safety. Potentially a starter, even, if the new coaching staff wants to part ways with FS Jalen Ramsey.<\/p>\n

Scott is a rock-solid cornerback flying under the radar.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have some dogs and playmakers in the second level,\u201d Sikkema said of adding McNeil-Warren and Scott back-to-back.<\/p>\n

Making the move from Auburn to Miami (FL) paid off for Scott. In 2025, he broke out with career-highs in tackles (64), tackles for a loss (a whopping 13), sacks (5), all while returning both his interceptions for touchdowns. A bona fide playmaker would serve Pittsburgh well.<\/p>\n

With the final pair of third-rounders, the duo focused on beefing up the trenches. Indiana OT Carter Smith, followed by Texas Tech DL Skyler Gill-Howard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually thought about Carter Smith as a potential center,\u201d Sikkema said. \u201cBut he\u2019s played so well at left tackle. You feel good about him, maybe at tackle.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Sikkema agreed with Rogers that Smith\u2019s best home is to move inside, the Steelers could have use at either position. Isaac Seumalo is a pending free agent and is less likely to be retained by a new coaching staff. Broderick Jones ended his season with a neck injury that clouds his future. While Dylan Cook impressed in relief, he\u2019ll have to earn the trust of evaluators who didn\u2019t witness his ascension from forgotten practice squader to starting left tackle.<\/p>\n

With 40 career starts, Smith brings plenty of experience.<\/p>\n

Gill-Howard finished off the mock.<\/p>\n

\u201cMissed a lot of time this year due to a foot injury, but really good pass rusher before that,\u201d Sikkema said.<\/p>\n

In six games this season, Gill-Howard recorded just 2.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack. But the injury hampered his chance for production, and his 2024 numbers, 8 TFL and 5 sacks, are much more impressive. Pittsburgh must continue building along the defensive line, especially as Cam Heyward\u2019s future remains uncertain.<\/p>\n

To recap Sikkema and Rogers\u2019 picks:<\/p>\n

Round 1 \u2013 KC Concepcion\/WR Texas AM
Round 2 \u2013 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren\/S Toledo
Round 3 \u2013 Keionte Scott\/CB Miami (FL)
Round 3 \u2013 Carter Smith\/OT Indiana
Round 3 \u2013 Skyler Gill-Howard\/DL Texas Tech<\/p>\n

A solid haul that addresses plenty of needs. Quarterback is ignored, but in a weak class with few options, it\u2019s not a sin to focus elsewhere on the roster. A mix of skill positions and trenches to upgrade key points of the roster and a chance to radically shape this group for 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of roster needs. The good news is the franchise has an unusually high…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":703392,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[34762,50484,52670,7,43380,80997,6,57,80521,691,9096,1481],"class_list":["post-703391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-carter-smith","tag-connor-rogers","tag-emmanuel-mcneil-warren","tag-football","tag-kc-concepcion","tag-keionte-scott","tag-nfl","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-skyler-gill-howard","tag-trending","tag-trevor-sikkema","tag-weekly"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115954526967148236","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/703391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=703391"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/703391\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/703392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=703391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=703391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=703391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}