{"id":869635,"date":"2026-04-19T04:27:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T04:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/869635\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T04:27:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T04:27:47","slug":"mccorkle-pittsburgh-steelers-2026-mock-draft-final-version","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/869635\/","title":{"rendered":"McCorkle: Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 Mock Draft (Final Version)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s only fitting that one of the most eventful offseasons in Pittsburgh Steelers history will be capped by an equally unpredictable NFL draft. Owning 12 picks, including five in the top 100 for the first time since 1999<\/a>, GM Omar Khan has a chance to radically change the franchise\u2019s trajectory in front of a home crowd in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

Last time they held five picks in the top 100, the Steelers found a couple very good long-term starters like OLB Joey Porter Sr. and DE Aaron Smith. But they also struck out on WR Troy Edwards, DB Scott Shields, and OT Kris Farris.<\/p>\n

At a pivotal, transitional phase in franchise history, the Steelers can\u2019t afford to find just two good starters. That may be a challenge in a draft lacking top-end talent that falls off a cliff in the later rounds. If they are out of range of coveted players, they can\u2019t be timid in the trade market.<\/p>\n

I posed the question on this week\u2019s episode of The Depot Dive<\/a>: Over or under 2.5 trades for the Steelers? I wanted to take the over, but it\u2019s hard to make that work without a trade down. I settled on two.<\/p>\n

All that said, here\u2019s my best attempt at predicting what the Steelers will do in the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Round One (12th Overall) \u2013 Spencer Fano\/OL\/Utah \u2013 6054, 311 pounds<\/p>\n

Trade: Steelers send Patrick Queen + Pick No. 21 + Pick No. 121 + No. 224. Cowboys send Pick No. 12 + 2027 sixth-round pick.<\/p>\n

If they want Vega Ioane or Fano, I think it will require a move up. But I don\u2019t think the Steelers will want to sacrifice a lot of picks to accomplish that. Queen is an easy target with the Cowboys having reported interest in trading for him<\/a> during free agency.<\/p>\n

Using our Dave Bryan\u2019s trade idea<\/a> as a loose template, I like the Steelers to jump up in the first round to solidify the trenches once again. This is the best move for the current\u2014which we know the Steelers place a heavy emphasis on\u2014and the future as they lock in a potentially elite offensive line for the next decade.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a bonus that Fano can play guard now \u2014 and potentially tackle later if Broderick Jones or Dylan Cook don\u2019t work out. Fano is Dane Brugler\u2019s top OL in the class. If he makes it to 12, I like the value a lot.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: OG Vega Ioane, WR Makai Lemon, TE Kenyon Sadiq<\/p>\n

Spencer Fano Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round Two (53rd Overall) \u2013 Jacob Rodriguez\/ILB\/Texas Tech \u2013 6013, 231 pounds<\/p>\n

Trading Queen creates a need that outweighs others (like wide receiver). Maybe Rodriguez doesn\u2019t fall this far, but he should be the Steelers\u2019 top target if he does.<\/p>\n

As a former quarterback, Rodriguez has a unique football IQ that could be a force multiplier for the entire Steelers defense\u2013something Patrick Queen never really turned into. I witnessed it firsthand at the Senior Bowl. He got everybody aligned correctly pre-snap in an environment where all had to learn a new defense in just a few days.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also the most decorated defensive playmaker coming out of college in decades, even more than Payton Wilson\u2019s impressive list of accolades from a couple years ago. This would be a home-run pick.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: WR Denzel Boston, ILB CJ Allen, S Treydan Stukes<\/p>\n

Jacob Rodriguez Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round Two (59th Overall) \u2013 Germie Bernard\/WR\/Alabama \u2013 6012, 206 pounds<\/p>\n

Trade: Steelers send No. 76 + No. 99. Texans send No. 59.<\/p>\n

Another move up to make sure the Steelers get a receiver they like at the end of the second round. Bernard was a pre-draft visitor and has the size and athletic profile that Mike McCarthy likes at the position. He does everything well, and played a healthy mix of slot and outside receiver to fit in the rotation with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: WR Zachariah Branch, WR Chris Bell, ILB Jake Golday<\/p>\n

Germie Bernard Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round Three (85th Overall) \u2013 Kamari Ramsey\/S\/USC \u2013 6002, 202 pounds<\/p>\n

Not every selection will be a pre-draft visitor, and Ramsey fits the description of the type of defensive back the Steelers have looked at. He has played a strong mix of safety and nickel and is capable of being a chess piece in Patrick Graham\u2019s defense. Given the Steelers\u2019 crowded secondary, he could focus on backing up Jalen Ramsey at free safety in the beginning.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: S Jalen Kilgore, OG Keylan Rutledge, QB Drew Allar<\/p>\n

Kamari Ramsey Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round Four (135th Overall) \u2013 Carson Beck\/QB\/Miami (FL) \u2013 6046, 233 pounds<\/p>\n

The Steelers have spent too much time scouting quarterbacks not to take one. And Beck has several traits they are looking for, including his track record as a winner and his size at nearly 6-5. Their view of Mike McCarthy as a QB whisperer suggests they will give him as many projects as possible until one sticks.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: CB Tacario Davis, QB Garrett Nussmeier, WR Ja\u2019Kobi Lane<\/p>\n

Carson Beck Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round Five (161st Overall) \u2013 Ephesians Prysock\/CB\/Washington \u2013 6033, 196 pounds<\/p>\n

Prysock has all the traits to turn into an impact starter, and the Steelers have gravitated toward th long, rangy athletes at cornerback. He wouldn\u2019t need to see the field right away with a crowded stable of defensive backs, but he has plenty of long-term upside.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: WR\/KR Kendrick Law, WR Josh Cameron, S Michael Taaffe<\/p>\n

Ephesians Prysock Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round Six (216th Overall) \u2013 Kaden Wetjen\/WR-KR\/Iowa \u2013 5090, 193 pounds<\/p>\n

Calvin Austin III and Kenneth Gainwell both departed in the offseason, which means the Steelers need a kick and punt returner. Wetjen is the top return specialist in the draft with six total return touchdowns in college.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: OT Aamil Wagner, CB Thaddeus Dixon, WR Caleb Douglas<\/p>\n

Kaden Wetjen Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round Seven (230th Overall) \u2013 Josh Cuevas\/TE\/Alabama \u2013 6033, 245 pounds<\/p>\n

Cuevas is versatile enough to be a rotational backup tight end, and to play H-back or fullback in certain personnel packages. He\u2019s a committed and aggressive blocker and has enough receiving skills to be a dependable option on passing downs, either running routes or blocking.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: DL David Gusta, RB Jaydn Ott, TE Matthew Hibner<\/p>\n

Josh Cuevas Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Round Seven (237th Overall) \u2013 Brett Thorson\/P\/Georgia \u2013 6012, 237 pounds<\/p>\n

The Steelers brought back Cameron Johnston, but they didn\u2019t even keep him over Corliss Waitman after last year\u2019s training camp competition. Johnston is 34 years old and has dealt with injuries in each of the last two seasons. Thorson has a relationship with Johnston as a fellow Aussie, so it could be a decent pairing for another training camp competition this year.<\/p>\n

Others Considered: WR CJ Daniels, QB Sawyer Robertson, TE John Michael Gyllenborg<\/p>\n

Brett Thorson Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s only fitting that one of the most eventful offseasons in Pittsburgh Steelers history will be capped by…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":752318,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2055],"tags":[22077,2037,37457,7,26718,35794,32192,86085,4812,6,520,57,2360,7723,426,691],"class_list":{"0":"post-869635","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pittsburgh-steelers","8":"tag-brett-thorson","9":"tag-carson-beck","10":"tag-ephesians-prysock","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-germie-bernard","13":"tag-jacob-rodriguez","14":"tag-jalon-kilgore","15":"tag-josh-cuevas","16":"tag-kaden-wetjen","17":"tag-nfl","18":"tag-pittsburgh","19":"tag-pittsburgh-steelers","20":"tag-pittsburghsteelers","21":"tag-spencer-fano","22":"tag-steelers","23":"tag-trending"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116429485161883634","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/869635","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=869635"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/869635\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/752318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=869635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=869635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=869635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}