Mock draft

[SteelerFan448]

What about Caleb Downs S Ohio St. 1st rd?

He doesn't play wide receiver.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

• 21
  
  
  
  Jermod McCoy
  CB | Tennessee
  A+
• 53
  
  
  
  Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
  S | Toledo
  A
• 76
  
  
  
  Kaytron Allen
  RB | Penn State
  C+
• 85
  
  
  
  Omar Cooper Jr.
  WR | Indiana
  A+
• 99
  
  
  
  Skyler Bell
  WR | UConn
  B
• 121
  
  
  
  Jake Slaughter
  IOL | Florida
  A
• 135
  
  
  
  DeMonte Capehart
  DL | Clemson
  A
• 159
  
  
  
  Red Murdock
  LB | Buffalo
  C+
• 213
  
  
  
  Rayshaun Benny
  DL | Michigan
  B
• 214
  
  
  
  Diego Pavia
  QB | Vanderbilt
  A
• 224
  
  
  
  Kaden Wetjen
  WR | Iowa
  D
• 237
  
  
  
  Brett Norfleet
  TE | Missouri
  C

 

[Papa Lazarou]

He doesn't play wide receiver.

Apparently neither does Roman Wilson.

There are so many holes on the Steelers roster that taking a WR in the first round will not help them much this year. In my opinion they need to focus on the defense. Shutting down the pass first and forcing the run more. Hopefully there are a couple of defensive linemen that can be found to bolster the run defense in free agency, along with a decent WR.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

He doesn't play wide receiver.

dime a dozen, Plus Jeremiah Smith his own team mate was better than him by a lot.

 

[SteelerFan448]

dime a dozen, Plus Jeremiah Smith his own team mate was better than him by a lot.

Dime a dozen...Steelers can't even get a second.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Dime a dozen...Steelers can't even get a second.

3rd round Wilson,, doesnt see the field
2nd rd claypool , promise,, but gone
2nd Pickens great... head case..

There were plenty of WR's available during the inbetweens.. Yes i agree a WR should be a high round target.

 

[BlitzBurgh7]

I like Denzel Boston with our first pick

 

[FordFairLane]

21
Kadyn Proctor
OT | Alabama
A

Stud tackle who can play LT or RT. I had high hopes for Jones and honestly feel without Tomlin he might resurrect his career. But even if that happens Proctor can go RT, Fautanu can kick inside and so can Cook.

53
Lee Hunter
DL | Texas Tech
A

Getting stronger in the trenches is the theme here. Win there and it makes it easier to win everywhere else. Dude is a mountain of a man run stuffer with pass rush upside.

76
D'angelo Ponds
CB | Indiana
A+
Steal here. I would let him try to stay outside but worst case scenario he’s the next Mike Hilton at nickel.

85
Antonio Williams
WR | Clemson
A
Wanted to go WR and QB earlier but draft didn’t fall that way. Get a steal here in Williams. Has AB type hips and moves in the open field.

99
Brian Parker II
OT | Duke
B+
Too good to pass up. Put him inside to be a backup and give him a season to develop and 2027 gets an opportunity to start.

121
Drew Allar
QB | Penn State
A
Allar was a square peg trying to be jammed into the Franklin round offense. He has a cannon arm, decent accuracy, and is a better scrambler than given credit for. He needs to have someone help him learn to read a defense and get off his first read. Definitely a developmental talent but if we give him some coaching I feel he has huge upside.

135
Nick Singleton
RB | Penn State
A+
Go back to the happy valley well and get a homerun hitting RB. I want Gainwell back and if we do have him back singleton might boot Johnson off the team.

159
Bryce Lance
WR | North Dakota State
B

Trey’s little brother. Reminds me of Puka a little who I had as a fringe first round pick so I was very high on him coming out of BYU.

213
Sawyer Robertson
QB | Baylor
B+

Another QB with all the physical attributes you look for. Needs better technique and footwork but has the size and arm to play.

214
Vincent Anthony Jr.
EDGE | Duke
A

Cant have too many pass rushers and I’m not sure we will ever see the 15+ sacks of TJ again.

224
Xavier Nwankpa
S | Iowa
A

Upside safety with physical tools and played a lot of football. Last year was his best

237
Lake McRee
TE | USC
A+

Don’t really need a TE unless we trade Muth but I can’t pass on the value. Could easily take Smith roster spot.

 

[slashsteel]

I like Denzel Boston with our first pick

He actually makes a lot of sense, size speed and production . I think the guy becomes a stud. I wouldn’t mind him at 21.

 

[slashsteel]

Surprised a lot of these mocks have still have Simpson going top ten. I think there is enough there to keep him out of it….

 

[slashsteel]

Took a good look at the QB prospects:

If the Steelers want Simpson if, they will probably have to leap frog the Jets 2nd 1st round pick. I am ok with that probably would only cost a 3rd.

If they don’t trade up and he doesn’t fall to 21 I am all for taking a shot at Nuss in the third. Like what he did before his down year.

No QB Chambliss size has ever won multiple SBs. For me that drops him down below Nuss. I would take him if the other two weren’t available… no earlier than round 3.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Took a good look at the QB prospects:

If the Steelers want Simpson if, they will probably have to leap frog the Jets 2nd 1st round pick. I am ok with that probably would only cost a 3rd.

If they don’t trade up and he doesn’t fall to 21 I am all for taking a shot at Nuss in the third. Like what he did before his down year.

No QB Chambliss size has ever won multiple SBs. For me that drops him down below Nuss. I would take him if the other two weren’t available… no earlier than round 3.

Simpson only has 1 inch and 8 lbs on Chambliss if their heights and weights are accurate.

 

[fedderone]

IF we stay put at #21, if we trade up or trade back, I think we need to go BPA.
Our team is replete with mediocre talent, and old mediocre talent at that.
We need PLAYMAKERS, irrespective of position/side of the ball.
We need to get younger, too.
Actual difference makers that HCs and OC/DCs have to scheme for.
ELITE talent that has direct outcomes on games for years to come.
Personally, I'd prefer the most lottery tickets/dart throws to start saturating our team with youth and talent.
I don't like the idea of trading up because we are NOT one or two players away from being real contenders or perennial playoff threats.
And I don't like trading back because that theoretically moves us farther back from difference making talent.
I know diamonds are found ALL over the place in the draft, but statistics say the higher picks typically produce better results.

 

[slashsteel]

Simpson only has 1 inch and 8 lbs on Chambliss if their heights and weights are accurate.

True but I looked at multiple sb winners looked like it stopped at 6’2 for our era.

 

[SteelerFan448]

True but I looked at multiple sb winners looked like it stopped at 6’2 for our era.

There was some chatter on Twitter that Simpson is shorter than his listed height. We'll see at the combine.

 

[slashsteel]

• 21
  
  
  
  Makai Lemon
  WR | USC
  A+
• 53
  
  
  
  Lee Hunter
  DL | Texas Tech
  A
• 76
  
  
  
  A.J. Haulcy
  S | LSU
  A+
• 85
  
  
  
  Garrett Nussmeier
  QB | LSU
  A+
• 99
  
  
  
  Keylan Rutledge
  IOL | Georgia Tech
  B+
• 121
  
  
  
  Kaytron Allen
  RB | Penn State
  A
• 135
  
  
  
  Treydan Stukes
  CB | Arizona

 

[BLITZ]

BPA. please. But still need to look at the line

 

[slashsteel]

I did notice reading up on Simpson that he had an adjusted completion rate of 75% with factoring in his WR drops (30).

I found that definitely interesting. Showed how accurate he was in general…

 

[Chadman]

Way too early, FA changes things, but...

21. LB Sonny Styles
53. LT Caleb Tiernan
76. QB Garrett Nussmeier
85. WR Malachi Fields
99. OG Chase Bisontis
121. CB Xavier Scott
135. S Jakobe Thomas
159. WR Eric Rivers
213. DT Johnathon Jefferson
214. RB Rueben Owens
224. DT/DE
237. CB/S

 

[Chadman]

Given McCarthy's draft history, willing to shift Styles out of #21 for Christian Miller (DT) & Bisontis out for CB Malik Muhammad

 

[deljzc]

I can never get enough mock drafts.

PFF Mock Draft Simulator

1.20 Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
It's going to take a lot for me to move off either Tate or Lemon in the first round.

2.52 Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Steelers have some pieces at safety with Elliott, Ramsey, and Dugger. I also don't know how many of these guys will be on the team next year, so the Steelers will try to get a young prospect to step in.

3.79 C.J. Fite, IDL, Arizona State
A strong run defender to add to a rebuilt defensive line.

3.84 Charles Jagusah, G, Notre Dame
At 6'7" he's tall for a guard, but he has the thing the Steelers love with players--position versatility. He's played both guard and tackle and has a high upside from everything I've read.

3.98 Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
QB wasn't a spot I was looking at in this mock, but thought why not for the first one of the year. When it comes to QB, there aren't many options early on--this class is underwhelming and as I expected, failed to live up to the hype. Moore and Mendoza will be top-5 picks (if Moore enters the draft). I have no interest in Simpson, Nussmeier, Beck, or Klubnik. A lot of the other QBs will return to school.

Drew Allar is the anti-clutch QB, I haven't seen the mental toughness from him in crunch time. However, Allar has the tools, something our last 1st-round QB didn't have. He demonstrated improvement throughout his career as well. If the Steelers go QB in this draft, I want arm talent and Allar at least has that.

I agree with how you are prioritizing positions here with likely best player available. Obviously, most of us haven't deep dived into draft boards yet or watched a lot of tape, but I do like the idea of WR and DB as our top priorities. And then additional depth on the O-line and D-line in rounds 3-4.

Not sure I would bother with another project QB if we like Will Howard for that roll. Not enough developmental snaps (both in practice and preseason) to really do that. Again, the minute we bring in a veteran QB or the supposed "fix" for that position in 2026, the QB room is pretty set. Unless McCarthy just cuts Rudolph (which definitely could happen) and decides on Veteran X as our starter and then Howard + Rookie QB as the backups.

If we draft a QB in round 3-5, Howard might even be the odd man out (which I don't want, even if I have very low expectations for him long term).

 

[mightyguru]

PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Gennings Dunker
OT Iowa

PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
Germie Bernard
WR Alabama

PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Lee Hunter
DT Texas Tech

PICK: 85 RND: 3 (PIT)
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
S Toledo

PICK: 99 RND: 3 (PIT)
Chase Bisontis
OG Texas A&M

PICK: 121 RND: 4 (PIT)
Trinidad Chambliss
QB Ole Miss

PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
Eric Rivers
WR Georgia Tech

PICK: 159 RND: 5 (PIT)
Rayshaun Benny
DL Michigan

PICK: 213 RND: 6 (PIT)
J. Michael Sturdivant
WR Florida

PICK: 214 RND: 6 (PIT)
Fernando Carmona
OT Arkansas

PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Jack Velling
TE Michigan State

PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
Rueben Owens II
RB Texas A&M

 

[SteelerFan448]

I agree with how you are prioritizing positions here with likely best player available. Obviously, most of us haven't deep dived into draft boards yet or watched a lot of tape, but I do like the idea of WR and DB as our top priorities. And then additional depth on the O-line and D-line in rounds 3-4.

Not sure I would bother with another project QB if we like Will Howard for that roll. Not enough developmental snaps (both in practice and preseason) to really do that. Again, the minute we bring in a veteran QB or the supposed "fix" for that position in 2026, the QB room is pretty set. Unless McCarthy just cuts Rudolph (which definitely could happen) and decides on Veteran X as our starter and then Howard + Rookie QB as the backups.

If we draft a QB in round 3-5, Howard might even be the odd man out (which I don't want, even if I have very low expectations for him long term).

Cornerback is the interesting position. Pierre flashed high-end play, can he replicate it (and will they bring him back)? I like Ponds and a couple other guys...safety is just a glaring hole in the lineup where CB has options.

 

[steel dino]

I can never get enough mock drafts.

PFF Mock Draft Simulator

1.20 Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
It's going to take a lot for me to move off either Tate or Lemon in the first round.

2.52 Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Steelers have some pieces at safety with Elliott, Ramsey, and Dugger. I also don't know how many of these guys will be on the team next year, so the Steelers will try to get a young prospect to step in.

3.79 C.J. Fite, IDL, Arizona State
A strong run defender to add to a rebuilt defensive line.

3.84 Charles Jagusah, G, Notre Dame
At 6'7" he's tall for a guard, but he has the thing the Steelers love with players--position versatility. He's played both guard and tackle and has a high upside from everything I've read.

3.98 Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
QB wasn't a spot I was looking at in this mock, but thought why not for the first one of the year. When it comes to QB, there aren't many options early on--this class is underwhelming and as I expected, failed to live up to the hype. Moore and Mendoza will be top-5 picks (if Moore enters the draft). I have no interest in Simpson, Nussmeier, Beck, or Klubnik. A lot of the other QBs will return to school.

Drew Allar is the anti-clutch QB, I haven't seen the mental toughness from him in crunch time. However, Allar has the tools, something our last 1st-round QB didn't have. He demonstrated improvement throughout his career as well. If the Steelers go QB in this draft, I want arm talent and Allar at least has that.

I’m aligned with your second third and fourth pics, but not the first and fifth one
Much rather have Lemon in the first than Tate. In fact, I would not even draft Tate in 1st round.. I think he’s overrated.
I believe lemon is a pro bowler waiting to happen.
And I would pass on the Penn State quarterback… after watching the shrine bowl practices and the game, there are some interesting mid the late round quarterbacks in this draft. Several of them did better than I expected, both in practice and in the game.

 

[steel dino]

He actually makes a lot of sense, size speed and production . I think the guy becomes a stud. I wouldn’t mind him at 21.

I like him …
But his game is more in line with 4’s…
I would prefer Lemon..
He would be the perfect compliment to DK.