2026 NFL Mock Draft: Final

Better late than never eh?! Hello everyone and thank you for tuning into my final 2026 Mock for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The draft is now officially three days away and the excitement for it is already through the roof. For those of you who didn't look at the last Steelers Mock Draft; here it is below;


Post Pro Day Edition


These written statements by the author do not reflect nor are shared opinions of members of TheSteelersFans Message Board, Staff Members and/or Site Administrator.



*** TRADE ***

Pittsburgh trades picks 21, 76 and Patrick Queen to the Dolphins for Pick 11.


Round 1 Pick 11 (from Miami): Pittsburgh Selects......


Vega Ioane: Guard from Penn State:


Some might say this is way too much for a trade up. I would classify this as a good win for both teams. In this trade up, the value must match what the team is willing to give up. In this scenario, Pittsburgh loses two picks along with a starting ILB. In exchange, Pittsburgh gets a Pro Bowl Level Guard and the Draft's best pure Interior Offensive Lineman in Vega Ioane. Naturally strong, excellent anchor and rock solid displacement in pass protection, Vega fits hand in glove with Mike McCarthy's system and both James Campen and Jahri Evans have a tremendously young piece of clay to mold. He does need to improve his consistency on his run blocking but the narrative that he isn't very good in lateral movement is something I would challenge a bit. He isn't challenging the likes of Chase Bisontis, Parker Brailsford or even Keylan Rutledge but he is sufficient enough laterally to move. The explosiveness is there for him to reach the second level and, most of all, when he does correctly aim his strikes and punches when pulling, they not only connect but allow him to displace his opposition fairly easily. Overall, Vega Ioane plays a position that, on the surface, doesn't seem like it would warrant the trade up but, as I always say, grade the player and not the position. Guards like Vega don't come around very often and, when they do, best to grab them.



Round 2 (Pick 53): Pittsburgh selects....


Anthony Hill Jr.: Linebacker from the University of Texas



The Patrick Queen replacement with a much higher ceiling. What was Patrick Queen's biggest shortcoming as a Linebacker? Processing information both pre snap and during the snap. What is Anthony Hill Jr.'s greatest attribute?! Doing both. Now, at a consistent level, not at this stage. However, there is another massive advantage that the Steelers have with Hill Jr that they didn't with Queen. Queen was limited heavily in terms of how he was deployed; namely as a pass rushing option. Queen did blitz.. but mainly from within the A Gap. Not the case with Hill Jr as he can truly blitz from anywhere and everywhere at his beckon call. Even from spots he shouldn't, such as being able to blitz from areas such as the backend, Hill Jr has shown he can not only get to the QB but close the distance very considerably. He is one of the fastest and most explosive Linebackers to come out in the draft but not just from a physical standpoint but also a processing standpoint as well. Overall coverage is also very good; doubly so from Zone Coverage. Screens are no match for him for he is too fast, too quick and too explosive. Man coverage is still a work in progress but the foundation is there; doubly so when he turns his head around when the ball is in the air.. something that isn't often seen in Linebackers. Not all is dandy though with Hill Jr. for he does share one critical weakness that Queen did; inability to shed blockers when they reach him at the second level. If there is a major advantage though that Hill Jr does possess that Queen never did is that Hill Jr possess superior overall anchor and strength; namely functional and core strength. He does need work here but he has shown he is able to covert speed to power when engaging opposing IOL during the running game. Add in his age of being only 21 and the sky truly is the limit for him. Nabbing a starter in the second round is not good value but great value; doubly so given that a player was traded.





Round 3 (Pick 85): Pittsburgh selects....


Skyler Bell: Wide Receiver from the University of Connecticut:


The team nabs their Wide Receiver; one that is still flying under the radar in my opinion. Skyler Bell is an older prospect; 24 years of age when the NFL Season. In addition, it is very fair to assume that Skyler is maxed out from a development standpoint and isn't going to provide much more than what he already shows. For a team like Pittsburgh though, what he does bring to the table is something the team hasn't had since Diontae Johnson; a Wide Receiver who possesses a PhD. in Route Running while being able to defeat press at the LOS. Now, Bell cannot do it consistently on the outside as he can on the inside but he is among the better Slot versatile options in the class. The best attribute that both the Steelers and Mike McCarthy will appreciate from Skyler Bell is his YAC abilities over the MOF along with his steady improvement in his concentration drops. While it still is a shortcoming for him to overcome, his improvement in 2025 suggests that he is on the upswing here and will continue to improve this aspect of his game. Combined with his abilities to make defenders miss in the open field and Pittsburgh now has the potential to field their best three WR's Day One. Michael Pittman Jr is the possession receiver, DK is the deep threat and Skyler is the route running savant. This doesn't just give the Steelers Offense more flexibility in terms of what plays to call but also where they can align their personnel given the aforementioned versatility of Bell.


Round 3 (Pick 99) Pittsburgh selects.....


Carson Beck: Quarterback from the University of Miami:


For me, this is the best QB in the class. If anything, among all the QBs in the class, I am pushing all my chips to the middle of the table for him being a legitimate NFL Starting QB. In the right system?! Beck has quasi Franchise QB ability. For those wondering how why I am so high on Beck in comparison to others in this class, it is due to Beck having some of the critical foundational aspects to be a successful NFL QB. To those that want to know what they are, here is the list:

1. Watch their heads when they are holding the ball in the pocket. Are they going through their progressions or not? Does it look like they are actually moving their heads and reading coverage post-snap, and are able to look at two or more of their targets regularly when dropping back? One of the skills NFL quarterbacks need to have is the ability to make two or more reads.
   
   
2. Are they getting the ball out of their hand quickly? With the kinds of speed pass-rushing demons screaming off the edges in today’s NFL game, it’s vitally important that college quarterbacks show the ability to get the ball out of their hand in a timely fashion. The NFL range for NFL QBs time to throw in 2025 was between 2.56 seconds and 3.24 seconds per Next Gen Stats.
   
   
3. Accurate throws. Watch the throwing locations. Is the quarterback you’re watching able to deliver the ball in a spot that puts the receiver in the best possible position to pick up yardage after the catch?
   
   
4. Keeping the ball out of harm’s way is extremely important. This is also referred to as “ball security.” Do they have the ability to keep defenders from touching their passes? I don’t just mean interceptions either. I also mean PBUs (passes broken up). I personally chart PBUs during college quarterback game film study.
   
   
5. How well can they adapt to the flow of the game post-snap?
   
   

Beck is the only QB in the class to possess this qualities. To begin, Beck is the only QB who is a multi read QB. He doesn't lock onto a target as the play develops. He allows the to develop while going through his progressions. However, he isn't just looking at his second or third option alone. There were instances in which Beck had to look to his fourth option during the season; notably in the Second Half of Miami's Season. Most would attribute this to the fact that Miami has some of the best Lineman in the draft. While I cannot offer a rebuttal for this statement on its own, I do attribute this to Beck's lightning fast processing backed up by the fastest release time of any QB in the class; 2.40 Seconds Per Pro Football Focus. Having just the processing alone doesn't mean much if the QB cannot release the football fast enough. Having both is something that both NFL Offense's and Coordinators can easily work with. In a League where it is often pick one or the other, Beck having both is a very appealing attribute for he is able to operate more comfortably than other QBs in this class. As for accuracy and ball security, Beck doesn't possess any major issues here. He does need some more fine tuning in terms of better understanding coverages and he isn't the most athletic of QBS to come out. However, for an NFL Offense like the West Coast that Mike McCarthy will deploy, Beck is a hand in glove fit. It is possible he will sit this season; not good given he will be 25 next season but the trade offs are worth the asking price. Don't overlook it; Beck can be a legit signal caller.




Round 4 (Pick 104) *** Pittsburgh trades pick 121 and pick 216 with Arizona to move up to this spot ***



Pittsburgh selects.....


Markel Bell: Offensive Tackle from the University of Miami


The same spot I had Markel Bell before is where he will stay this go around. This is also coming as it has been reported (keyword here) that Broderick Jones suffered a setback in his Spinal Fusion Surgery Recovery. Most would have another Offensive Tackle here but it is never a bad idea to have a OT that is both ready in one area while learning on the go in the other. Such a description describes Markel Bell; a massive human being who is a brick wall in pass protection. If one is accounting for solely pass protection alone, Markel Bell is the best Offensive Tackle in the class. Better than Spencer Fano, better than Morgan Freeling, better than Kadyn Proctor even. Like Proctor, from a pure pass protection standpoint, Bell is simply too explosive, too quick and too fast to do much of anything... from a pass protection perspective. His height might get him in trouble when dealing with shorter NFL EDGEs but he is the complete package otherwise. Now, if I am describing Markel Bell as this all world OT, why isn't he viewed much higher to others. Well.. the reason resides in his continual development in run blocking. While he is a beast in pass protection, the same cannot be said for run blocking. Displacement and anchor are not the issue but leverage and lateral range is. He isn't quick enough nor explosive enough to get to his landmarks at the second level; limiting his effectiveness as a run blocker. However, there is a potential out here. Pittsburgh does like to deploy a lot of Tight End eligible sets, more so than any other team. While the team does have a very reliable, if not an elite one in Spencer Anderson, having Markel Bell take some snaps to learn on the job isn't a bad idea; doubly so in short yardage situations. Doesn't make a lot of sense given his height is a disadvantage but given how often he will be going against opposing defenders smaller than him in such situations need to be accounted for. Against such small players who simply don't have the ability to move him is where Bell can develop. Give him time and Markel can become a solid starting OT.



Round 4 (Pick 135) Pittsburgh selects....


Michael Taaffe: Safety from the University of Texas:


What has Pittsburgh been notorious for during the tenure of Omar Khan's time as GM; draft players who came from the same school. This picture continues to ring true in the form of Michael Taaffe; a classic jack of trades but master of none Safety. Some might be shocked to see him this low but this speaks a lot more of the class overall than Taaffe's abilities. Pittsburgh gain though is the rest of the NFLs loss for Taaffe is well equipped to operate in Patrick Graham's scheme. For starters, when it comes to communication skills, few in the class are better than Michael. From getting the secondary onto the same page about the Offense's audibles to ensuring every player in the backend is lined up, Michael's acute Football IQ will not only endear him to the locker room but also earn him playing time for such situational awareness is uncommon for Rookies; doubly so for safeties. While Taaffe isn't the ball magnet the likes of Dillion Thieneman, Bud Clark, Genesis Smith or even Caleb Downs, he is a ball hawk nevertheless; 7 total interceptions during his career with both the ball tracking and proper angles towards the football on tape to back up his production. His biggest asset though is his versatility; meaningful snaps at free safety, in the box, and in the slot across multiple coverage schemes over four years. This isn't also accounting for his 500 snaps on Special Teams either; making him a very viable Special Teams ace during the early portions of his career. This leads me to the downsides of Taaffe; starting off with angles in the running game. No Defensive Coordinator wants their last line of defense to miss tackles. Taaffe's issues are more so technique based than desire based but in 2024, 21% of his tackles were constituted as misses. Thankfully, this issue was resolved greatly in 2025 but the concerns are still worth warranting. Even if not accounting for the missed tackle rate, his recovery speed isn't good enough for him to be warranted as a true Single High Deep Centerfielder. He has the processing, instincts and football acumen but is lacking in overall physical speed. Taaffe also needs some beefing up for his 190lbs is some of the lightest 190lbs I have seen. However, given his steady improvement, I don't see such beefing up to be an issue; highlighting why Michael Taaffe is the pick here. Pittsburgh is in dire need of a youth movement at the Safety Position and is in desperate need of some youth. Taaffe can provide that in a pinch in Year One while challenging to be a Starter in Year Two.



Round 5 (Pick 161) Pittsburgh selects.....


Tim Kennan: Defensive Lineman from the University of Alabama:


Tim does move down a full round in this mock. I do have him being selected by the Steeles as the team still lacks a true NT necessary to fit Patrick Graham's vision of a reliable two gapping monster. Tim knows he isn't going to register more than 3 sacks per season. Tim also knows that the team that drafts him wouldn't expect such either. What the team will receive in Tim is the most underrated Nose Tackle in the entire class. He commands double teams in the run game and due to his natural leverage, even some of the best displacement IOL in the NFL are going to have a tough out attempting to unroot this tree stump. Despite his short arm length, Tim possess very violent and very explosive strikes; both an admirable and necessary trait to maintain the point of attack at the LOS along with displacing his opposition at the same time. Outside off Kayden McDonald and Lee Hunter, there really isn't another NT in the class that can offer such a skillset. He will be 24 but he is a starting capable NT; very valuable if not worthy of being garnered steal worthy given how there are so few of players like him in the NFL. Some NFL NTs have the hands, power and Football IQ. Others have the leverage, displacement and strength. Few have both. Tim fits into such a category.



Round 7 (Pick 224) Pittsburgh selects.....


Anthony Lucas: EDGE from the University of Southern California:


Even after four years, is Anthony Lucas... is what he is; all sizzle and no steak?! Well.. there in lies the major issue with him. At first glance, he is built in the mold every team would want their NFL EDGEs to be; 6'5, 258lbs with the rare natural power that can go along with speed. Lucas isn't lacking the traits but the tools simply haven't come around. If there is a major issue with Lucas is he isn't able to fully bend the arc when taking on blocks against opposing OTs. That said, he does possess sufficient displacement abilities while having both the strength and power needed to rush the passer. If anything, Lucas can be a power based rusher as the NFL has seen its fair share of them. The question now becomes how does a team harness that talent?! Given how Khan has banked heavily on upside when it comes to 7th round players, it wouldn't shock me if he did the same again with Lucas.



Round 7 (Pick 230) Pittsburgh selects....


Will Kacmarek: Tight End from Ohio State:


Very much a steady eddie, Will has been flying under the radar for a while. Well, that ends right now as I believe the Steelers are in need of a Tight End a bit more than they are letting on. Will isn't going to be a pass catching demon and nor should he be. He can catch but his overall lack of athleticism will prevent him from even seeing the field; doubly so since Mike McCarthy operates more with Wide Receivers than he does with Tight Ends. That said, if there is one way that Will does earn his money is with a skillset that only Darnell Washington has; blocking. While Will is nowhere near the talent that Washington is as a blocker, what Will does give you is a steady player who can provide quality ability in both goal line and redzone situations while also being useful as a short yardage passing option should the need arise.



Round 7 (Pick 237) Pittsburgh selects.....


Andre Fuller: Cornerback from the University of Toledo


My position hasn't changed from the previous mock. Andre Fuller may likely be even gone after this spot but due to how deep the position is in this years class, it wouldn't surprise me if Andre was still on the board. As stated before and will again, Andre is a man based corner who does need an overhaul on the finer points of coverage. His Zone Coverage also needs to be coached up. That said, he possesses the baseline traits in terms of press, hip fluidity and ball tracking; a gamble worth taking in the 7th round and one that, again, Omar Khan would be all too keen in doing.



That will conclude the final mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft Cycle. This also marks the end of my coverage for the 2026 NFL Draft Cycle as well. It truly has been a wonderful run dating back to the Senior Bowl and this has been a lot of fun. For those of you who have read all of my material from back when, thank you for your support. For those of you new to my work, thank you for checking me out. As always, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!


Three Days remain until Curtain Call Descends In the Steel City. See you all next year and until then, this is AskQuestionsLater saying so long, stay safe and I will see you all next time!

 

These are your picks, correct? Did you use PFF, PFN, or NFLmockdatabase?

I like Anthony Hill and Skyler Bell picks. Bell would be a nice outlet for Rodgers, and Hill improves the LB room.
If we move up to 11, I hope it's not for a G.

 

None of them.


I mock players based on both draft positional value and needs. In layman's terms, MIPA (most impactful player available).

 

I’m guessing you don’t know the OP very well

Not that you meant it that way (I hope) but your question was a tad insulting

 

Very interesting mock. I really wouldn't be surprised if 1 or more of Highsmith, Queen and Ramsey were traded in the next 70hrs.

 

For me, of the three, Queen is the easiest to replace. Rather, he is the most cost efficient one to do so. Given how there are ILBs who can QB the Defense well enough in this draft + physical traits and tools, he is the odd one out of the three. Ramsey is old but I do believe that the team can find rock solid value in a draft that is not short on Safety talent. As for EDGE, unless there is a deal that completely blows the Steelers away, Highsmith stays.

 

Do you think Highsmith is worth a 1st round pick in this draft? I'd take that trade in a heartbeat.

 

No.


Not productive enough, too injured and a bit older than one would like.

 

Thing for me is that I highly doubt they pay Herbig big money if Highsmith is still on the roster. I really wouldn't be surprised if they trade Highsmith and let Herbig walk anyway, and work a 1st or 2nd rd rookie in the rotation with Herbig this season and become a ft starter in 27. That way the guy works across from TJ for a season or two before replacing Watt opposite him.

 

Start out with 12 picks and they only end up with one WR in the third round .

 

Final Draft. (This is hard, I hope Art, Omar, and Mike do much better)

 

Do I have this right? This is your mock draft and you are giving yourself a C- ?

Well done

Also does Joe Fagnano get a 4 year window

 

Most likely not our coveted #2

 

Make it 8
Can’t let go of a catch like that