Way too early look at next yrs targets

QB:
Outside of Arch, I'm not really as high on this class as most

1. Arch Manning---- let's take care of the albatross in the rm 1st.... all eyes will be on Arch, who more than likely will stay in school for his senior season, but he absolutely had to be mentioned

2. Drew Allar ---- has some tools, but still hasn't put it all together yet

3. LaNorris Sellers ---- dual threat qb at 6'3" and tipping the scales at 246 Lbs.... Will be looked at closely to see if he puts it all together


RB:
No 1st rounders in this class, but still some good talent

1. Justice Hayes ---- multi talented runner with speed and more than a little wiggle

2. Makhi Hughes----- Home run hitter


WR:
Very intriguing class here

1. Zachariah Branch. ---- a bit slight, but blazing fast

2. Makai Lemon ---- Branch's bookend and nearly as fast

3. Johntay Cook ---- moves into the spotlight in Texas and should be Arch Manning's go to guy

4. J.Michael Sturdivant ---- has size and speed to burn

5. Nyck Harbor ---- measurables alone will make you salivate..... 6'5" 235 Lbs. 4.24 40

TE:
Nowhere near the star power of this yrs class, but still some good options

1. Shaman Easter ---- a bit slight, but a good route runner who knows how to get open and move the chains... definitely needs to add mass if you're looking for a blocker

2. Kenyon Sadiq ---- probably the most complete TE in next yrs class

OT:
some serious protectors here

1. Francis Mauigoa ---- will probably be the 1st tackle off the board

2. Spencer Fano ---- athletic OT that mirrors well

3. Isaiah "all" World ---- Sky scraper of a tackle who could put more mass on, but is very athletic

4. Elijah Pritchett ---- mauler in the run game

OG:
The 1st rd will have a surplus here

1. Emmanuel Pregnon ---- people movers with an attitude

2. Ar'maj Reed-Adams ---- beast of a blocker.. no one is getting past or through him

3. DJ Campbell ---- very good feet for his size

D-line:
Fairly strong group

1. Caleb Banks ---- space eater that commands double teams

2. Zxavian Harris ---- 6'7" 320 Lb mountain that will either get to the qb or bat his pass down

3. Darrell Jackson ---- hard to move... active and athletic

Edge:
some serious talent in this group

1. TJ Parker. ---- very likely a top 10 pick

2. Matayo Uiagalelei. ---- want to scare an opposing qb???? Put this guy on the field

3. L.T. Overton. ---- may be the most athletic of the edges in the next draft

ILB:
Probably the deepest position in the next draft

1. Anthony Hill ---- non stop motor with a nose for the ball

2. Sonny Styles ---- Safety Convert that flies all over the field


CB:

Good size in this class

1. Jalon Kilgore ---- size and speed to match

2. Mansour Delane ---- serious ball hawk

3. DJ McKinney ---- long cb that can stick with receivers


S:
Another class with real star power at the top

1. Caleb Downs ---- dynamic db that you have to account for at all times

2. Keon Sabb ---- thumper in the defensive backfield

3. Jordan Castell ---- Kyle Hamilton clone

 

Nyck Harbor at 242 lbs ran a 10.11 100 meter last spring for the Gamecocks track team. He was named an All American for track and field. I haven't seen any forty time for him but he might run the first sub 4.20 at the combine.

 

QB should be deep, doesn't necessarily mean good. Nussmeir, Klubik, Beck and others are intriguing names outside of who the OP mentioned. Eli Holstein, if he stays healthy, can find himself in the 1st Rd discussion as well.

 

what has arch done besides have a name? seriously.

 

The better question isn't if Arch will be any good. The question to ask is will Arch even declare?! My bets are for him to declare in 2027 at the earliest. 2026 is way too soon.


Nico's dumbass stunt has also caused the 2026 QB Class to be up in the air as well. I also don't believe that he is going to declare myself; not that it matters for Nico hasn't shown much of anything either.



As for the overview that @blackandgoldpatrol has outlined, as I said in the 2025 Draft Thread, any team needing Offensive Line is in good hands come 2026. Very, very talented and deep group overall. Guard though might be the best of the bunch when it is all said and done. Wide Receiver returns with a bang as well; Zachariah Branch possessing some of the quickest routes I have scouted since Amari Cooper. That dude is gonna make an NFL OC beyond happy. Running Back has seen a renaissance in the past couple of years but 2026 just might be a special one; Justice Haynes being as gifted if not more than Jeanty was ar having pure contact balance. Side note, that name should sound familiar as Juatice is the son of former Steeler Vernon Haynes.


As for Defense?! Safety, CB and as Patrol said in ILB (finally!) are some of the best value positions. Safety is lead by Caleb Downs but Dillon Thieneman is a name to watch. IDL isn't as strong as I would like and EDGE seems too top heavy at the moment.

 

At 6'5, 235lbs?! That is as close to Megatron as one will ever get. For that matter, Nyck is the first player to ever be rated number one back to back on Bruce Feldmans Freak List. Nyck definitley is a superfreaks superfreak; one with no equal.


I wouldn't mind nabbing him. Problem is, talents like him can easily get into Top 20 alone just on their athletic gifts alone; transcendent in his cade.

 

In a small sample size, he's shown that he can be dynamic, and he has archie's mobility

 

There's always QB's that come, seemingly, out of nowhere as well. Like John Mateer at Oklahoma maybe. Or possibly Altmyer from Illinois, or Robertson from Baylor. These are just a few guys that are not in the usual conversation like Nuss, Arch, Nico, Sellers, Klubnik, Allar, Beck, Leavitt.

 

Yeah, there's 11 names right there that will be eligible and show a lot of promise. Of course not all will declare. At this age these guys can take huge leaps in one year as a starter. You just never know. Burrow is a classic example.

 

Steelers will need a G, CB, SAF and QB next year. Hopefully we can trade back and acumalte more draft picks in anticipation of 2027 for QB.

 

He warmed the bench for a guy drafted in the 7th round.

 

Crap now we are pushing off a quarterback for two years

 

Not to keep beating a dead horse…but
As long as Tomlin is here doesn’t matter who we draft.
Current coaching staff has proven time and time again, they can’t put players at their natural positions, let alone develop any players
Penguins just got rid of Sullivan
Pirates need to get rid of Shelton
Steelers need to get rid of Tomlin
Let’s make Pittsburgh the city of Champions again!

 

People on here getting down on Jones, thank the coaching staff for playing him at an unnatural position.
Also, remember, it took almost 3 years for Cam to breakout.
Cam was being called a bust by many, until than.

 

what-- let's see what happens this year first ok...Let's hope for a Superbowl and the last pick in the draft.This season hasn't even started and re we looking to next year already.Yaa I want Manning ...Lets go.

 

Bull****

Do you think it would have been better to let him sit on the bench rather than
Play at all

That was the other option

 

Way to early to project anything, but you cannot keep pushing the QB hunt off, if a guy you like drops enough you see to trade up and grab him, Khan will have enough picks to do some extra work, the core is there and depth is coming along, perhaps Howard shows enough they will feel comfortable doing what you said, but you can't keep hoping to sign aging QB's on the cheap and get anywhere long term.

 

Agree to disagree… player plays his position all throughout his career, why move him.?!
As for sitting on bench, could’ve rotated players. Plus, get to learn more by watching than being in the fire.
Let’s throw KFP into the deep end and watch him drown. Not sticking up for KFP, as he dont have basic qb skills, but Tomlin done him wrong too.
As for Mason, he must’ve had no where else to go. If I was him I certainly wouldn’t of come back. Accept the truth, time for coach T to go.

 

Manning isn’t coming out next year.

 

Tomlin has been caught saying, I want to win now not later. Thus the reason we keep getting has beens and never was at qb
One good thing, Steelers FO didn’t listen to the fans by signing Sam Darnold!

 

Also, on your so called BS… Moore not even with the Steelers anymore. Wow really?
Get a first rd LT and make him play RT. Yeah you’re right

 

I am right

He was not going to be better than Moore

He would have sat on the bench

Any snap at any position is good

So again bull****