Steelers 2026 Draft Class

You can erase my thread if you want. I submitted it at about the same time you did for this one. Mine was just a voting poll on the overall grade of the draft.

 

Should have drafted an ILB and DT/NT... but I see the logic in some of these picks.

 

This was my biggest head scratcher when WR Skyler Bell was still available. Bell was a WR that the Steelers had interviewed and brought into Pittsburgh for a Visit.



And, I am still drooling over the Browns draft. Crazy, 4 guys who ranked in the overall top 50.

 

First off Gabe Rubio is your NT/DT.

Second....... Patrick Queen is going NOWHERE!!!!!!!!

 

ILB was the miss for me, keeping it all the same and swapping Allar for an ILB would’ve been my preference… though I will admit that having Graham and a newer scheme might change how the ILB’s perform. I think we really like Joseph-Day at NT. Between him, Benton, and Black we should be good on the interior for now. Can’t bolster every position… only so many picks.

I like the direction it took for the most part. Only time will tell how we did.

 

Hopefully Queen will improve under the Graham regime. Not impressed with any of our ILBs. They were a weakness last year... so was the interior DL.

 

Despite me saying otherwise it was a solid draft

 

I will post my annual draft review either tomorrow or Monday! I have previous years if anyone is interested in judging what I would have done vs. the Steelers.


Here is a preview of it. Round one.


2026 Steeler draft review. There is my annual who I would have taken thread. If you care to play along, and don't live in a glass house and throw stones, you are welcome to add in who you would have taken. The rules are you can only take a player on the board in a given round.

Having said that here is who I would have taken.

Round one.

Steelers selected OT Iheanachor

I would have taken DT McDonald. A dominant 0-technique prospect and elite run defender. He recorded a 92.0 PFF run-defense grade in 2025 and is a powerful force in the middle. No -- that is not accurate. He is a beast.

Grade for need at the position. B-

Grade for value in the round C+. Most see him as a reach.


The Steelers blew it, being ready to take another player ( a WR ) who was on the phone only to pass on trading down and settling on Max Iheanacho. While he is a skilled pass protector who only gave up 3 sacks in 32 games. vs. competition below average competition, he also has small hands ( 9 " ) , is a so-so run blocker ( not a powerblock blocker ) and grew up in Africa and did not play football until College! He played RT, not LT for 30 of 32 games! He is football raw and played on a weak schedule. He projects a finesse tackle with so-so strength and IMO will struggle a bit as a run blocker. He was flagged 16 times. RED FLAG. He did come on late and had a good week of senior bowl practices. IMO , he will not be ready to start in 2026 and will only do so due to injury. The Steelere didn't even bring him in for a live interview! The process and thinking of this pick ...


Projected grade in the years. C


Each man gets a review.
I will post my annual draft review either tomorrow or Monday! I have previous years if anyone is interested in judging what I would have done vs. the Steelers.


Here is a preview of it. Round one.


2026 Steeler draft review. There is my annual who I would have taken thread. If you care to play along, and don't live in a glass house and throw stones, you are welcome to add in who you would have taken. The rules are you can only take a player on the board in a given round.

Having said that here is who I would have taken.

Round one.

Steelers selected OT Iheanachor

I would have taken DT McDonald. A dominant 0-technique prospect and elite run defender. He recorded a 92.0 PFF run-defense grade in 2025 and is a powerful force in the middle. No -- that is not accurate. He is a beast.

Grade for need at the position. B-

Grade for value in the round C+. Most see him as a reach.


The Steelers blew it, being ready to take another player ( a WR ) who was on the phone only to pass on trading down and settling on Max Iheanacho. While he is a skilled pass protector who only gave up 3 sacks in 32 games. vs. competition below average competition, he also has small hands ( 9 " ) , is a so-so run blocker ( not a powerblock blocker ) and grew up in Africa and did not play football until College! He played RT, not LT for 30 of 32 games! He is football raw and played on a weak schedule. He projects a finesse tackle with so-so strength and IMO will struggle a bit as a run blocker. He was flagged 16 times. RED FLAG. He did come on late and had a good week of senior bowl practices. IMO , he will not be ready to start in 2026 and will only do so due to injury. The Steelere didn't even bring him in for a live interview! The process and thinking of this pick ...


Projected grade in the years. C


Each man gets a review.

 

I’m guessing they viewed Bell as a slot receiver only and he don’t return kicks/punts. Since we drafted Bernard, why do we need Bell as well? It was probably as simple as that. They prioritized the returner and hope to develop him as a slot receiver.

Yeah, you get to draft a lot of high talent when your team consistently sucks. You get to draft 4 guys in the top 50 when other teams trade up to your highly valuable draft slot because you sucked the year before last too lol

 

They should've drafted Omar Cooper not McDonald in round one.

 

Gabe Rubio is likely headed there.


Agreed with the lack of ILB. I guess the team trusts Carson Bruener then?!

 

I think this draft continued the rebuild plan that was laid out when Khan took over as GM. Time will tell if they chose wisely.

 

bruener can move well. i'm waiting to see what he can do not pigeon holed as a ST guy only. holcomb year 2 after a major injury. harrison and how he's used under this staff. wilson year 3. they have also stated they will move guys around as in herbig.