Steelers annual draft review thread. 2026

I still believe that he has a chance to become a productive player. I liked him coming out of college. He has the ability to get open and catches the ball well. He runs well after the catch. He is a willing blocker and he plays hard. I want to see him in McCarthy's offense and to get some opportunities.

What we don't know about is the mental aspects of his game. There were rumors of him having trouble understanding the playbook and making a lot of mistakes. I hope that was exaggerated, and I hope he has learned how to be a pro and really hits the playbook in the new offense and learns all his assignments.

We will find out more about him soon enough.

 

Aaron did this repeatedly last year

Against GNB he was 4/5 for 74

Then Rodgers stopped targeting him

 

Let's just assume that Roman Wilson figures something out or responds better to the new staff in 2026. A WR room of Metcalf, Pittman, Wilson, Bernard, and whatever else the Steelers piece together is certainly more capable on paper than the last several years.

 

No doubt.

 

Imma bet that Bernard outsnaps Wilson this year. Last year when DK was out along with Washington and they were desperate for receiving help, Wilson didn't even get a snap in four out of the last five games. Something is just way off with the guy. He's practically had two redshirted seasons.

 

If I wanted to cheat on who I would have taken, I could do that.

 

But we do know how the draft went, and that showed that Scott didn't belong in the second round.

 

The bet I will take is Bernard won't get more snaps than DK or Pittman. Any takers?

Two other WR's were picked after Lemon and the Steelers flet they had to trade up in round two to get Bernard. So we spent a 2nd a 4th round pick on Bernard to obtain Bernard.

 

Not sure why anyone would expect a WR3 to outsnap WR1 & 2.... Metcalf and Pittman are in their primes and have proven themselves.

 

I'm not going to argue this, but that's because Bernard is a pick that was made since McCarthy is here, and Roman wasn't, Bernard was a 2nd round, and Roman was a 3rd, and I know how coaches , and team try to do things if they can, and He will automatically get more chances. It doesn't mean he can't, or won't play, or be good, but that now Bernard will get more of a leash.

 

I think Bernard will most likely get more snaps too. I don't even know if they plan on using Wilson as an outside receiver, in the slot, or both.

I also believe Bernard is going to be very good in the slot and very productive. I was simply saying that I thought Wilson still has a chance to be a decent player.

 

For what it’s worth Mr McCarthy said

”I really had a great conversation with him the other day,” McCarthy said via Nick Farabaugh. “Just looking forward to working with him. I think he’s a young man that a new system, new fresh start… I’m hoping he’s one of those guys who will benefit from it.”

 

It would certainly eliminate the "Aaron Rodgers doesn't like young receivers" as the cause of Wilson's problem.

I think it comes down to a conscience decision Tomlin made. Knowing that the margin for winning games was likely to be razor thin and he didn't want to lose games from dumb rookie mistakes. The whole kick return fiasco was a huge setback for Johnson's season.

 

And then there is this...

“I think that you’ve gotta take it all the way back to the San Francisco days, really,” Dunne said Monday on 93.7 The Fan. “He holds a grudge like no other. Those aren’t my words. Those are words of players. … It’s part of what makes him special. He can create enemies, be they real or imagined, go out there, he feasts on those enemies — it’s part of what makes Aaron Rodgers an all-time great. And I think that he never forgot that Mike McCarthy preferred Alex Smith over himself as the OC for the 49ers."

The scary part is that I've known guys like this. There is no fix to it. This is who they are, and they probably don't even realize it.

 

R. Wilson was a victim of the previous coaching staff. He is ideally suited as a slot WR. He’s fast, shifty, and quick, and I believe he has a real chance to develop into a solid player. Mike M will use him correctly.

Bernard is an all-around type of receiver. He is a jack of all trades type, but master at none. I see his role as a chain mover mostly on the outside.

 

Johnson couldn’t learn one basic roll on kick returns

He assuredly doesn’t have the marbles to learn an offensive playbook or be trusted to pick up a blitz

 

Barry Foster made the same mistake as a rookie. Two years later, he set the Steelers' single-season record with 1,690 yards rushing.

 

If Johnson ends up half as good as Foster was in '93 and '94... it will be a good pick.

Foster had a very short career... I think he signed with Bengals after Steelers, but he never played for them. Retired early. Bam replaced him in '95.