There’s plenty of optimism surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. For one, the event is taking place right in the heart of Pittsburgh’s North Shore – its first time in the ‘Burgh since 1948. It’s also the beginning of a new era for the Steelers, who have a new head coach for the first time since 2007.
Pittsburgh picks at No. 21 in the first round, and there’s a wide range of directions the franchise can go with the selection. Unfortunately, predicting the position of a team’s first drafted player is not as easy as it sounds. It’s not always the biggest hole in the roster that needs to be addressed first. Instead, it might be a position that offers only a handful of top-tier prospects before there’s a steep dropoff in talent. Waiting too long to address a position of need can be just as bad as reaching for one.
Below, we’ll look at the position the Steelers are most likely to pick first, with best available options for all nine categories. And don’t forget to get the best NFL odds by using our top-rated NFL Draft sportsbooks.
Position of Steelers’ First Player Drafted
Odds for the position of the Steelers’ first drafted player come from BetOnline and are current as of Thursday, April 9.
- Wide Receiver (+185)
- Offensive Lineman (+195)
- Defensive Line / EDGE (+475)
- Quarterback (+700)
- Cornerback (+900)
- Safety (+1000)
- Tight End (+1400)
- Running Back (+4000)
- Kicker / Punter / Long Snapper (+20000)
Oddsmakers anticipate that the Steelers will look to improve the offense by going for a wide receiver or offensive lineman. A quarterback isn’t out of the question in the first round, but the expectation is that the team will focus on the supporting cast.
Best Options by Position
We know which positions the Steelers will likely choose from, but who’s the best option at each spot? Here’s a quick breakdown which direction Pittsburgh could go on draft night.
Wide Receiver: Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
By the time the Steelers pick at No. 21, several of the top wide receivers – including Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson – should already be off the board. If that’s the case, and Pittsburgh is set on taking a wideout with its first pick, it’ll need to choose from the next tier of prospects.
There are a few different options the Steelers can go with here. Denzel Boston is tall at 6-foot-4, but there are questions about his speed and separation. KC Concepcion is smaller, but faster, shifty and more versatile. Then there’s Omar Cooper Jr., a champion at Indiana who made the touchdown reception at Penn State.
The Steelers picked up Michael Pittman Jr. as a likely No. 2 to DK Metcalf, but the slot is lacking. It all depends on preference, but I think Pittsburgh will value Cooper’s toughness and versatility over Concepcion’s flat-out speed.
Offensive Lineman: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Steelers need more weapons, but even the best receivers in the world can’t make up for a bad offensive line. Pro Football Focus had Pittsburgh ranked No. 8 in that regard this past season, but there’s always room for improvement.
Kadyn Proctor is the guy who’s shown up in most mocks as the Steelers’ likely selection if they go O-line here. An All-American in 2025, Proctor is massive at 6-foot-7 and 350 pounds, and he ran a 5.21 40-yard dash at the combine.
Pittsburgh could also go with Caleb Lomu or Blake Miller here, though Lomu is a bit more raw and Miller lacks polish despite being a top-tier athlete at his position. The Steelers probably want a starter from the jump, though, and that’s Proctor.
Defensive Lineman: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Many of the biggest names at this position won’t fall into Pittsburgh’s range, but there will still be several great options available at No. 21. Akheem Mesidor may still be there, plus Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, Kayden McDonald and Cashius Howell.
The Steelers did draft a defensive tackle in Derrick Harmon with their first-round pick in 2025, and they picked up defensive linemen with their fourth- and fifth-round picks, too. Should they look to fix it up again this time, Peter Woods may be the best play.
A second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC player in 2025, Woods boasts elite size and production and has plenty of upside. He would fit nicely into a young defensive that also rosters Harmon and Keeanu Benton.
Quarterback: Ty Simpson, Alabama
There’s really only one quarterback that would make sense for the Steelers to draft in the first round, and that’s Simpson. Pittsburgh is reportedly still waiting on a decision from Aaron Rodgers, but if it turns out that he doesn’t return, Simpson could be a smart bet.
He doesn’t have exceptional arm talent, and his completion rate dipped over his final four games. Moreover, it’s hard to tell if that’s a pattern or simply a poor stretch, as Simpson was only a starter for one year.
With that said, Simpson has plenty of potential, and it may be wiser for the Steelers to grab him early rather than settle for a lesser prospect in Garrett Nussmeier or Drew Allar in a later round.
Cornerback: Avieon Terrell, Clemson
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Steelers address the CB room at the NFL Draft. Joey Porter Jr. is a stud, but Jalen Ramsey’s best days are behind him, and it remains to be seen what they have in Asante Samuel Jr.
Of the corners that should be available within their range, Jermod McCoy, Avieon Terrell and Colton Hood stand out as the best options. McCoy and Hood were teammates at Tennessee, and while Terrell is the shortest of the three, he’s wildly competitive.
You can’t go wrong with any of three, but Terrell’s fit may be the smoothest for the Steelers. He won’t need to draw many big assignments early in the season, but he could certainly do so in time and grow into a strong complement to Porter.
Safety: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Unless the Steelers trade up, there’s really only one safety that makes sense to grab in the first round, and that’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Earning third-team All-American and first-team All-MAC honors as a senior, McNeil-Warren was incredibly productive for the Rockets and is a true first-round talent.
Pittsburgh has already hosted him for a pre-draft visit, so there’s certainly interest in nabbing him with the No. 21 pick. It may not be as likely a selection as a wideout or lineman, but internal draft boards always vary from online mocks.
Tight End: Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Longtime tight ends coach Brian Angelichio is taking over as offensive coordinator for the Steelers in 2026, reuniting with new head coach Mike McCarthy. Pittsburgh already has two strong options on the roster in Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, but perhaps the franchise looks to add another in the first round?
It seems unlikely, but if the Steelers do go in that direction, their best bet would be Kenyon Sadiq. It’ll take a little luck for him to fall into Pittsburgh’s range, but he brings something to the table that neither of the Steelers’ current starters do: elite speed and athleticism.
Sadiq ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and posted a 43.5-inch vertical jump at the combine, rounding out a freakish display that significantly boosted his draft stock. Adding an unbelievable athlete like Sadiq would allow Pittsburgh plenty of room for creativity.
Running Back: Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
There’s no chance that Jeremiyah Love will still be on the board when the Steelers pick at No. 21, but his former teammate at Notre Dame – Jadarian Price – has every reason to be. And while he’s currently projected to go in the middle of the second round, his versatility in the return game makes him especially intriguing.
Chances are slim that Pittsburgh would actually reach here (especially with 2025 third-rounder Kaleb Johnson poised to take on a larger role), but stranger things have happened on draft night.
Special Teams: Drew Stevens, Iowa
Please don’t consider making this bet. The Steelers are absolutely not drafting a kicker, punter or long snapper with their first pick when there’s plenty more impactful talent available. Pittsburgh is also very secure on special teams thanks to Chris Boswell and Cameron Johnston.
But let’s embrace the hypothetical here. If it happens, Iowa’s Drew Stevens is the call. He went 41-for-42 on extra points and led the Big Ten in both field goal makes (22) and attempts (28) in 2025, scoring a total of 107 points for a Hawkeyes offense that finally figured out how to score.
Stevens hit from as far as 58 yards out in 2025, and he made 12 field goals of 50 yards or more during his time at Iowa. He’ll absolutely make an NFL roster, but there’s zero chance that he’s taken in the first round – let alone by the Steelers.
Best NFL Draft Bet for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Wide receiver is the biggest area of need for Pittsburgh, and the franchise’s reluctance to draft one in the first round has become a sticking point. You have to go all the way back to 2006, when the Steelers selected Santonio Holmes, to find a first-round wideout in their draft history.
This is a prime opportunity for Pittsburgh’s new regime to make an impact. There will be no shortage of worthy wide receivers available when the Steelers are on the clock. Whether it’s Boston, Concepcion or Cooper, it seems more likely than not that wide receiver (+185) is their first drafted position.
