SAMMY 123'S MOCK DRAFT
  1. Home
  2. Simulator

SAMMY 123'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON APR 20, 2026

2026-71

  • SAMMY 123 DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Arvell Reese Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Arvell Reese
LB Ohio State
D'Angelo Ponds Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
D'Angelo Ponds
CB Indiana
Germie Bernard Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Germie Bernard
WR Alabama
Michael Taaffe Head Shot
PICK: 85 RND: 3 (PIT)
Michael Taaffe
S Texas
Jake Slaughter Head Shot
PICK: 99 RND: 3 (PIT)
Jake Slaughter
C Florida
Cole Payton Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (PIT)
Cole Payton
QB North Dakota State
Justin Joly Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
Justin Joly
TE NC State
Zavion Thomas Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (PIT)
Zavion Thomas
WR LSU
Eli Heidenreich Head Shot
PICK: 216 RND: 6 (PIT)
Eli Heidenreich
WR Navy
Bryson Eason Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Bryson Eason
DT Tennessee
Nolan Rucci Head Shot
PICK: 230 RND: 7 (PIT)
Nolan Rucci
OT Penn State
Diego Pavia Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
Diego Pavia
QB Vanderbilt
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueB- NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
A sensible, unshowy class lands the Steelers a B-.

The move everyone will second-guess came early. The Steelers reached some 81 spots for Cole Payton, and value like that does not grow back.

The Slaughter value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it.

Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.

Pick Analysis
Pick21 Rnd1 Arvell Reese
In the 21st overall pick they get a green-dot type in the middle, outstanding value to boot. A real need, handled.
Pick53 Rnd2 D'Angelo Ponds
A tidy little value on D'Angelo Ponds in the Round 2 slot, a step better than break-even. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick76 Rnd3 Germie Bernard
Value with a capital V on Germie Bernard in pick 76, a genuine coup. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick85 Rnd3 Michael Taaffe
They let Michael Taaffe come to them and pounced at Round 3, Pick 21. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick99 Rnd3 Jake Slaughter
Taking Jake Slaughter in the 99th pick is close to grand larceny; an offensive lineman that good had no business lasting this long. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Pick121 Rnd4 Cole Payton
They talked themselves into Cole Payton at No. 121, and the board did not agree. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick135 Rnd4 Justin Joly
A quiet steal in slot 135: Justin Joly for less than the market said. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick161 Rnd5 Zavion Thomas
A wild overpay on Zavion Thomas in pick 161, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick216 Rnd6 Eli Heidenreich
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Eli Heidenreich. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick224 Rnd7 Bryson Eason
They paid sticker price for Bryson Eason in Round 7, Pick 8, and that is fine. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick230 Rnd7 Nolan Rucci
Nolan Rucci in pick No. 230 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Pick237 Rnd7 Diego Pavia
Diego Pavia at No. 237 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.