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

2026-72

  • SAMMY 123 DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Sonny Styles Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Sonny Styles
LB Ohio State
Eli Stowers Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
Eli Stowers
TE Vanderbilt
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
Julian Neal Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (PIT)
Julian Neal
CB Arkansas
Max Llewellyn Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
Max Llewellyn
DE-EDGE Iowa
Cole Payton Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (PIT)
Cole Payton
QB North Dakota State
Zavion Thomas Head Shot
PICK: 216 RND: 6 (PIT)
Zavion Thomas
WR LSU
Nolan Rucci Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Nolan Rucci
OT Penn State
Eli Heidenreich Head Shot
PICK: 230 RND: 7 (PIT)
Eli Heidenreich
WR Navy
Andre Fuller Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
Andre Fuller
CB Toledo
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueB NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
Grand theft in the Round 3 slot: the Steelers steal Slaughter and grade out a B-.

When a board-topper like Jake Slaughter slides to pick 99, you do not overthink it, and the Steelers did not. No fireworks, but a solid B-.

They will need Payton to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it. They will regret leaving interior defensive lineman for another day if the season turns on it.

They left with quarterback solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.

Good work on the whole, with interior defensive lineman the one box left unchecked.

Pick Analysis
Pick21 Rnd1 Sonny Styles
In the 21st overall pick they get the heartbeat of the defense at a price that makes it sweeter. A clean fit for the roster.
Pick53 Rnd2 Eli Stowers
A straight-up fair deal on Eli Stowers at Round 2, Pick 21, value and slot in agreement. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick76 Rnd3 Germie Bernard
They read the board right and Germie Bernard was the payoff at pick 76. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick85 Rnd3 Michael Taaffe
Michael Taaffe slipping to pick No. 85 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
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 Julian Neal
No drama and no debate, Julian Neal went about where he belonged in No. 121. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick135 Rnd4 Max Llewellyn
This one needs a full-page explanation: Max Llewellyn in slot 135, miles early. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick161 Rnd5 Cole Payton
Value said wait; Cole Payton in the Round 5 slot says they were not listening. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick216 Rnd6 Zavion Thomas
They reached a country mile for Zavion Thomas at the Round 6 slot, and the board is aghast. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick224 Rnd7 Nolan Rucci
They left a pile of value on the table to take Nolan Rucci this early at pick No. 224. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
Pick230 Rnd7 Eli Heidenreich
Eli Heidenreich at Round 7, Pick 14 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. It fills a real need, too.
Pick237 Rnd7 Andre Fuller
They paid sticker price for Andre Fuller in pick 237, and that is fine. The roster fit checks out.