wvumick21'S MOCK DRAFT
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wvumick21'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON FEB 16, 2026

wvumick 1st 2026

  • wvumick21 DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Kayden McDonald Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Kayden McDonald
DT Ohio State
Dillon Thieneman Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
Dillon Thieneman
S Oregon
Malik Muhammad Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Malik Muhammad
CB Texas
Omar Cooper Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 85 RND: 3 (PIT)
Omar Cooper Jr.
WR Indiana
Jack Endries Head Shot
PICK: 99 RND: 3 (PIT)
Jack Endries
TE Texas
Bryce Lance Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (PIT)
Bryce Lance
WR North Dakota State
Keylan Rutledge Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
Keylan Rutledge
OG Georgia Tech
Drew Allar Head Shot
PICK: 159 RND: 5 (PIT)
Drew Allar
QB Penn State
Eli Heidenreich Head Shot
PICK: 213 RND: 6 (PIT)
Eli Heidenreich
WR Navy
Trey Zuhn III Head Shot
PICK: 214 RND: 6 (PIT)
Trey Zuhn III
OT Texas A&M
Desmond Reid Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Desmond Reid
RB Pittsburgh
Nolan Rucci Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
Nolan Rucci
OT Penn State
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueB NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
Best value of the weekend goes to the Steelers for Thieneman: B-.

The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Steelers watched Dillon Thieneman slide 18 picks past his grade and did not hesitate. Call it a sensible B-, earned the boring way.

Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. They will need Zuhn III to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it. The roster is better shaped than it was, with quarterback chief among the fixes.

Add it up and it is a good, unfussy class.

Pick Analysis
Pick21 Rnd1 Kayden McDonald
No drama and no debate, Kayden McDonald went about where he belonged in the 21st pick. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick53 Rnd2 Dillon Thieneman
A top-tier safety at a bargain, Dillon Thieneman in slot 53, plain and simple. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick76 Rnd3 Malik Muhammad
Malik Muhammad at pick No. 76 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick85 Rnd3 Omar Cooper Jr.
Omar Cooper Jr. at Round 3, Pick 21 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick99 Rnd3 Jack Endries
They paid sticker price for Jack Endries in the Round 3 slot, and that is fine. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick121 Rnd4 Bryce Lance
They did well to land Bryce Lance in the 121st overall pick, just ahead of his grade. The roster fit checks out.
Pick135 Rnd4 Keylan Rutledge
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Keylan Rutledge at No. 135. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Pick159 Rnd5 Drew Allar
Drew Allar at pick 159 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick213 Rnd6 Eli Heidenreich
A reach for Eli Heidenreich in pick No. 213; a little patience would have been rewarded. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick214 Rnd6 Trey Zuhn III
A reach on Trey Zuhn III in pick 214; the board had better options right there. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Pick224 Rnd7 Desmond Reid
A straight-up fair deal on Desmond Reid at No. 224, value and slot in agreement. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick237 Rnd7 Nolan Rucci
Nolan Rucci in the 237th overall pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Stacking talent where they were already deep.