Frank DC'S MOCK DRAFT
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Frank DC'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON MAR 21, 2026

032126 Frank's Steeler Draft

  • Frank DC DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Olaivavega Ioane Head Shot
PICK: 25 RND: 1 (PIT)
Olaivavega Ioane
OG Penn State
CJ Allen Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
CJ Allen
LB Georgia
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
S Toledo
Skyler Bell Head Shot
PICK: 85 RND: 3 (PIT)
Skyler Bell
WR UConn
Sam Hecht Head Shot
PICK: 92 RND: 3 (PIT)
Sam Hecht
C Kansas State
Darrell Jackson Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 99 RND: 3 (PIT)
Darrell Jackson Jr.
DT Florida State
Will Lee III Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (PIT)
Will Lee III
CB Texas A&M
Davison Igbinosun Head Shot
PICK: 129 RND: 4 (PIT)
Davison Igbinosun
CB Ohio State
J.C. Davis Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
J.C. Davis
OT Illinois
Drew Allar Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (PIT)
Drew Allar
QB Penn State
Jeff Caldwell Head Shot
PICK: 216 RND: 6 (PIT)
Jeff Caldwell
WR Cincinnati
Jimmy Rolder Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Jimmy Rolder
LB Michigan
Cole Payton Head Shot
PICK: 230 RND: 7 (PIT)
Cole Payton
QB North Dakota State
Eli Heidenreich Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
Eli Heidenreich
WR Navy
Draft Picks Received
Olaivavega Ioane Head Shot
PICK: 25 RND: 1 (CHI)
Olaivavega Ioane
OG Penn State
Sam Hecht Head Shot
PICK: 92 RND: 3 (DAL)
Sam Hecht
C Kansas State
Davison Igbinosun Head Shot
PICK: 129 RND: 4 (CHI)
Davison Igbinosun
CB Ohio State
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 4 (DAL)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
R Mason Thomas Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (CHI)
R Mason Thomas
DE-EDGE Oklahoma
Players Gained
Head Shot
Luther Burden III
WR
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B+
ValueB NeedB TradesA+ FutureB-
The Steelers let McNeil-Warren fall and pounced. Final grade: B+.

Whoever sat across the table from the Steelers should ask for a receipt. They cleaned the room out, prying loose far more value than they gave up, and it was the quiet MVP of their weekend. No fireworks, but a solid B+.

The McNeil-Warren pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch. The Steelers indulged a want in Hecht while a need in edge rusher, running back and other spots stayed open. For all the activity, edge rusher went untouched, which is hard to explain.

In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.

Pick Analysis
Pick25 Rnd1 Olaivavega Ioane
In pick No. 25 they get a blindside protector. Need was not the driver here.
Pick53 Rnd2 CJ Allen
A linebacker of that caliber at the Round 2 slot is the definition of value, full stop. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick76 Rnd3 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
They will replay Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at the 76th pick for years; that is how good the value is. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick85 Rnd3 Skyler Bell
They took Skyler Bell at par in pick 85, which is nothing to complain about. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick92 Rnd3 Sam Hecht
A surprising call. With edge rusher, running back and other spots still to address, they spent slot 92 on Sam Hecht, an offensive lineman they were not short of.
Pick99 Rnd3 Darrell Jackson Jr.
Darrell Jackson Jr. in the 99th overall pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick121 Rnd4 Will Lee III
Will Lee III at Round 4, Pick 21 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the cornerback. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick129 Rnd4 Davison Igbinosun
Davison Igbinosun at the 129th pick nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick135 Rnd4 J.C. Davis
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, J.C. Davis adds an offensive lineman and leaves edge rusher, running back and other spots untouched.
Pick161 Rnd5 Drew Allar
Nice patience on Drew Allar, who had no business lasting to the 161st overall pick. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick216 Rnd6 Jeff Caldwell
They paid sticker price for Jeff Caldwell in pick 216, and that is fine. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick224 Rnd7 Jimmy Rolder
Jimmy Rolder slid further than he should have, and the Round 7 slot is lovely value for the linebacker. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick230 Rnd7 Cole Payton
A market-rate quarterback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Cole Payton. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick237 Rnd7 Eli Heidenreich
By-the-book stuff, Eli Heidenreich at slot 237 squarely in line with his ranking. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.