MSalvant'S MOCK DRAFT

MSalvant'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON JAN 30, 2026

Reece 20250128

  • MSalvant DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Denzel Boston Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Denzel Boston
WR Washington
Emmanuel Pregnon Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
Emmanuel Pregnon
OG Oregon
Zakee Wheatley Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Zakee Wheatley
S Penn State
Nicholas Singleton Head Shot
PICK: 85 RND: 3 (PIT)
Nicholas Singleton
RB Penn State
Genesis Smith Head Shot
PICK: 99 RND: 3 (PIT)
Genesis Smith
S Arizona
Drew Allar Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (PIT)
Drew Allar
QB Penn State
DeMonte Capehart Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
DeMonte Capehart
DT Clemson
Treydan Stukes Head Shot
PICK: 159 RND: 5 (PIT)
Treydan Stukes
CB Arizona
J. Michael Sturdivant Head Shot
PICK: 213 RND: 6 (PIT)
J. Michael Sturdivant
WR Florida
Hykeem Williams Head Shot
PICK: 214 RND: 6 (PIT)
Hykeem Williams
WR Colorado
Riley Mahlman Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Riley Mahlman
OT Wisconsin
Jalil Farooq Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
Jalil Farooq
WR Maryland
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueB- NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
More right than wrong for the Steelers, and a B- to prove it.

For all the names on the card, the loudest question went unanswered. The Steelers walked out of the weekend still thin at edge rusher, a hole that has a way of deciding seasons. Good, not great, and the B- says as much.

Every board in the league had Farooq lower, and that gap is the story. Landing Smith that late papers over a lot of smaller sins. The offense got the lion's share of the attention.

All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.

Pick Analysis
Pick21 Rnd1 Denzel Boston
In No. 21 they get a No. 1 receiver. A real need, handled.
Pick53 Rnd2 Emmanuel Pregnon
Emmanuel Pregnon at Round 2, Pick 21 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Pick76 Rnd3 Zakee Wheatley
A reasonable price with a little left over, Zakee Wheatley in pick No. 76. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick85 Rnd3 Nicholas Singleton
Nicholas Singleton at pick 85 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick99 Rnd3 Genesis Smith
They read the board right and Genesis Smith was the payoff at slot 99. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick121 Rnd4 Drew Allar
The board had cheaper options than Drew Allar at the Round 4 slot, and it noticed. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick135 Rnd4 DeMonte Capehart
No edge and no loss on DeMonte Capehart in the 135th overall pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick159 Rnd5 Treydan Stukes
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Treydan Stukes at the 159th pick. The roster fit checks out.
Pick213 Rnd6 J. Michael Sturdivant
No drama and no debate, J. Michael Sturdivant went about where he belonged in the 213th overall pick. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick214 Rnd6 Hykeem Williams
They jumped the gun on Hykeem Williams, taking him earlier than his grade liked. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick224 Rnd7 Riley Mahlman
A straight-up fair deal on Riley Mahlman at No. 224, value and slot in agreement. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
Pick237 Rnd7 Jalil Farooq
They went early on Jalil Farooq in the Round 7 slot, and the value did not follow. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.