Steelers26'S MOCK DRAFT
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Steelers26'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON JAN 22, 2026

Steelers26

  • Steelers26 DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Makai Lemon Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Makai Lemon
WR USC
Emmanuel Pregnon Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
Emmanuel Pregnon
OG Oregon
Keionte Scott Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Keionte Scott
CB Miami
Zakee Wheatley Head Shot
PICK: 85 RND: 3 (PIT)
Zakee Wheatley
S Penn State
Omar Cooper Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 99 RND: 3 (PIT)
Omar Cooper Jr.
WR Indiana
Drew Allar Head Shot
PICK: 144 RND: 5 (PIT)
Drew Allar
QB Penn State
Bryce Boettcher Head Shot
PICK: 152 RND: 5 (PIT)
Bryce Boettcher
LB Oregon
Aamil Wagner Head Shot
PICK: 159 RND: 5 (PIT)
Aamil Wagner
OT Notre Dame
Kalil Alexander Head Shot
PICK: 185 RND: 6 (PIT)
Kalil Alexander
LB-EDGE Texas State
Nolan Rucci Head Shot
PICK: 196 RND: 6 (PIT)
Nolan Rucci
OT Penn State
Peyton Bowen Head Shot
PICK: 204 RND: 6 (PIT)
Peyton Bowen
S Oklahoma
Jordan Hall Head Shot
PICK: 213 RND: 6 (PIT)
Jordan Hall
DL Georgia
Jerry Wilson Head Shot
PICK: 214 RND: 6 (PIT)
Jerry Wilson
CB Florida State
Keaten Wade Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Keaten Wade
DE-EDGE Colorado
PJ Williams Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
PJ Williams
OT SMU
Draft Picks Received
Drew Allar Head Shot
PICK: 144 RND: 5 (CLE)
Drew Allar
QB Penn State
Bryce Boettcher Head Shot
PICK: 152 RND: 5 (BAL)
Bryce Boettcher
LB Oregon
Kalil Alexander Head Shot
PICK: 185 RND: 6 (WSH)
Kalil Alexander
LB-EDGE Texas State
Nolan Rucci Head Shot
PICK: 196 RND: 6 (WSH)
Nolan Rucci
OT Penn State
Peyton Bowen Head Shot
PICK: 204 RND: 6 (CLE)
Peyton Bowen
S Oklahoma
Draft Picks Traded
Ar'maj Reed-Adams Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (BAL)
Ar'maj Reed-Adams
OG Texas A&M
Kage Casey Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (CLE)
Kage Casey
OT Boise State
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueB- NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
No fireworks, just a tidy B- for the Steelers.

When the story of this class is written, it opens with Keaten Wade at Round 7, Pick 8, a reach of 55 spots that the board flatly disagrees with. Call it a sensible B-, earned the boring way.

However the rest shakes out, Cooper Jr. at that price is a win they earned. The running back spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. Job largely done: quarterback settled and 7 of 9 of the wish list covered.

In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the running back spot they never got to.

Pick Analysis
Pick21 Rnd1 Makai Lemon
A clean, defensible pick in the Round 1 slot with a little surplus value in Makai Lemon. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick53 Rnd2 Emmanuel Pregnon
Fair-plus on Emmanuel Pregnon, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Pick76 Rnd3 Keionte Scott
They read the board right and Keionte Scott was the payoff at the 76th overall pick. It fills a real need, too.
Pick85 Rnd3 Zakee Wheatley
Zakee Wheatley slid further than he should have, and slot 85 is lovely value for the safety. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick99 Rnd3 Omar Cooper Jr.
Circle this one: Omar Cooper Jr. at Round 3, Pick 35 is a fall that decides a draft. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick144 Rnd5 Drew Allar
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Drew Allar at No. 144. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick152 Rnd5 Bryce Boettcher
Bryce Boettcher in pick 152 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick159 Rnd5 Aamil Wagner
They paid sticker price for Aamil Wagner in the Round 5 slot, and that is fine. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Pick185 Rnd6 Kalil Alexander
They reached a country mile for Kalil Alexander at the 185th overall pick, and the board is aghast. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick196 Rnd6 Nolan Rucci
They paid a round early for Nolan Rucci in Round 6, Pick 17, more than the board wanted. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Pick204 Rnd6 Peyton Bowen
No drama and no debate, Peyton Bowen went about where he belonged in pick No. 204. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick213 Rnd6 Jordan Hall
A real head-scratcher, Jordan Hall in slot 213 is miles ahead of his ranking. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick214 Rnd6 Jerry Wilson
Nothing to complain about; Jerry Wilson went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick224 Rnd7 Keaten Wade
A big swing on Keaten Wade at No. 224, well ahead of any board in the building. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick237 Rnd7 PJ Williams
PJ Williams slipping to pick No. 237 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.