JohnMcKean'S MOCK DRAFT
  1. Home
  2. Simulator

JohnMcKean'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON MAR 29, 2026

WR Score

  • JohnMcKean DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Carnell Tate Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Carnell Tate
WR Ohio State
Emmanuel Pregnon Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
Emmanuel Pregnon
OG Oregon
Jacob Rodriguez Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Jacob Rodriguez
LB Texas Tech
Skyler Bell Head Shot
PICK: 85 RND: 3 (PIT)
Skyler Bell
WR UConn
Ted Hurst Head Shot
PICK: 99 RND: 3 (PIT)
Ted Hurst
WR Georgia State
Zakee Wheatley Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (PIT)
Zakee Wheatley
S Penn State
J.C. Davis Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
J.C. Davis
OT Illinois
Beau Stephens Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (PIT)
Beau Stephens
OG Iowa
Cole Payton Head Shot
PICK: 216 RND: 6 (PIT)
Cole Payton
QB North Dakota State
Thaddeus Dixon Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Thaddeus Dixon
CB North Carolina
Deven Eastern Head Shot
PICK: 230 RND: 7 (PIT)
Deven Eastern
DL Minnesota
Kaden Wetjen Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
Kaden Wetjen
WR Iowa
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueB NeedB- TradesB- FutureB-
The Steelers checked most of the boxes and earned a B-.

Nobody had Deven Eastern this high, and it is not close. The Steelers reached 49 spots to get him at slot 230. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.

Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Wheatley. The edge rusher hole is the one line item this class does not answer. With edge rusher, running back and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on offensive lineman is the choice that costs them.

Quarterback was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.

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

Pick Analysis
Pick21 Rnd1 Carnell Tate
In the 21st pick they get a No. 1 receiver, outstanding value to boot. A real need, handled.
Pick53 Rnd2 Emmanuel Pregnon
Emmanuel Pregnon at Round 2, Pick 21 is money in the bank, a offensive lineman taken below his worth. A minor itch, scratched.
Pick76 Rnd3 Jacob Rodriguez
Nothing to complain about; Jacob Rodriguez went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick85 Rnd3 Skyler Bell
No drama and no debate, Skyler Bell went about where he belonged in the 85th overall pick. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick99 Rnd3 Ted Hurst
Ted Hurst in the Round 3 slot is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick121 Rnd4 Zakee Wheatley
They will replay Zakee Wheatley at slot 121 for years; that is how good the value is. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick135 Rnd4 J.C. Davis
A curious use of Round 4, Pick 35. Edge rusher, running back and other spots needed the pick; an offensive lineman in J.C. Davis did not.
Pick161 Rnd5 Beau Stephens
Good price on Beau Stephens in the 161st pick, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Pick216 Rnd6 Cole Payton
Steal is underselling it; Cole Payton at the Round 6 slot is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick224 Rnd7 Thaddeus Dixon
Thaddeus Dixon at pick 224 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. It fills a real need, too.
Pick230 Rnd7 Deven Eastern
Value said wait; Deven Eastern in No. 230 says they were not listening. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick237 Rnd7 Kaden Wetjen
The board had Kaden Wetjen higher than slot 237, and the wide receiver fell to them anyway. It patches a soft spot without any drama.