Steelers draft picks tracker: Every selection, live grades
Steelers draft picks tracker: Every selection, live grades
Joe Rivera, USA TODAYThu, April 23, 2026 at 9:15 PM UTC
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to look a lot different in 2026 than they have for the last two decades. Mike Tomlin stepped down from his coaching post after 19 years in charge of the franchise, forcing the Steelers to hire just their fourth new head coach since 1969.
Pittsburgh's choice? Native son Mike McCarthy was tapped to lead them. The 62-year-old previously coached the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys and will look to help the ever-successful Steelers win their first postseason game since the 2016 NFL playoffs.
Most of the Steelers' core is returning for the 2026 NFL season. General manager Omar Khan was also more aggressive than usual in free agency, adding players like Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker to boost the secondary and Rico Dowdle and Michael Pittman Jr. to supplement the offense.
The biggest remaining question is about who will play quarterback. Many presume Aaron Rodgers will re-sign with the Steelers for a second season, but the mercurial veteran hasn't yet announced his decision ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
That may leave the Steelers looking for another quarterback to pair with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, unless Rodgers has given his word that he will return.
Here's everything to know about the Steelers' picks, needs and outlook for the 2026 NFL Draft:
1 / 0Ranking top 25 prospects for 2026 NFL Draft -
Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio StateOn a defense already dotted with stars, Reese rose from an occasional contributor to a bona fide star in his first full season as a starter. The 6-4, 241-pound linebacker exhibited uncommon fluidity for a player of his size, finding equal comfort dropping back in coverage as bullying his way into the backfield. His pass-rush plan is still rather rudimentary at the moment, but he has the toolkit of a double-digit sack artist. In a league where defenses are constantly taxed against the pass and run, Reese displays a unique aptitude for detonating whatever play an offense might throw at him.
Steelers 2026 NFL Draft picks
The Steelers have 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list:
Round 1, Pick 21
Round 2, Pick 53
Round 3, Pick 76 (from Cowboys)
Round 3, Pick 85
Round 3, Pick 99
Round 4, Pick 121
Round 4, Pick 135
Round 5, Pick 161
Round 6, Pick 216
Round 7, Pick 224 (from Saints via Patriots)
Round 7, Pick 230 (from Colts)
Round 7, Pick 237
The Steelers have three total third-round picks: their own, a compensatory selection and one acquired from the Dallas Cowboys as part of the George Pickens trade.
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Prediction time: We asked 5 AI chatbots to predict the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's how it went
Steelers NFL draft grades
This section will be after the Steelers make their first selection.
Steelers 2026 NFL Draft needsQuarterback
Will Aaron Rodgers return to the Steelers? Signs point to yes, but even so, the 42-year-old quarterback won't be a long-term option for Pittsburgh. Adding a mid-round quarterback like Garrett Nussmeier or Drew Allar to compete with Will Howard to be Rodgers' successor could be in the cards – provided the Steelers don't target a player like Ty Simpson with their first-round pick.
Left guard
The Steelers let Isaac Seumalo – a 2024 Pro Bowler – walk in free agency. They may be willing to trust fourth-year veteran Spencer Anderson and free-agent signing Brock Hoffman to compete for the starting job. However, if Pittsburgh views the experienced players more as backups, they could target players like Olaivavega Ioane or Emmanuel Pregnon with their early draft picks.
Wide receiver
The Steelers acquired Michael Pittman Jr. to pair with DK Metcalf, but they could still use some speed and shiftiness in their receiving corps. Georgia's Zachariah Branch – a screen pass maven with great skills as a return man – could be an ideal fit for the team on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Steelers 2026 NFL mock draft
Here's what the Steelers could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft:
Round 1, Pick 21: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, had a solid 2025 campaign for a Clemson squad that underperformed on the whole. He’s slightly undersized at 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds which may mean he sticks in the nickel but he has the attitude to hold up there in run defense. He’s a turnover creator with five forced fumbles in 2025 alone.
Round 2, Pick 53: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Howell falls well out of the first round thanks to his outlier arm length (30 ¼ inches). The Steelers looked past that with Nick Herbig in 2023 and could do something similar with Howell here. The Aggies product is a bendy edge rusher with the burst to impact opposing offensive lines. In Pittsburgh, he could at least be a rotational pass rusher from Day 1.
Round 3, Pick 73*: QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Armed with a lot of Day 3 picks, Pittsburgh makes a small bump to the order in Round 3 to get a potential quarterback of the future. Nussmeier’s father, Doug, worked with Steelers coach Mike McCarthy so he’s plenty familiar with the LSU passer. Nussmeier could play better in the NFL than expected after recovering from a core injury that plagued his 2025 season.
Round 3, Pick 85: WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
The Steelers brought in Michael Pittman Jr. and still have DK Metcalf but could use even more speed if they hope to contend in the AFC. Branch would be a great fit if Aaron Rodgers returns in 2026 as he's a screen merchant who thrives on quick passes.
Round 3, Pick 99: LB Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Barham was an off-ball linebacker but could rush the passer more in the NFL thanks to his explosive athleticism. Will need time to develop his tools but the block shedding is there to be a contributor off the edge and grow into a hybrid role.
Round 4, Pick 129**: DT Tim Keenan III, Alabama
Round 4, Pick 135: S Bud Clark, TCU
Round 5, Pick 161: CB Ephesians Prysock, Washington
Round 7, Pick 224: DT Bryson Eason, Tennessee
Round 7, Pick 230: S Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
Round 7, Pick 237: Edge Jack Pyburn, LSU
* Projected trade with the New Orleans Saints.
** Projected trade with the Chicago Bears.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers NFL draft tracker 2026: Full list of picks, live grades
Source: “AOL Sports”
