All 3 Top NFL Draft Experts Now Link Steelers To Offensive Pre-Combine Darling In Round 1

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a transition phase, as 62-year-old head coach Mike McCarthy is just the fourth head coach the franchise has had since 1969. Many are watching this new era in Pittsburgh closely as McCarthy begins to build out his staff and lay the foundation for the team’s future. The next big questions will revolve around free agency and how this roster will be constructed, followed closely by the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be hosted in Pittsburgh for the first time ever. It is an exciting time for Steel City fans, and many questions will be answered in the coming months.

The Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and there is plenty of curiosity about how the team will approach this draft after Mike Tomlin. General Manager Omar Khan will be working closely with McCarthy in this new era. With Pittsburgh expected to have a massive 12 picks in this draft, there is significant opportunity to reshape the roster. Fans are especially eager to see which positions the Steelers will prioritize as they try to balance immediate needs with long-term talent development.

Adam Bittner, a writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recently highlighted an intriguing connection in the draft chatter. All three elite mock draft experts, Lance Zierlein, Daniel Jeremiah, and Mel Kiper Jr., have linked the Steelers to Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston with their 21st overall pick in the first round. This rare early consensus among top draft analysts has made Boston one of the most-watched prospects of the pre-combine process. If Pittsburgh follows through, it could mark a major statement pick for McCarthy and Khan in their first draft together.

"Mock draft heavy hitters Zierlein, Daniel Jeremiah and Mel Kiper Jr. have now all made this pick within the past couple of weeks," Bittner said. "That kind of alignment is rare as early in the process as we find ourselves currently, especially at a non-quarterback position. So it’s probably fair to declare him the pre-combine darling that Emeka Egbuka became last year around this time. Much can change, obviously. The [DK] Metcalf trade quickly dropped Egbuka off most Steelers mocks. He wasn’t seen much at all in March and April mocks before the Steelers settled on Derrick Harmon."

It is clear that the Steelers truly need help at the wide receiver position, especially given that DK Metcalf did not perform as expected after they traded to acquire him. 

There is also the possibility that Calvin Austin III could leave in free agency, which would further increase the team’s need at the position. Bittner went on to explain that when three top draft pundits are all connected to the same player this early in the process, it is often a strong indication that the player could end up with that team.

"But sometimes an early proverbial pole position winner goes the distance, too," Bittner said. "See Najee Harris the year the Steelers selected him to be their every-down back for the next four seasons, as it became by far their most obvious need heading into that draft."

Steelers May Take A Risk On Denzel Boston In First Round Of 2026 NFL Draft

Boston would bring excitement to Pittsburgh, as he is predicted to be a pre-combine darling and could energize the Steelers’ receiving corps. 

The risk is that hype may push him up draft boards, and concerns remain, particularly that his production dropped significantly in college when the Huskies faced ranked opponents. Still, his speed, playmaking ability, and potential ceiling make him a compelling option for a team in transition. With all the buzz surrounding Boston, it does make him a risky, yet intriguing, first-round option.

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