The Pittsburgh Steelers have an abundance of picks in this 2026 NFL Draft. They are expected to hold 12 total selections, with five coming inside the top 100, giving the organization rare flexibility to reshape the roster. Now under the direction of new head coach Mike McCarthy, the Steelers are entering a pivotal transition period. McCarthy will be tasked with identifying priority needs across the roster, something he has handled well in the past, as his draft history suggests an ability to balance immediate contributors with long-term building blocks.
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Mike McCarthy coaching on the sidelines as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
There will also be significant pressure on Steelers General Manager Omar Khan, as this marks his first draft without Mike Tomlin involved in the decision-making process. With so much capital at his disposal, Khan will be expected to maximize value and set a clear direction for the post-Tomlin era. Wide receiver is widely viewed as a position Pittsburgh could target early, especially within those five top-100 picks, but it is far from the only group under consideration as the front office evaluates both short-term needs and long-term stability.
Cornerback is another position firmly on the radar, particularly with Asante Samuel Jr. and James Pierre set to enter free agency. While the Steelers may want to retain one or both players, roster planning rarely comes with guarantees. That uncertainty makes cornerback a group to monitor closely heading into the draft.
Senior NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic recently shared advice Pittsburgh would be wise to consider, offering insight into how the Steelers can avoid a costly misstep and position themselves to land a true difference-maker in the secondary during the 2026 NFL Draft.
"I do think there's a drop off after the third round. Like, once you get to Day 3, I think it drops off pretty hard at corner," Brugler said Tuesday while speaking on Steelers Nation Radio. "If I wanted to come away from this draft with a corner, I'm doing it somewhere in the first three rounds... Corner is definitely a pretty decent group when you're talking about those top-100 picks."
You can never have enough cornerback depth in the NFL, and that reality applies strongly to Pittsburgh heading into the 2026 draft. If the Steelers want to capitalize on what is perceived to be the strongest tier of talent available, they would be smart to ensure one of those five top-100 selections is used on a cornerback, especially if the projected drop-off is as steep as Brugler suggests.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
Waiting too long at the position could leave Pittsburgh choosing between developmental prospects rather than immediate contributors. A premium pick now could stabilize the secondary for years to come.
"Chris Johnson, from San Diego State," Brugler said. "One of my favorite corners in this draft. He's a young player, but really instinctive. The coverage ability is outstanding: he's tough versus the run. I think D'Angelo Ponds, he's another one."
Brugler mentioned two names for Steelers fans to keep an eye on: Chris Johnson and D'Angelo Ponds. In a draft where the Steelers have both volume and flexibility, being proactive at cornerback may prove to be one of the most important decisions they make.
Steelers Positioned To Target Top-Tier Cornerback Talent Early In 2026 Draft
There are 14 cornerbacks listed inside the top 100 overall rankings across all positions, which highlights just how deep this group truly is in the 2026 NFL Draft. But is also shows where the drop off is. After the top 18 cornerback's the talent level really takes a dip. That level of depth gives teams flexibility, but it also creates clear tiers that front offices need to identify correctly if they want to land a true impact player.
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San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson celebrates during a game in college.
Johnson is currently ranked as the seventh-best cornerback prospect on Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board, while Ponds comes in at eighth. That range gives Pittsburgh fans a clearer picture of where the team may be targeting the position, especially with multiple selections inside the top 100. If Pittsburgh decides to address cornerback early, those rankings suggest the sweet spot could align well with their draft capital.
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