Steelers Warned Of Making Grave Mistake In 2026 NFL Draft That Would Affect The Future

The Pittsburgh Steelers have heard a lot about the offense's need for a starting left guard. This is no surprise given the fact that veteran starter Isaac Seumalo departed the team in free agency for the Arizona Cardinals. While the starting job remains wide open with Spencer Anderson currently leading the way, there has also been discussion about who will be playing to the left of that individual. Broderick Jones is recovering from a neck injury he suffered in 2025, with many excited for Dylan Cook, who played well in the former first-round pick's absence. It's a bit of a toss-up right now.

Due to Jones' ailment being related to his neck, no one can be quite sure how he will bounce back. Additionally, it's very possible that the Steelers will decline his fifth-year option for 2027, making the 2026 campaign his final year before free agency. Cook could fill in and perform well, but is 28 years of age and might not be considered the future for the franchise at the position.

Wide receiver and left guard seem to be the most popular areas for Pittsburgh to consider with the 21st overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, but fans may want to consider thinking about the left tackle spot. If Jones' injury is as serious as it appears and Cook doesn't necessarily impress the new coaching staff, the Steelers and General Manager Omar Khan might pick an offensive tackle in the first round for the third time in three years.

Matt Williamson is a former college and NFL scout that hosts SNR Drive for the Steelers. He made it very clear on Monday evening that Pittsburgh should actually be taking a left tackle in round one, as it will be nearly impossible to find the next franchise quarterback and a key protector in 2027.

"So many of you hate when I take an OT in RD1 for the Steelers, but it's the second most premium position in the NFL, and you CANNOT go into next year’s draft needing QB AND LT-nearly impossible to get both. Plus: RD1 OT can play LG in Year 1," Williamson wrote on X.

This isn't a horrible take overall; however, fans in the Steel City won't appreciate the team admitting that not only has Jones been a bust, but also going with a rather boring selection when the draft is held in Pittsburgh. If the front office truly doesn't have any idea which direction Jones is trending in, the decision-makers could once again invest in the trenches.

Williamson continued to back up his belief, noting that trying to somehow find a premier left tackle in free agency would be a massive mistake for the Steelers if that's what they decided to do in 2027.

"Signing an offensive tackle in free agency is the worst business decision in the NFL," Williamson noted.

Now, Pittsburgh has another potential option coming to the surface. While a pass-catcher or guard originally seemed to be the biggest needs, some are just assuming that Jones will be fully healthy, or that Cook will continue his strong play from the back end of the 2025 season. Neither are a guarantee, and the Steelers could possibly be left struggling to protect a rookie signal-caller in 2027, hypothetically.

Steelers Have The Opportunity To Pick Best Player Available

After an aggressive and successful free agency period, Khan is going to have options once the team is on the clock in the first round. There is no way to predict how the board will fall, so Pittsburgh will wait patiently to see how it all sorts out. The franchise truly could go in a number of different directions, and it appears that ruling out left tackle might be a mistake, simply because of how hard it is to find the cornerstone player that Jones was supposed to be.

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