The Pittsburgh Steelers have been hard to read when it comes to the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Typically by this time in the offseason it is somewhat easy to tell what position, or at least what side of the ball, the Steelers might be planning on selecting. In 2026 it is hard to tell. There are multiple spots on the roster that could be addressed with the 21st overall pick, and it is hard to predict how things might play out under a nearly entirely new coaching staff. New head coach Mike McCarthy is offensive-minded, so it is fair to assume the Steelers might want to add to that side of the football.
Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images
Steelers' Mike McCarthy during his introductory press conference during the 2026 offseason.
Throughout many mock drafts from several different analysts and experts, the Steelers have commonly been connected to receivers, offensive linemen, and defensive backs, particularly safeties. The franchise drafting a player at any of these positions would make complete sense as the team could use youth and depth in these areas. However, one position that it would make zero sense to draft is edge, or outside linebacker. That is exactly what analyst and insider Peter Schrager has the Steelers doing with the 21st overall pick in his mock draft, as he believes the organization will draft TJ Parker out of Clemson.
"Alabama's Ty Simpson is still available, but I'm expecting Aaron Rodgers to return to Pittsburgh for another season," Schrager wrote. "On defense, the Steelers started getting younger along the line with the Derrick Harmon pick a year ago, and I wouldn't think they're done there. Parker has played a big role on the Clemson defense since his true freshman season, with 21.5 sacks over his three years there."
While the Steelers have had success using first-round picks on edge rushers named TJ, this would be a horrific move for the franchise. The Steelers are four-deep at edge rusher, and there is already an issue in that room as it has been hard to get everybody on the field. Pittsburgh has the best edge rusher room in the NFL, and there is no reason to add to it as of right now.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers outside linebacker TJ Watt (90) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith are well-established players in the NFL, and Nick Herbig is a rising star who has made the most out of limited opportunities. Jack Sawyer progressed throughout his rookie season in 2025, and he made splash plays when given the chance. The Steelers do not need a fifth body in that room, especially not a first-round pick. Even if the Steelers traded one of these players, it would still make little to no sense to draft the position in the first round.
Addressing the defensive line is not the issue with this pick. If the Steelers want to do that the pick has to be on the interior as Keeanu Benton's future is up in the air and the franchise is going to need to replace Cam Heyward at some point in the near future. A pick in the front seven is very much possible, but it would come on the interior defensive line or at inside linebacker.
Steelers Fans Should Have Some Real Concern With This Mock Draft
It is important to take every mock draft from experts or analysts with a grain of salt. No team in the NFL is going up to members of the media and unleashing their entire draft plan. However, guys like Schrager are very tapped into the league and have a good understanding of what is going on or what might happen.
Mark Konezny / Imagn Images
ESPN's Peter Schrager.
He prefaced his mock draft by saying something similar to this.
"While I was in Phoenix at the annual league meeting last week, I spent a lot of time talking to sources and trying to get the latest intel on what teams might do with their first-round picks," Schrager wrote. "What follows is my first mock draft for the 2026 class. These 32 projections are based on what I'm hearing, rather than what I would personally do at each slot. Nothing is set in stone quite yet, which is why I'll have a second mock draft in two weeks. But for now, this is my best guess for how things could play out."
The insider made sure to note that the picks made in this mock draft are based off of what he heard at the league meetings in Arizona and other information he has obtained throughout the offseason. If that is true, and there is any validity to Pittsburgh's interest in Parker, that is concerning.
What do you think about the Steelers drafting an edge rusher in Round 1? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
#SteelerNation