The Pittsburgh Steelers have focused on building in the trenches dating back to the 2023 offseason. For the most part, it has worked out to some degree, but the jury is still out on what some of the latest selections will turn into. General Manager Omar Khan and the front office have been completely silent publicly about their plans for the 2026 NFL Draft, and very few leaks have been uncovered. This is what makes the organization a little bit more mysterious than others; and, with 12 overall picks to play with, there could be some fireworks in the Steel City on Thursday evening.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan looks out to the crowd and takes it all in as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice being held at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
No fan should truly believe that the Steelers are planning to use all 12 selections. Khan recently stated that the team could end up with 10, or maybe even 14. Those comments simply add to the fact that Pittsburgh's brass does not want anyone out there to know what its true plans are. What makes the team's private approach even more intriguing is the fact that the first round could have a plethora of shuffling around within it.
Franchises such as the Dallas Cowboys (picks 12 and 20) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (pick 15) are expected to potentially be active with several other organizations likely open to taking calls to move either up or back. This is purely hypothetical without any kind of true insider knowledge; however, my expectation is that the Steelers are going to fly up the board in round one.
The talent in this class is top-heavy, which makes the best 10 or 15 prospects even more attractive in terms of potential moving forward. There are rumors flying around about a run on offensive linemen, safeties, and maybe even wide receivers. This points to the fact that no one exactly has a true handle on how things are going to shake out.
For Khan, having three third-round selections is a luxury. While the Cowboys deal with George Pickens contract drama, Pittsburgh will have Dallas' 76th overall pick to play with, as well as a fifth in 2027. Names to keep an eye on are Makai Lemon, Dillon Thieneman, Olaivavega Ioane and maybe even Spencer Fano. The Steelers have made it clear that they remain in win-now mode, and giving up significant capital to get into the Top 15, or even Top 10, is on the table.
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Former USC wide receiver Makai Lemon dances with the football while playing Oregon on the road in 2025.
The Steelers' offseason has focused on making sure there are no true holes on the roster. Some of the positions might have some age to them, but Khan and co. now have the ability to do whatever they please in the first round. Simply put, it makes sense to give up a couple of picks to get one of the best players in the entire draft class.
Due to the speculation involving several different positions, one or two prospects that were expected to go in the Top 10 are going to begin to slip. That is when Pittsburgh will make its move. Additionally, there is a new head coach in the building, as Mike McCarthy might change some things up. Just because someone didn't have a Top 30 visit with the Steelers, doesn't necessarily mean that player is off the board. This is where someone like Thieneman could come into play.
Jordyn Tyson and Carnell Tate are two other pass-catchers, along with Lemon, that are going to battle it out for the draft's highest-taken receiver. The odds that all three go within the first 10 selections are minimal. Finally, don't sleep on Pittsburgh holding at 21, but skyrocketing back into the first round to end up with two new players by the end of Day 1. A big move is on the horizon.
Anything is possible here, and it's because of how strategic Khan was back in the 2025 offseason. The Steelers have the most picks out of any team, and fans should not be surprised when that leads to a splash on Thursday evening.
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Steelers' Omar Khan speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine in 2025.
Steelers Are Primed To Ignite The Hometown Crowd
Pittsburgh won't make any emotional decisions with the big event being held in the Steel City; however, a massive move up the board would just add to the excitement. Not only would the front office be getting aggressive to better the team, but also, it would send a strong message that the Steelers' brass was always focused on bringing in a generational-type talent.
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