Steelers are showing interest in a small school standout who could turn out to be a hidden gem at wide receiver in Pittsburgh
The Steelers are starting to pick up steam with their 2026 NFL Draft visits, and their latest trio would bring a lot to the table.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have approached the 2026 pre-draft process in a very different manner compared to the Mike Tomlin era. When Tomlin was running the show, you could bet that the Steelers brass was at the Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine, and every major school’s Pro Day.
Plus, they would use every one of their 30 allocated pre-draft visits and pretty early on in the process. Well, that last part has taken a little longer this year, but now they are coming in waves, and the latest trio of visits in Pittsburgh is headlined by a notable small school standout,
Steelers are hosting Skyler Bell, Jakobe Thomas, and Jack Kelly for top 30 visits
The headliner there is UConn WR Sklyer Bell, who tore up college football last year en route to over 100 catches, 1,300 receiving yards, and double-digit touchdowns. UConn is known for its basketball program, but there were tons of eyes on the school this year with Bell.
He showed up to the combine at 6-0 and just shy of 200 pounds, before running a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. He’s played in the slot and on the perimeter, and he has some of the best routes and footwork in the class. For a mid-round swing, I would love to see Bell in Pittsburgh. But what about the other two players? I spoke with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Roberts about Thomas and Kelly.
What would the Steelers receive from Miami S Jakobe Thomas?
“Jakobe Thomas began his career at Tennessee before becoming a major asset for the Hurricanes. He’s a bigger safety who plays with tremendous aggressiveness and physicality as a football player. There is a good feel as a processor on the back end for Thomas, typically being in the right spot. He has smooth movement skills to patrol a solid amount got to field, helping with his overall versatility. The biggest hang up for him as a player is his aggressive style, which can put him in some bad positions at times. Thomas can get fooled by play action or eye candy in front of him. He will need to be more consistent in his discipline but still brings an admirable floor to the table as a core special teamer and rotational player.” – Roberts
What would the Steelers receive from BYU LB Jack Kelly?
“Jack Kelly is a bit of an odd player who began his career at Weber State. He has spent a lot of time rushing off the edge, as well as blitzing from the second level. In terms of processing as a true stacked backer, there just aren’t a ton of examples in doing it. He does bring a tenacious style and enough movement skills to fight for a roster spot as a special teamer. His upside on defense will be determined by how quickly he gets comfortable on the second level on a full time basis.” – Roberts
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