Latest Steelers news proves Pittsburgh could be looking to make a jump up the board in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft
The Steelers are showing interest in a first-round prospect, there’s just one problem. They may have to jump an AFC North foe to get him.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be one of the more interesting teams to watch in next week’s NFL Draft. We know that the chances of them sticking with their 12 selections are slim to none, and slim just left the building.
The question is, will Omar Khan and the Steelers brass be looking to package some of those picks to move up, or will they look to add to their 2027 capital, a class that is believed to be rich in quarterback talent? Well, if the team’s latest top-30 visit is any indication of their plans, they may be looking to move up the board next Thursday.
Steelers hosting Penn State guard Vega Ioane
One of my favorite prospects in this entire class, Ioane screams Steeler. He is an absolute mauler at the point of attack in the run game. His ability to displace defensive linemen and create holes for the backs behind him is the best in the class in my opinion.
Oh, and he’s a much better pass protector than he gets credit for. There’s just one problem with Ioane and the Steelers, and it has nothing to do with fit, or the player himself.
Vega Ioane could be off the board well before 21
From the Steelers pov, sitting and picking their starting left guard of the future would probably be a dream scenario, even after the addition of Brock Hoffman. There’s just one problem. AFC North foe Baltimore desperately needs help along the interior of their offensive line.
They are picking 14th overall in this draft. Meaning if the Steelers want Ioane, they will probably have to trade ahead of the Ravens. That’s where things get really interesting for Pittsburgh.
What teams would the Steelers need to trade with?
The three teams Pittsburgh would need to target in terms of trade partners are the Dolphins at 11, the Cowboys at 12, and the Rams at 13. The Dolphins are armed with seven picks inside the top 100, so they could be a potential suitor.
The Cowboys own picks 12 and 20, so I’m not sure they would want back-to-back picks in the 20s, but I wouldn’t rule them out. As for the Rams, they already traded one of their first-rounders to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, and we know how they feel about selections.
So, it will be an interesting Round 1 to say the least.
