Steelers 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Pittsburgh goes all in at WR and takes a swing on explosive defender after the combine
Here is a fresh 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft after the combine.
The 2026 NFL Combine is behind us, free agency is on deck, and in a matter of weeks, the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will be here. Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan stayed on brand by saying a lot but giving little substance to his answers as he embarks on a new era as general manager fo the Steelers.
We know what the Steelers need, however, and following a week’s worth of testing, interviews, and medicals, clarity has been gained on who the top prospects are in this class, and it’s safe to say the Steelers selected a few in my latest 7-round mock draft.
Steelers 7- Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 21: Dillion Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
Coming into the NFL Combine, the athletic traits were obvious with Dillon Thieneman. You can see the easy range, long strides, and explosive plays all over his tape. But then he came to Indy, and he blew away the on-field drills and testing.
Thieneman ran a blistering 4.35 in the 40-yard dash and jumped 41 inches in the vertical at 6-0 and 200 pounds. Safety may not seem like a major need, but if the Steelers part ways with Jalen Ramsey in free agency, that unit quickly becomes the worst on the team as DeShon Elliott continues his rehab. It’s totally plausible that the Steelers take Thieneman at 21 come April.
Round 2, Pick 53: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
It would be a crime to see the Steelers come out of the first two rounds without a WR, and the last time they took a WR in the 50s, it was George Pickens. Sarratt doesn’t have the high-end traits that Pickens does, but he’s tough as nails, a reliable middle-of-the-field option, and a true redzone and contested catch threat at 6-2 and 212 pounds.
Round 3, Pick 76: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
The Steelers need an outside corner, but this team has searched far and wide for its Mike Hilton replacement since he left for the Cincinnati Bengals, and they still haven’t found him. D’Angelo Ponds is a feisty nickel who plays way above his listed height at 5-9.
I love the way he comes downhill against the run and takes on his opposing WR matchup with fierce intensity on every rep. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, and he’s perfect for what the Steelers covet out of a slot defender. His nearly 44-inch vertical proves he’s got plenty of bounce and lower body explosion as well.
Round 3, Pick 85: Zane Durant, DL, Penn State
Durant may be undersized for a Steelers interior defensive lineman at 6-1, 290 pounds, but I see him as a player with all-star pass rush potential from an interior alignment. His elite get-off and first step were on full display as he dominated testing at the combine.
Round 3, Pick 99: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
There is no reason why the Steelers shouldn’t double-dip at the WR position in the draft, especially with five projected picks in the first two days. Unlike Sarratt, Hurst is a true vertical threat that parlays what the Steelers have on the outside with DK Metcalf. At 6-4 and over 200 pounds, Hurst ran a 4.4 and looks the part of true force on the perimeter.
Day 3 of Steelers 2026 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
- Round 4, Pick 121: Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
- Round 4, Pick 135: Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
- Round 5, Pick 159: Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
- Round 6, Pick 213: Joshua Cuevas, TE, Alabama
- Round 6, pick 214: Thaddeus Dixon, CB, North Carolina
- Round 7 pick 224: Logan Fano, EDGE, Utah
- Round 7 Pick 237: CJ Donaldson, RB, Ohio State
Pittsburgh Steelers News
Latest George Pickens news proves why the Pittsburgh Steelers had to trade him despite the obvious need at wide receiver
It’s not surprising to hear that despite a change of scenery, it’s still the same old George Pickens.
