Steelers 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Pittsburgh fills its biggest hole after free agency before a major steal at WR on day 2
The Steelers fill some of their biggest remaining needs in this post-free agency 7-round mock draft.
The first and biggest wave of NFL free agency is over, and the Pittsburgh Steelers brass attacked it with full force. Solving some of the biggest issues on the present roster, the Steelers found their WR and CB No. 2’s, via Michael Pittman Jr. and Jamel Dean, respectively.
From there, they replaced the recently departed Kenny Gainwell with Rico Dowdle and added some much-needed depth along the interior of the defensive line. But there are still holes left to be filled, most notably at left guard, but with some depth needed at WR and in the defensive backfield. In this 7-round mock, we make all 12 picks for the Steelers and solve just that.
Steelers 2026 7-round Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 21: Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State
You could argue that as of publish time, the biggest hole left to fill on the Steelers roster is what happens at left guard. The departure of Isaac Seumalo for the Arizona Cardinals has yet to be replenished. Spencer Anderson filled in well at that spot last year, but Ioane is on another level.
A true mauler in the run game, there is no interior lineman who brings what I call “head on a swivel mentality” the way that Ioane does. An athletic freak who can just bully people at the point of attack, if he’s there at 21, it’s a no-brainer.
Round 2, Pick 53: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Even coming off the ACL injury, there is a chance that Bell is gone pretty early in round two, if not before. You don’t find players who are built like running backs, but show true open field horsepower the way he does often. By all accounts, he’s a grade A teammate and competitor as well, and I love the physical presence and easy acceleration after the catch in Pittsburgh’s offense.
Round 3, Pick 76: Mike Washington, RB, Arkansas
The running back room in Pittsburgh might feel bloated after the signing of Dowdle, but the truth is, we don’t know what the future holds for Kaleb Johnson. Omar Khan straight-up called his rookie season a disappointment at the NFL Combine, and there is a whole new coaching staff with no ties to Johnson now in place.
Both Dowdle and Warren are on short-term deals, and Washington brings a true homerun presence as a ball carrier after dazzling in Indy with his 4.33 speed.
Round 3, pick 85: Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
The Pittsburgh Steelers just picked up a former Penn State safety in free agency via Jaquan Brisker, but he has a specific skillset. While Brisker has played in the high post, his best work comes in the box, similar to what the Steelers already employ with DeShon Elliott.
What Pittsburgh doesn’t have is a true centefielder, the likes of which they had with Minkah Fitzpatrick. I believe Wheatley is one of the more slept-on players in this class. He had a highly productive career with the Nittany Lions and has shown the range requisite to play in the post and the tenacity to come downhill.
Round 3, Pick 99: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
Joey Porter Jr. is just starting his prime, and Dean is coming off his best season in the NFL, but I want to see the Steelers get more youth in that CB room. Muhammad is a wiry press man corner who can mirror and match with the best of them.
I like him as a depth addition behind Dean, with the upside to start as soon as year two or three if need be.
Day 3 of Steelers 7 Round Mock Draft
- Pick 121: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
- Pick 135: Kage Casey, OT, Boise State
- Pick 161: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
- Pick 216: Nick Barrett, DL, South Carolina
- Pick 230: Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama
- Pick 237: Logan Fano, EDGE, Utah
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