{"id":667326,"date":"2026-03-19T18:08:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T18:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/667326\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T18:08:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T18:08:12","slug":"local-panel-follows-unique-trend-in-new-steelers-three-round-mock-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/667326\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Panel Follows Unique Trend In New Steelers Three Round Mock Draft\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the top of the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 2026 NFL Draft plays out the way it did by a panel of Steelers pundits, the rookie class sure will look good getting off the bus. Steelers.com\u2019s Mike Prisuta, Max Starks, and Matt Williamson focused on size and the trenches in a recent three-round mock draft published on the team\u2019s YouTube channel.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

At No. 21, the group agreed to select Washington WR Denzel Boston<\/a>. Prospects like Clemson CB Aveion Terrell, Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr., and Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren were available, but Boston was the group\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoston. Because that\u2019s who I said off the top of my head at the beginning of this,\u201d Starks said, breaking a tie between Ohio State NT Kayden McDonald and Boston.<\/p>\n

In what would become the tallest receiver trio in football, the 6035 Boston would create matchup problems alongside DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. With great hands and penchant for making downfield plays, he would further a Pittsburgh vertical passing game that hasn\u2019t been nearly consistent enough. Quarterback concerns remain but having talent at receiver can mitigate the team not having a long-term answer or wanting to properly evaluate a young Will Howard.<\/p>\n

For Round 2, the group agreed to address offensive line with Iowa OL Gennings Dunker.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI think [he] fits nicely at left guard,\u201d Prisuta said.<\/p>\n

A college tackle, most draftniks project Dunker to kick inside at the next level. Going viral for his mullet, Dunker is an aggressive and physical blocker. He would be the favorite but compete with Spencer Anderson to replace Isaac Seumalo at left guard. The group quickly agreed Dunker was the right pick at No. 53.<\/p>\n

Flipping to the defensive line at No. 76, the group selected Florida State DL Darrell Jackson Jr.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a pass-rushing defensive tackle,\u201d Starks said.<\/p>\n

Despite posting just one sack last season, the panel believes in Jackson\u2019s traits and the Steelers\u2019 need to add another young lineman. At 6-5, 315 pounds and nearly 35-inch arms, he fits the mold of a classic Pittsburgh defensive end.<\/p>\n

Nearly taking him at No. 76, the group circled back to draft maybe this year\u2019s biggest player: Miami (FL) OT Markel Bell.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a value having him fall to this area,\u201d Starks said.<\/p>\n

At 6092, 346 pounds, Bell protected the Hurricanes\u2019 blindside last season. Built like Trent Brown and Orlando Brown Jr., mobility is a concern. But like Starks during his playing days, Bell\u2019s size is intriguing.<\/p>\n

With the final selection at No. 99, the trio went back to defense to draft South Carolina DB Jalon Kilgore.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cKilgore is kind of the big slot\/safety type\u2026I think that\u2019s the position to go with,\u201d Williamson said, noting he tested well at the NFL Combine.<\/p>\n

At 6013, 210 pounds, Kilgore blazed a 4.40 40 yard dash combined with a 37-inch vertical and 10\u201910\u201d broad at the NFL Combine. Playing in the slot for most of 2025, we project him best at free safety where he could serve as Jalen Ramsey\u2019s long-term replacement.<\/p>\n

To recap, here\u2019s the panel\u2019s picks of its latest Steelers mock draft.<\/p>\n

No. 21 \u2013<\/strong> Denzel Boston\/WR Washington
No. 53 \u2013<\/strong> Gennings Dunker\/OG Iowa
No. 76 \u2013<\/strong> Darrell Jackson Jr.\/DL Florida State
No. 85 \u2013<\/strong> Markel Bell\/OT Miami (FL)
No. 99 \u2013<\/strong> Jalon Kilgore\/DB South Carolina<\/p>\n

A solid haul that is one of the largest draft classes assembled. There may be questions about overall athleticism but the group won\u2019t be knocked for being overpowered. It also meets most of the team\u2019s biggest needs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If the top of the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 2026 NFL Draft plays out the way it did by a…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":667327,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[39],"tags":[92294,282117,218628,282118,2783,282119,282120,282121,67134,1232,1545,62,939,67,132,68],"class_list":["post-667326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-2026-nfl-draft","tag-darrell-jackson","tag-denzel-boston","tag-gennings-dunker","tag-jalon-kilgore","tag-markel-bell","tag-matt-williamson","tag-max-starks","tag-mike-prisuta","tag-nfl","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-sports","tag-trending","tag-united-states","tag-unitedstates","tag-us"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116257181226823941","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/667326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=667326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/667326\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/667327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=667326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=667326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=667326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}