Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers did a solid job of filling almost all immediate needs in free agency. That gives the team plenty of flexibility in the draft, with no fewer than four or five logical positions in play for their top selection \u2014 a great spot for the team, but tougher for mock draft accuracy.<\/p>\n
My first mock draft featured a trade up for Caleb Downs<\/a>. I still don\u2019t hate that idea, but today the focus shifts to the possibility of standing pat and making all 12 selections. This may be the only time I do a full 12-pick mock because I still think there\u2019s a strong chance of a trade or two throughout the event to lower that number to nine or ten picks when it\u2019s all said and done.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s my post-free agency 2026 Steelers mock draft version 2.0.<\/p>\n Round 1 \u2013 Pick 21: KC CONCEPCION\/WR\/TEXAS A&M<\/p>\n You won\u2019t find many individuals in the NFL media landscape more bullish on Concepcion than me. With Michael Pittman Jr. joining DK Metcalf in the Steelers\u2019 WR room, Concepcion\u2019s skill set would round out the room perfectly. He is a natural separator, and extremely explosive out of his breaks and with the ball in his hands. The drops are a problem, but I wouldn\u2019t say he has bad\u00a0hands. Once the game slows down for him, the concentration drops can improve. The rest of his game is good enough to overlook the warts.<\/p>\n His recent knee scope<\/a> is less of a concern to me. He should be ready for rookie minicamp no problem, and that particular procedure is much more common than you probably realize.<\/p>\n Others Considered: S Dillon Thieneman, OT Kadyn Proctor, OG Vega Ioane<\/p>\n Previous Selection: S Caleb Downs (trade up)<\/p>\n KC Concepcion Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 2 \u2013 Pick 53: EMMANUEL PREGNON\/OG\/OREGON<\/p>\n Have you seen this guy\u2019s physique<\/a>? He\u2019s as strong as an ox, and the Steelers could use one of those to round out the young offensive line.<\/p>\n Spencer Anderson is best suited to continue in his backup and jumbo package role. They need a long-term plan at left guard. Pregnon played there in college and wouldn\u2019t need time to translate things from right to left.<\/p>\n Others Considered: ILB Jacob Rodriguez, DL Christen Miller, DB Keionte Scott<\/p>\n Previous Selection: WR Omar Cooper Jr.<\/p>\n Emmanuel Pregnon Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 3 \u2013 Pick 76: JOSIAH TROTTER\/ILB\/MISSOURI<\/p>\n If the Steelers want an inside linebacker, they better get one in their top three picks. Outside of maybe Kyle Louis, it\u2019s hard to find good value past this point. Trotter is a downhill thumper, and a darn good one. Pittsburgh could use a reliable tackler and run stuffer at the position, and they could get around his shortcomings with some of the other athletes in the room.<\/p>\n Others Considered: DL Gracen Halton, CB Treydan Stukes, WR Skyler Bell<\/p>\n Previous Selection: No Pick (traded away)<\/p>\n Josiah Trotter Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 3 \u2013 Pick 85: GENESIS SMITH\/S\/ARIZONA<\/p>\n Smith was excellent at Arizona in one of college football\u2019s top secondaries. As a pure free safety, he could eventually replace Jalen Ramsey and serve as solid depth in the meantime. If Pittsburgh uses its dime defense more this year, Smith could also make an impact in year one.<\/p>\n Others Considered: CB Keylan Rutledge, QB Garrett Nussmeier, S Jalon Kilgore<\/p>\n Previous Selection: WR Ted Hurst<\/p>\n Genesis Smith Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 3 \u2013 Pick 99: SAM ROUSH\/TE\/STANFORD<\/p>\n Roush was productive in his final season at Stanford and the Steelers need depth with Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward off the roster. He is a bit of a throwback with a well-rounded game. Pittsburgh showed interest in him at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine with an informal meeting.<\/p>\n Others Considered: QB Drew Allar, CB Daylen Everette, OL Billy Scrauth<\/p>\n Previous Selection: No Pick (traded away)<\/p>\n Sam Roush Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 4 \u2013 Pick 121: TACARIO DAVIS\/CB\/WASHINGTON<\/p>\n Davis came in for a pre-draft visit, and in this scenario, he\u2019d be reuniting with Genesis Smith in the secondary from his time at Arizona. He fits the mold that the Steelers have been interested in lately \u2014 long, and super athletic. With Jamel Dean in the picture, the Steelers don\u2019t need a corner early, but could use some additional depth to develop in the meantime.<\/p>\n Others Considered: OT Markel Bell, DL DeMonte Capehart, RB Kaytron Allen<\/p>\n Previous Selection: RB Nick Singleton<\/p>\n Round 4 \u2013 Pick 135: TIM KEENAN III\/NT\/ALABAMA<\/p>\n The defensive line has solid depth throughout, but still needs a true two-gap plugger in the middle. Keenan is as stout as they come at 6010, 327 pounds, and he takes pride in occupying multiple blockers to keep his playmakers clean.<\/p>\n Others Considered: WR Josh Cameron, OL Kage Casey, TE Jack Endries<\/p>\n Previous Selection: OG Keylan Rutledge<\/p>\n Tim Keenan III Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 5 \u2013 Pick 161: KENDRICK LAW\/WR-KR\/KENTUCKY<\/p>\n Even with Michael Pittman Jr., I still like the idea of double dipping at receiver. Kendrick Law was a pre-draft visitor and also fills another role as a return specialist. He needs a lot of work with his routes, but the room would be well-stocked ahead of him to focus on developing and return duties in the meantime.<\/p>\n Others Considered: CB Ephesians Prysock, WR Jeff Caldwell, TE Will Kacmarek<\/p>\n Previous Selection: S Caleb Downs<\/p>\n Kendrick Law Scouting Report<\/a><\/p>\n Round 6 \u2013 Pick 216: TYREAK SAPP\/OLB\/FLORIDA<\/p>\n This late in the draft, I look for players with a \u201csuper power\u201d or a trait that could potentially develop into being an important role player or even starter one day. Sapp has that with his play strength. How will he make the roster with such a loaded OLB room? Not sure, but the consensus seems to be much lower on him than I am. I\u2019ll gladly take one of my favorite sleepers in the class here.<\/p>\n Others Considered: ILB Red Murdock, QB Cole Payton, RB Seth McGowan<\/p>\n Previous Selection: CB Domani Jackson<\/p>\n