I\u2019m not going to hand out arbitrary grades for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 draft class. But it\u2019s fair and right to evaluate what I did and didn\u2019t like about the ten selections the team made over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Below are my favorite and least favorite things about the team\u2019s choices.<\/p>\n
What I Liked
\n1. All Three Trades<\/p>\n
Omar Khan was busy working the phones and made three trades. Moving up six spots in the second round to land WR Germie Bernard,<\/a> climbing three spots in the third to acquire OG Gennings Dunker, and falling back in the fifth eight spots to obtain FB Riley Nowakowski.<\/p>\n None of these deals were blockbusters, but all three were wise decisions. Going up to get Bernard, especially, instead of risking losing out on another receiver after the Makai Lemon situation. Bernard was the best receiver on the board and a strong scheme fit. All Pittsburgh gave up was the latter of their fourth round picks (No. 135) and a seventh (No. 237). For Dunker, it took a sixth (No. 216).<\/p>\n Khan then recouped that sixth by moving down in the fifth round, picking up No. 210 from the Kansas City Chiefs. It appears Pittsburgh was set to take Michigan FB Max Bredeson, but after he came off the board two spots ahead, the Steelers traded down and still grabbed the next-best fullback in Nowakowski. Who, frankly, might be the better prospect.<\/p>\n These were shrewd deals that worked in Pittsburgh\u2019s favor at every turn.<\/p>\n 2. Offensive Imagination And Versatility<\/p>\n After the draft, Mike McCarthy quipped<\/a> it was time to open up the playbook. He has good reason to try. The team\u2019s three offensive skill players highlighted versatility: Germie Bernard, Kaden Wetjen, and Eli Heidenreich. All three are multiple in their alignments.<\/p>\n Alabama\u2019s offense ran through Bernard, who aligned at running back, in the slot, out wide, and got touches every which way imaginable. He even threw a couple of passes. Wetjen\u2019s offensive role expanded in 2025, and he can wear multiple hats. Ditto with Heidenreich, one of the most productive offensive players in Navy history. He\u2019s one of two Midshipmen to have 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in his career (Eric Roberts is the other).<\/p>\n Had this been Pittsburgh\u2019s previous coaching staff, I would\u2019ve been highly skeptical that the group had the imagination to utilize these players properly. Under McCarthy and OC Brian Angelichio, I\u2019m far more confident.<\/p>\n 3. Further Trench Investment<\/p>\n Though Pittsburgh got creative with its skill players, the front office didn\u2019t ignore the meat-and-potatoes of the roster: offensive line. The Steelers spent two Top 100 selections on the trenches in OT Max Iheanachor and Dunker. It\u2019s a little frustrating to use another\u00a0top pick on a tackle, but Broderick Jones\u2019 neck injury influenced the decision. That isn\u2019t the front office\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n Kevin Colbert\u2019s final draft classes ignored early offensive line investments. Omar Khan, Andy Weidl, and company sure aren\u2019t. The building blocks of the roster are the focal point. Largely, the results have been positive.<\/p>\n 4. Day Three Special Teams Value<\/p>\n With 10 draft picks and a roster without screaming needs, it won\u2019t be easy for the final Day Three selections to find a path to making the roster. But Pittsburgh got plenty of special teams help as one avenue for those guys to stick. Wetjen\u2019s return abilities are obvious, and he should enter the year returning kicks and punts. Nowakowski played 471 special teams snaps in college, while Spears-Jennings cut his teeth there in his early years. Heidenreich also has a background on the coverage team.<\/p>\n That will increase their chances of making the roster and, more importantly, of making an impact in Year One.<\/p>\n 5. Youth Movement<\/p>\n Plenty of pundits called for Pittsburgh to trim down its 12 selections into a 7-8 man class. I wasn\u2019t in that camp. This was a unique class to add talent and see 2025\u2019s second-oldest roster add a youth infusion. Especially for a new coaching staff aiming to construct the roster and its personnel to their vision and scheme. Depth, competition, and injury protection will make these extra players valuable.<\/p>\n Ten players? Sign me up. That\u2019s the perfect number of picks for this roster.<\/p>\n What I Didn\u2019t Like
\n1. Drew Allar\u2019s Selection<\/p>\n