Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft Needs, Picks & Depth Chart

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No matter how well they did in free agency, all 32 NFL teams head into the 2026 NFL Draft with holes to fill on the roster.

Leading into the draft, we will identify the top needs for every team and break down the depth chart position by position.

What are the Steelers' top positions of need heading into the 2026 NFL draft?

Pittsburgh Steelers Needs: Top Positions of Need in 2026

1. Quarterback
2. Offensive Line
3. Linebacker

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Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 Draft Capital

The Steelers have the 7th-most draft capital according to our Sharp Football Draft Value.

Our Sharp Football Draft Value is a valuation of draft capital based on a combination of average performance delivered and average dollars earned on second contracts.

Pittsburgh Steelers Mock Draft Predictions

Find out who our top-rated experts expect the Steelers to draft:

• Brendan Donahue's 2026 NFL Mock Draft – Complete first round breakdown from the #2 most accurate mock drafter over the last five seasons.
• Ryan McCrystal's 2026 NFL Mock Draft – Complete first round breakdown from the #20 most accurate mock drafter over the last five seasons.

Pittsburgh Steelers Offense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs

Rich Hribar breaks down the offensive depth chart by position for the Pittsburgh Steelers, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

Quarterback

1. Mason Rudolph
2. Will Howard

All indications are that the Steelers are anticipating Aaron Rodgers to return for another season, but as things stand today, the Steelers have the worst quarterback situation in the league.

Rodgers turned 42 in December, so even if he decides to return in 2026, the long-term answer for this franchise is still up in the air.

In 2025, Rodgers was 23rd in EPA per dropback (0.01) and 32nd in success rate (39.6%), ahead of only Cam Ward (36.9%).

He completed 65.6% of his throws (16th) for 6.7 yards per pass attempt (27th), posting a 4.8% touchdown rate (16th) and a 1.4% interception rate (8th).

Protecting the football was still something Rodgers did well, and he was able to do so because he took next to no chances pushing the football downfield and has zero interest in being touched at this stage of his career.

Rodgers had the quickest time to throw from the snap in the league (2.52 seconds), paired with the shortest depth of target (6.0 air yards).

Only 25.5% of his throws went 10 or more yards downfield, the lowest rate in the league.

The league average among qualifiers for rating was 33.1%.

Rodgers threw a league-high 31.7% of his passes at or behind the line of scrimmage.

The league rate in that department was 21.3%.

If Rodgers does return, he will once again get a chance to work with Mike McCarthy.

That combination was together for the apex run of Rodgers’ career in Green Bay through the 2018 season, when McCarthy was let go.

Running Back

1. Jaylen Warren
2. Rico Dowdle
3. Kaleb Johnson
4. Travis Homer
5. Lew Nichols

The Pittsburgh backfield was productive in 2025, with Jaylen Warren (1.291 total yards) and Kenneth Gainwell (1,023 yards) both reaching 1,000 yards.

Pittsburgh running backs combined for 65.1% of the team touches, which was third in the NFL behind Atlanta (69.5%) and Miami (65.5%).

Warren handled 53.8% of those backfield touches (251 touches) for 1,291 yards and 8 touchdowns.

For the first time in his career, Warren served as the leading rusher, posting career-highs in rushing attempts (211), yardage (958), and touchdowns (6) on the ground.

He added 40 receptions for 333 yards and 2 scores through the air.

Warren has averaged over 5.0 yards per touch in each of his four seasons in the league.

With Gainwell leaving during free agency, the Steelers added Rico Dowdle, who was with Mike McCarthy in Dallas in 2024 during his breakout season.

Dowdle is coming off a 1,373 total yards and 7 touchdowns on 275 touches last season with the Panthers.

With Dallas in 2024, Dowdle posted 1,328 yards and 5 scores on 274 touches.

Dowdle also has 39 receptions in each of the past two seasons.

The addition of Dowdle could push Warren back into a more complementary rushing role, or Pittsburgh could use these backs as interchangeable options across all facets.

The Steelers ran the ball 48.5% of the time with Warren in the game last season, compared to a 28.9% run rate on Gainwell’s snaps.

Over his first three seasons in the NFL, Warren’s offenses only ran the ball 35.4% of the time on his snaps.

This is a new offense, but I would anticipate that being more balanced with this duo.

If Rodgers is back, you can expect the backs to remain active in the passing game.

Rodgers threw the ball to running backs 25.2% of the time in 2025 (4th).

He was ninth in that department in 2024 (19.9%) and in 2022 (21.5%).

Both Warren and Dowdle are signed for multiple seasons.

The addition of Dowdle does leave Kaleb Johnson in no-man’s land.

Selected in the third round last spring (83rd overall), Johnson only played 51 snaps as a rookie (9%), touching the ball 29 times for 78 yards (2.7 yards per touch).

Wide Receiver

1. DK Metcalf
2. Michael Pittman
3. Roman Wilson
4. Ben Skowronek
5. A.T. Perry
6. Max Hurleman
7. Cole Burgess
8. John Rys Plumlee
9. Brandon Smith

It was a down season for DK Metcalf in 2025, his first with the Steelers.

Metcalf averaged 3.9 receptions for 56.7 yards per game, the lowest rates since his rookie season.

Metcalf had the lowest depth of target of his career (10.6 air yards), having 55 or fewer yards in 11 of his 15 games played.

At 1.84 yards per route run (WR34), Metcalf has been below 2.0 yards per route run in four of his past five seasons.

Metcalf is signed through 2029, carrying cap hits over $30 million in each of the next four seasons.

The Steelers can save $14.5 million in cap space after this season if they do need to move in another direction, and $22 million in 2028 cap space following Metcalf’s age-30 season.

Metcalf will be in a new offense in 2026, but he has also added target competition.

He was targeted on 21.4% of his routes last year (WR37) in an offense with no established WR2.

Metcalf had 45 more targets than the next closest receiver on the roster, which was Calvin Austin.

The addition of Michael Pittman will shake up the target dispersal here.

After setting career highs with 6.8 receptions for 72.0 yards per game in 2023, Pittman has since averaged 4.3 receptions and 4.7 receptions per game the past two seasons for 50.5 yards and 46.1 yards per game.

Pittman only averaged 9.8 yards per catch last season, which ranked 127th among wide receivers.

On a positive note, Pittman did score 7 touchdowns, which was a career-high.

Pittman has declined over the past two seasons, but the area where he has earned targets overlaps the field area where Rodgers throws the ball most often.

Pittman will only cost the Steelers $8.9 million in cap space this season.

They can reevaluate things afterward and decide what to do with Pittman’s remaining cap hits of $26.1 million in 2027 ($15.1 million in dead space) and $24.1 million in 2028 ($7.6 million in dead space).

Beyond Metcalf and Pittman, there is not much here.

Roman Wilson did get on the field for 253 snaps in his second season (33%), but only managed 12 receptions for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Wilson has 21 targets over 13 games, which was the same total Marquez Valdes-Scantling had in five appearances.

Tight End

1. Darnell Washington
2. Pat Freiermuth
3. JJ Galbreath

The Steelers went with a tight end committee last season.

Darnell Washington played 52.9% of the snaps.

Jonnu Smith played 51.9%.

Pat Freiermuth played 50.6%.

With Smith no longer on the roster, Washington and Freiermuth can operate as a clear-cut tandem.

Freiermuth is coming off career lows with 2.4 receptions for 28.6 yards per game.

He was targeted on a career low 16.6% of his routes.

Washington caught a career-high 31 passes for 364 yards and 1 touchdown.

Despite the growth as a receiver, Washington was still primarily featured in the run game.

Freiermuth ran a route on 54.9% of the dropbacks, while Washington was at 35.6%.

Pittsburgh ran the ball 50% of the time Washington was on the field, compared to 32.9% with Freiermuth.

Washington is in the final year of his rookie contract.

Offensive Line

LT: Broderick Jones, Dylan Cook, Lorenzo Thompson
LG: Spencer Anderson, Brock Hoffman, Sataoa Laumea
C: Zach Frazier, Ryan McCollum
RG: Mason McCormick, Steven Jones, Aiden Williams
RT: Troy Fautanu, Jack Driscoll, Doug Nester

The Pittsburgh offensive line played well last year, ranking third in ESPN’s pass block win rate (71%) and ninth in run block win rate (72%).

At Pro Football Focus, they ranked third in pass blocking grade as a team and 16th in run blocking grade.

The Steelers also stayed healthy up front last year compared to the rest of the league.

Their starters played together for 50.7% of the offensive snaps, ranking ninth in the league.

There are a few things in motion here as we approach the draft.

Isaac Seumalo left in free agency, pushing Spencer Anderson up the depth chart.

Anderson made seven starts for the team in his third season, but was a weak link when tasked with playing time.

Anderson ranked 53rd among guards in overall grade per Pro Football Focus.

He allowed a 5.4% pressure rate (the second-highest on the team), ranking 60th at his position.

Anderson enters the year in the final season of his rookie contract.

Broderick Jones is also in the final year of his rookie deal.

The Steelers are expected to decline the fifth-year option for Jones in 2027, which puts his long-term status in question.

Jones missed six games last season.

When he was on the field, Jones allowed a team-high 6.1% pressure rate (50th among tackles) and was 90th in sack rate allowed at the position.

The left side of the line can be upgraded while also needing contractual depth.

The rest of the line is in good shape with Zach Frazier, Troy Fautanu, and Mason McCormick all under contract for multiple seasons.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs

Raymond Summerlin breaks down the defensive depth chart by position for the Pittsburgh Steelers, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

Defensive Line

1. Cameron Heyward
2. Derrick Harmon
3. Keeanu Benton
4. Sebastian Joseph-Day
5. Yahya Black
6. Logan Lee
7. Esezi Otomewo
8. Anthony Goodlow
9. Kyler Baugh
10. Jahvaree Ritzie

The Steelers finished 17th in yards per carry allowed to running backs (4.3) last season, but they were first in touchdowns allowed to the position (5).

The Steelers will have a new defensive coordinator as part of their sweeping coaching changes, hiring Patrick Graham from the Raiders.

Graham has a history of using multiple schemes, but we should not expect much of a change from the “3-4 base” of the Steelers' past.

There was talk about Cameron Heyward retiring after the season, but he signed a new deal that runs through 2027.

Father Time will catch up with him at some point, but Heyward played at a high level again last season.

The Steelers have some youth behind Heyward with Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, and Yahya Black, who are all still on rookie contracts.

Harmon played a rotational role across his 12 rookie games, but his snaps picked up to close the season.

The Steelers will hope for a step forward from the young lineman.

Benton has played a lot of snaps since he was taken in the second round in 2023, and he broke out with 5.5 sacks last season, though that came attached to a lackluster 7.4% pressure rate.

Benton is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, so the Steelers will have to make a decision on him soon.

A fifth-round pick last year, Black offered nothing as a pass rusher in a rotational role, which is not surprising, but he made a few plays in the backfield in the running game and could solidify the middle of the defense if he gets more snaps in year two.

The Steelers also added veteran Sebastian Joseph-Day in free agency, giving them experienced depth.

There are some longer-term questions with Heyward’s age and Benton’s contract situation, but the Steelers are in a good spot along the line.

Edge Defenders

1. T.J. Watt
2. Alex Highsmith
3. Nick Herbig
4. Jack Sawyer
5. KJ Henry
6. Julius Welschof

Pittsburgh finished 13th in pressure rate (37.4%) last season, but they recorded 48 sacks (6th).

T.J. Watt has obviously been an elite pass rusher, but he is coming off a down season where he finished with 7 sacks in 14 games and a 10.6% pressure rate.

With Watt turning 32 in October with $42 million cap hits the next two years, there at least have to be some concerns about decline, though he has a much longer history of great play.

The Steelers also have two good options behind him, which could allow the new defensive staff to use Watt more situationally moving forward.

Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig picked up the slack for Watt last season, though both of them also missed some time.

Highsmith notched 9.5 sacks with a 14.5% pressure rate, while Herbig had 7.5 sacks and a 14.2% pressure rate.

Herbig is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, which creates some longer-term questions.

A fourth-round pick last year, Jack Sawyer did not do a ton in a rotational role, but he obviously has runway to improve.

The Steelers are in a good spot along the edge in the short term, especially if Watt can rediscover his form, but there are some longer-term questions.

Linebacker

1. Patrick Queen
2. Payton Wilson
3. Malik Harrison
4. Cole Holcomb
5. Carson Bruener

Patrick Queen has shown up in some trade rumors this offseason, and he is coming off something of a rough season by his standards.

He finished last season 94th among 115 qualified linebackers in yards allowed per coverage snap.

The Steelers will need better from Queen in 2026, and they need to find an answer next to him.

Payton Wilson and Malik Harrison made up the rotational last year, with Harrison playing more on early downs and Wilson seeing more time in coverage.

They could run that back again, but it would not hurt to have a better three-down option next to Queen, especially since he is heading into a contract year.

Cole Holcomb was that at one point in his career, but he missed all of 2024 because of a serious knee injury and then played a limited role last year.

Cornerback

1. Joey Porter Jr.
2. Jamel Dean
3. Asante Samuel
4. Brandin Echols
5. Donte Kent
6. Cory Trice Jr.
7. Daequan Hardy
8. Doneiko Slaughter
9. D’Shawn Jamison

The Steelers allowed 7.2 yards per attempt (23rd) last year and finished 16th in EPA allowed per pass.

Pittsburgh suffered some losses to the corner group this offseason, including James Pierre signing with the Vikings, but they also had a massive addition in Jamel Dean.

Dean never played a full season during his seven years in Tampa Bay, but he also allowed just a 79.6 quarterback rating in his coverage during his time there.

He should be an excellent No. 2 option opposite Joey Porter, who was a shut-down option last year.

Porter has been charged with 1 touchdown allowed through three seasons, and that was in his rookie year.

Porter is scheduled to be a free agent after this season, but the Steelers will almost certainly figure out an extension with their young corner.

Pittsburgh also brought back Asante Samuel, who at one point looked like an up-and-coming corner but had his career derailed by a neck injury.

Brandin Echols also has the talent to push for a job in sub-packages, and the Steelers have Jalen Ramsey (listed below with the safeties) as an option to cover the slot.

They are in a good spot at cornerback.

Safety

1. DeShon Elliott
2. Jalen Ramsey
3. Jaquan Brisker
4. Darnell Savage
5. Sebastian Castro
6. Jack Henderson

After transitioning Jalen Ramsey to safety last year, the Steelers made a big addition in free agency by signing Jaquan Brisker, albeit to a one-year deal.

With DeShon Elliott returning from injury, that gives Pittsburgh three starting-quality options at safety, allowing them to play more big nickel and mix and match with the depth at cornerback.

Darnell Savage was added in free agency, and he also brings the versatility to play anywhere in the secondary.

Like at cornerback, the Steelers have a good group at safety.

2026 Depth Chart Analysis & Team Needs for All 32 NFL Teams