If you’re reading this, congratulations! You’ve officially made it to draft week, which means the impending end of speculation season. As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to host the draft with a league-high 12 picks in hand, it’s time for one final mock draft using nuggets from the pre-draft visits and rumblings from behind the scenes. (Note: Asterisk denotes pre-draft visitor.)
Round 1, Pick 21: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
I see the first-round pick being either a receiver, offensive lineman or defensive back. If Penn State guard Vega Ioane is still available I think he’ll be the selection — but I believe he’ll be gone, so I’m going in a different direction. Of the six players with first-round grades that the Steelers hosted, two of them were receivers (USC’s Makai Lemon and Washington’s Denzel Boston), which signals they’re still thinking about this position even after the Michael Pittman Jr. trade.
While Cooper didn’t visit, the Steelers know him well. He played under new receivers coach Adam Henry at IU in 2022. He brings YAC potential that would fit nicely into Mike McCarthy’s offense and would also help round out this room as a different, more slot-capable (but still versatile) receiver.
Round 2, Pick 53: Treydan Stukes*, DB, Arizona
A versatile defensive back, Stukes played for three different head coaches and five coordinators. All that change meant Stukes had to wear a variety of hats in the secondary, with 1,174 career snaps in the nickel, 943 at outside corner and 503 at safety. With 4.33 speed and a coach-like demeanor, he could step in and fill an immediate need as a free safety. Over time, he could contribute in the nickel and outside. New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham loves to disguise coverages and Stukes’s flexibility would be an asset.
Round 3, Pick 76: Keylan Rutledge*, G, Georgia Tech
A two-time All-American at Georgia Tech, Rutledge has one of my favorite blurbs in The Beast. An NFL scout told Dane Brugler, “If the ACC had a Royal Rumble, (I’d) bet on this guy to be last man standing.” Rutledge missed 2024 spring practices while recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident (and then won the 2025 Piccolo Award, given to the ACC’s most courageous player). While he has a second-to-third round grade, maybe those medical question marks push him into the early Round 3 range.
Round 3, Pick 85: Travis Burke*, OT, Memphis
Broderick Jones’ uncertain health status has made offensive tackle much more of a need than it appeared to be just a few months ago. At this point in the draft, the Steelers can bet on upside with Burke, a towering 6-foot-9, 325-pound lineman. Considered a late bloomer, perhaps Burke’s best football is ahead of him, and a new offensive line coach, James Campen, who has a history of developing mid-round picks, can turn him into a future starter.
Round 3, Pick 99: Malik Muhammad*, CB, Texas
The Steelers hosted five corners (second-most of any position group) with grades that span the spectrum, from Rounds 1 to 5. Muhammad, a starter for two and a half years, brings 4.4 speed. However, he’s a bit slender. Drafting him at this point, with Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean already penciled in as starters, would give the rookie some time to add weight to his frame.
Round 4, Pick 121: Carson Beck*, QB, Miami
McCarthy said he’s looking for a QB “at the right time,” with long arms, big hands and a high floor. Of the mid-round options, the 6-4, 233-pound Beck best checks all of those boxes with nearly 31-inch arms, 10-inch hands and a 37-6 record as a starter.
Round 4, Pick 135: Will Kacmarek*, Ohio State
The Steelers went from an overstocked TE room featuring four players to just two after cutting Jonnu Smith and letting Connor Heyward walk in free agency. Kacmarek played 77.3 percent of snaps in-line in 2025 and is known as an excellent blocker, but he also has the sure hands to be a well-rounded, traditional Y tight end.
Round 5, Pick 161: Jack Kelly*, LB, BYU
A champion BMX racer as a kid, Kelly is a fearless and violent linebacker. He was a two-year team captain at BYU and head coach Kalani Sitake called him “one of the best football players” he has ever been around. He fought through shoulder injuries during his senior season and missed two games, but the Steelers took a chance on a mid-round LB with health question marks in 2024 (Payton Wilson), and that has mostly paid off. Kelly would be a likely upgrade over Malik Harrison at some point, maybe sooner rather than later.
Round 6, Pick 216: Jeff Caldwell*, WR, Cincinnati
A double-dip at receiver could be in the cards, based on the pre-draft visitors. The Steelers hosted three players who should be selected in Round 1 or 2, and three who will be available late. Towering at a shade over 6-5 and with 4.3 speed, Caldwell is still developing. He spent four years at Lindenwood (a Division II school that upgraded to FCS) before transferring to Cincinnati. As the sixth WR on the depth chart, he could provide special teams value (he has two blocked punts on his resume) while developing into something more.
Round 7, Pick 224: James Thompson Jr.*, DT, Illinois
The overwhelming majority of pre-draft visitors came in with middle-ground grades; Thompson was an outlier as the only player with a super-late-round grade hosted by Pittsburgh. The Steelers have brought in a number of early-round defensive tackles in recent years and added depth with Sebastian Joseph-Day, who signed a two-year deal this offseason. Thompson would be a nice piece to put in the pipeline.
Round 7, Pick 230: Traded to 2027
The Steelers aren’t going to select 12 players. Chances are, they trade at least some of their picks to move around the draft board. They also need to begin stockpiling draft capital to take an aggressive swing at a QB in 2027.
Round 7, Pick 237: Used to make small trade-up at earlier point
I don’t know where it will happen, but at some point, the Steelers will need to make a small move up the board to land a priority player. Let’s just say, in that hypothetical, they trade this pick.
