Let’s talk Steelers: Should PIT make all 12 picks?

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 24: A general view of the video board on stage with the Pittsburgh Steelers 21st pick during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Steelers have 12 picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh — that’s one for every round with an additional five selections. Needless to say, the Steelers will be on the clock plenty in front of a home crowd in April.

That said, the overwhelming sentiment has been that 12 picks are just too many to make in one draft. There aren’t that many roster spots to fill, especially when the team can use some of the extra capital to trade up or into 2027. But let’s take a closer look.

Could the Steelers really use all 12 draft picks? I took a look at the Steelers’ current listed roster — you can check for yourself here — and listed all the players I felt were near-guarantees to make the team’s 2026 53-man roster barring injuries or trades: QB (3): [Spot likely reserved for Aaron Rodgers], Mason Rudolph, Will Howard RB (3): Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Kaleb Johnson WR (4): DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr. , Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek TE (2): Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington IOL (3): Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson OT (3): Broderick Jones (might start season on injured reserve), Dylan Cook, Troy Fautanu, DL (5): Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black EDGE (4): TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer ILB (5) : Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener CB (5): Joey Porter Jr.

, Jamel Dean, Jalen Ramsey, Brandin Echols, Asante Samuel Jr. S (3): DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, Darnell Savage (not announced yet) K (1): Chris Boswell P (1): Cam Johnston LS (1): Christian Kuntz To recap, that’s just 18 names on offense, 22 on defense, and three on special teams, making for a grand total of 42 to 43 spots, depending on whether or not you think Broderick Jones is in contention for a Week 1 roster spot. That leaves 10 to 11 spots remaining for the 53-man roster.