3 Steelers 2026 NFL Draft prospects who'd be home run selections
There will be many options to choose from when the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock at 21st overall, but these three prospects would be excellent.
With the dust of free agency now mostly settled, team identities are starting to take shape, and for some teams, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers , an even greater level of clarity as to what potentially might be the strategy for the first round in the upcoming NFL Draft . There's no doubt the current roster looks much improved compared to what it was before player acquisitions became official, although numerous needs exist along the left side of the offensive line, at wide receiver, inside linebacker, cornerback, safety, and on the defensive line. The Steelers have the luxury of going forward with a best-player-available approach, ultimately coming down to who is on the board when the 21st overall pick is on the clock.
Regardless of what position that might be, these are three names that, despite not generating as much media attention as others, would still be excellent selections who'd be immediate plug-and-play starters for Pittsburgh in the upcoming 2026 season. Wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. , Indiana Everyone in the pre-draft process loves talking about Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson.
However, few are highlighting that someone will still be walking away with a bona fide plug-and-play wideout in Omar Cooper Jr. , who finished with 937 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13. 6 yards per reception last year.
He has a stocky yet physical frame, leveraging his yards-after-catch ability to great advantage, while also creating good contact balance and a 30% missed tackle rate against defenders in college. Cooper bullies defensive backs inside the slot, effectively using his body as a run blocker and winning after contact. His hands are exceptional (4.