The Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft plans are far from final, but one beat writer thinks the list is narrowed down. The PPG’s Ray Fittipaldo listed the three positions he thinks the Steelers could address in the first round of April’s draft.
“I think it’s gonna be a receiver or defensive back,” Fittipaldo said Sunday night on the No. 1 Cochran Sports Show on KDKA. “It could be a cornerback or a safety.”
Receiver, cornerback, and safety are all positions of need with enough strength in the draft to support using a first-round pick on one of them. Wide receiver is one of the draft’s deeper groups. The class may lack a true can’t-miss prospect but is led by Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, whose underwhelming 4.53 40 has Fittipaldo wondering if a draft day slide is in order.
“That’s pretty slow for a receiver who’s gonna go in the top 10,” he said. “There were some other really good receivers, so you might see those receivers fall.”
Tate’s mark was slow for a Combine that featured plenty of speed, but his 40 time shouldn’t impact his standing. A better time at his Pro Day, should he elect to run, will help. He’s still a smooth and fluid prospect with great tracking and hands. If the NFL frowns upon Tate’s 40 time, it could be the Steelers’ gain.
Other first-round receivers include USC’s Makai Lemon, Washington’s Denzel Boston, Texas A&M’s K.C. Concepcion, and potentially even Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr.
Cornerback has strength at the top. Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy and LSU’s Mansoor Delane aren’t likely to be available at No. 21 but McCoy’s teammate Colton Hood, Clemson’s Avieon Terrell, and South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse are possibilities. Pittsburgh’s starter opposite Joey Porter Jr. is unclear with James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr. pending free agents.
It’s rare for safety to be considered a strong draft class. But the ’26 edition is one of the best in recent memory. Three prospects are likely to be taken in the top 32: Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman, and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
With Jalen Ramsey returning and DeShon Elliott back healthy, safety is less of an immediate need. Still, the position’s long-term outlook is hazy with depth, youth, and speed badly needed. Safety in the first round would be a justifiable pick.
“I know people are putting all their money on receiver, but don’t count out defensive back just yet,” Fittipaldo said.
Free agency will impact Pittsburgh’s draft plans. One big splash might take one of these positions out of the running. Drafting a quarterback in the first is ideal but the class doesn’t have the talent to supply it and Fittipaldo has been adamant the Steelers won’t address it in the first round. The question will be which position Pittsburgh lands on and if the team even keeps the 21st overall pick. A trade from GM Omar Khan, most likely up but possibly down, can’t be discounted, either.
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