There are needs across the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster, but the wide receiver position is arguably the most pressing one. And based on the healthy number of meetings the Steelers had with receivers at the Combine, that idea isn’t lost on the franchise. If Pittsburgh goes the receiver route with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema would love for it to be Jordyn Tyson.
“He’s just too talented. I think talent alone, I’d have considered him at [pick] five or six… Talent, ceiling, I think he’s got the highest of any wide receiver in this draft,” Sikkema said Monday, conducting a mock draft on his PFF NFL Show. “The Steelers need a wide receiver, and they need this exact type of wide receiver, I think. So, Tyson at 21 to the Steelers.”
Tyson’s ceiling is undeniably high. But Sikkema thinking it’s the highest of any receiver in this class is a lot of praise. The position might be the strongest in the entire draft. Tyson has to contend with players like Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon for that top spot.
However, it’s not like Sikkema’s opinion is coming out of left field. If Tyson can put it all together in the NFL, there will be very few faults in his game. He runs very impressive routes, understanding how to change his pace and set up defenders in man coverage. Able to play from outside and the slot, Mike McCarthy would dream about the mismatches Tyson can force defenses into. He’s going to get open more often than not. However, even when he doesn’t, Tyson possesses the ball skills to win in contested-catch scenarios.
With all those skills, it’s fair to wonder whether Jordyn Tyson will even make it to the 21st overall pick. Yet, while he still could very well go before the Steelers are on the clock, his stock has started to slip ever so slightly. There are, of course, a few things he’ll need to improve. But perhaps the most worrisome aspect about Tyson is his injury history.
It includes missed time in 2023 with a bad knee injury, a collarbone fracture in 2024, and a hamstring injury that bothered him throughout 2025. The same hamstring injury caused him to miss testing during the NFL Combine last weekend. With the volume of talent already at the position, his injury history could cause him to slip down the board. Maybe even far enough to fall to the Steelers.
Even with those worries, he’s someone the Steelers have to strongly consider with the 21st pick, if he’s still on the board. Sikkema is right that the Steelers need his exact skill set. He would take attention off DK Metcalf. And Metcalf’s ability to take the top off the defense would open things up underneath for Tyson as well. As long as he can stay healthy, Pittsburgh could drastically fix one of its biggest roster needs by drafting Jordyn Tyson.
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