The 2026 NFL Draft is just over a month away, and things are starting to become very clear when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their biggest needs in the three-day draft.
The Steelers have 12 picks to work with at the moment, and have the opportunity to plug a number of holes on the roster with those 12 picks. None of those holes are bigger than along the offensive line at the moment, especially after losing Isaac Seumalo in free agency, and Broderick Jones’ health up in the air.
One name that continues to be connected to the Steelers is Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, and that’s the direction ESPN’s Field Yates went in his two-round mock draft that published Tuesday morning.
Much like ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and longtime draft analyst Todd McShay in recent days, Yates sees Ioane as a great fit for the Steelers at No. 21 overall.
“The clear-cut best guard in the draft is Ioane, who also happens to fill the Steelers’ biggest need other than QB. Isaac Seumalo, who started at left guard in Pittsburgh for the past three seasons, left for the Cardinals in free agency. And I continue to believe that Aaron Rodgers will decide to play one more season with Pittsburgh,” Yates writes of the Steelers selection. “Ioane is a physical, rugged guard who shows crunching power at the point of attack.
“He was exceedingly reliable at Penn State, meaning he could be a plug-and-play starter for new coach Mike McCarthy. Ioane ranks 14th among my top overall prospects.”
The loss of Seumalo in free agency stings, but the Steelers do have some confidence in Spencer Anderson to hold down the starting job in 2026. Pittsburgh also recently signed veteran swing interior lineman Brock Hoffman, too, giving the Steelers depth and options in the trenches.
But landing Ioane would give Pittsburgh an elite-level talent in the trenches, especially if he falls to No. 21 overall. It could be another David DeCastro situation all over again. He’s the best guard in the class, and arguably the best offensive lineman overall. He’d strengthen the left side of the line immediately, too.
In Yates’ mock, the Steelers went with Ioane, passing on the likes of Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion, Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, and Clemson cornerback Aveion Terrell.
In the second round, Yates addressed receiver for the Steelers, pairing Pittsburgh with a new name in the process in Mississippi State speedster Brenen Thompson at No. 53 overall.
“One of my favorite value moves of the offseason was Pittsburgh trading for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., but the team must continue to address that position,” Yates writes. “Thompson ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine (4.26 seconds) and led the SEC in receiving yards this past season (1,054).
“He can consistently get separation downfield, which will translate well to the next level.”
Thompson is a blur on the field. There was a lot of hype about how fast he would run at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine Combine, and then he delivered in a big way with his eye-opening 4.26 40-yard dash.
He’s on the smaller side at just 5093, 164 pounds, but when you move that fast and can consistently take the top off of defenses, especially in the SEC, your game is going to translate to the NFL.
Adding that type of speed element to the Steelers’ WR room is just what they need.
In our scouting report of Thompson, Ryan Paglia compared Thompson to Calvin Austin III, though noting that Thompson is slightly faster and a more developed receiver. But there are some medical concerns with Thompson, which could drop him into the third round or later.
Still, speed is what the Steelers need in the wide receiver room, and Thompson would provide that in abundance.
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