With 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s setting up to be a very busy weekend in the Steel City for the Pittsburgh Steelers under GM Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl.
The Steelers have five picks within the top 100, offering them the opportunity to add some key pieces in the draft and reshape their roster under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy.
The Steelers have needs at wide receiver, left tackle, left guard, inside linebacker, and safety, not to mention quarterback, though Aaron Rodgers’ return could solve that for at least 2026.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter tried to fill some of those holes in his latest five-round mock draft that published Friday afternoon. In the first round, he tabs the Steelers to land Clemson OT Blake Miller.
With Broderick Jones’ health still largely up in the air — though he is progressing — the Steelers need to address the tackle position at some point in the draft. So far in the pre-draft process they’ve looked at Day 2 tackles like Miami (FL)’s Markel Bell and Memphis’ Travis Burke.
But the Steelers have a strong connection to Clemson in recent years, and Blake Miller is a name on the rise and would fill a need.
“Although GM Omar Khan gave a rosier account ofBroderick Jones" data-link="/players/broderick-jones/" data-slug="broderick-jones">Broderick Jones‘ potential return from injury at the NFL Annual League Meeting than he did at the Combine, it is unclear when Jones will be back at his left tackle spot or if Khan will choose to exercise the player’s fifth-year option,” Reuter writes of the selection of Miller. “Troy Fautanu" data-link="/players/troy-fautanu/" data-slug="troy-fautanu">Troy Fautanu could return to left tackle with Miller starting on the right side if Jones is unavailable this season or down the road. Fautanu played some left guard in college, as well, so he could slide inside if Jones is ready to play in 2026.”
Adding Miller and shifting Troy Fautanu over to left tackle in 2026 would seem like far too many moving parts for the Steelers’ offensive line. Fautanu seemed to settle in nicely at right tackle last year, pairing well with right guard Mason McCormick to form a strong right side of the offensive line. Moving him to a new position in the NFL and inserting a rookie at right tackle doesn’t seem wise for the Steelers to do — again.
Miller can play left tackle, but he’s another developmental piece, too He’s a good athlete with good tape, but would need some time to adjust to the NFL. With two new offensive line coaches in James Campen and Jahri Evans in place, he could be a nice player for them to work with at one of the most valuable positions in football.
After landing Miller in the first round, Reuter paired the Steelers with an explosive playmaker in Georgia WR Zachariah Branch, giving McCarthy a weapon who can take any touch to the house.
Most of his production at Georgia came on throws at or behind the line of scrimmage, which is concerning and doesn’t always translate to the NFL. But the Steelers have shown interest in Branch with a formal meeting at the Combine and a Pro Day dinner, too.
In the third round, the Steelers cleaned up with their three selections, landing a quarterback in whom they’ve shown a lot of interest Miami (FL)‘s Carson Beck, before adding LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. and TCU safety Bud Clark.
Beck brings a ton of experience to the table and has the requisite size at the position that McCarthy looks for. There are concerns about arm strength and mobility, but Pittsburgh has hosted Beck for a pre-draft visit, signaling real interest in him.
The Steelers have also hosted Perkins for a visit as Patrick Queen enters the final year of his deal and has been a disappointment while Payton Wilson took a step back last season. Perkins is an elite-level athlete at the off-ball linebacker position and has the versatility to rush the passer, too.
Landing Bud Clark and his ball skills at safety would strengthen the room, too, giving Pittsburgh a ton of versatility in its secondary.
In the fourth round, Reuter picked Michigan TE Marlin Klein and Texas interior offensive lineman DJ Campbell, giving Pittsburgh depth and talent up front. Klein slots in nicely as a third tight end behind Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth with some upside, while Campbell could develop into a starter down the line and push Spencer Anderson in Year 1.
Rounding out Reuter’s draft, he paired Florida cornerback Devin Moore with the Steelers in the fifth round, giving them another long, athletic cornerback with some physicality to develop behind Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean.
Here’s a recap of his picks.
Round 1 – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Round 2 – Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Round 3 – Carson Beck, QB, Miami (FL)
Round 3 – Harold Perkins, Jr., ILB, LSU
Round 3 – Bud Clark, S, TCU
Round 4 – Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
Round 4 – DJ Campbell, iOL, Texas
Round 5 – Devin Moore, CB, Florida
It’s not a great draft overall, especially with some questions about the first two picks. But Reuter plugs some Steelers holes in his five-round mock, touching on some players who have been connected to the Steelers in recent weeks.
Related Items:2026 NFL Draft, Blake Miller, Bud Clark, Carson Beck, Chad Reuter, Devin Moore, DJ Campbell, Harold Perkins Jr., Marlin Klein, Pittsburgh Steelers, Trending, Zachariah Branch
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