The NFL Draft is just around the corner, and there will be many teams looking to draft a wide receiver, including the [Pittsburgh Steelers](https://lastwordonsports.com/nfl/category/nfl-teams/steelers/). The team is continuing to reshape the position after several years of undermining it. It’s expected that Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson will all be drafted inside the first round. Plus, Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion both will go either late first or early second round.
That leaves us with a handful of wideouts, despite not drawing earlier interest, who are very talented and can provide immediate impact upon contributing. The second day of the draft is when teams will nail down long-term answers with less media attention. For a franchise such as the Steelers, nabbing another wideout past day one has historically proven to be a wise investment, as the three listed below certainly fit the mold of a mid-round prospect outplaying his projected draft stock and ceiling.
### **1\. Zachariah Branch, University of Georgia**
Transferring from the University of South Carolina to the University of Georgia in 2025, Branch proved himself a legitimate return specialist and slot receiver. He’s often considered a human joystick for his explosive playmaking, rooted in elite short-area quickness and track-star speed. He set a school record for most receptions (81) and earned honors as All-SEC. Branch’s stop-start ability is rare, and when combined with his 4.35 40-yard time, he puts defenses in a position where they must stretch vertically or horizontally. A true, chain-moving threat when it comes to yards after catch (80% of his 811 yards came after the catch), and weaves through traffic downfield with exceptional vision.
Not only that, but Branch can also play on special teams, where he threatens gunners as a home run hitter in open space on kickoffs and punts. His drop rate is very low (just 2.4% of passes dropped), and while in stride, he has strong focus in plucking balls in the air or when high pointing. As for his future role, he’s widely expected to be a day one starter on special teams and a full-time slot receiver, best suited for a motion-based offense prioritizing creativity, posing a nightmare for opposing nickel corners and linebackers. Tank Dell, Mecole Hardman, and Zay Flowers are current comparisons for someone like Branch with special teams value and rare acceleration.
### **2\. Chris Bell, University of Louisville**
If it weren’t for a late-season ACL tear, Bell would not have qualified for this list and would have been drafted much sooner. A potential steal in this year’s upcoming draft (assuming medicals clear by training camp), the Louisville product dazzles with his outstanding yards after catch, all while using his 6’2 frame to his advantage as a bully-style, physical wideout similar to [Deebo Samuel](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SamuDe00.htm) and A.J. Brown. Bell’s playing strength is a plus, boxing out defenders through contact with his very dense frame, overpowering much smaller defensive backs, and he is instantly able to create separation and make things difficult in terms of jamming for boundaries. His power and vision are similar to a running back’s, creating explosive gains out of short completions off of broken arm tackles.
Although he doesn’t possess burner speed, Bell does have speed that is deceptively long once hitting full stride, backed by his 4.4 40-yard time. He might also be perhaps the best blocker in this entire class, as he’s one to seek out contact regularly, displacing defensive backs in the running game, such as nickels and safeties. Bell was a focal point for the Cardinals’ offense, where he demonstrated improved concentration and winning on must-win, high-volume downs. A Power-O or West Coast offense fits him the best, utilizing his frame in screens and heavy-action slants.
### **3\. Chris Brazzell II, University of Tennessee**
A transfer originally out of Tulane, Brazzell II produced a 1,017-yard, 19-touchdown, and 16.4-yard per reception stat line with the Tennessee Volunteers last year (an SEC best). He is a player with a high ceiling, an explosive movement, and a Z or vertical X receiver. Brazzell’s athletic profile is relatively rare, carrying a height of 6’4 and 4.37 elite speed, which helps him in stacking defensive backs consistently. His catch radius is massive, using his long wingspan in reeling in off-target passes, and he also dominates in sideline situations and inside the red zone at the high point. Brazzell is a very fluid route runner for his size, effectively sinking his hips, curls, and comebacks, creating separation.
His drop rate is remarkably low (3.2%), and he can concentrate at an elite level over his shoulder on deep balls. At the line of scrimmage, he has a wide variety of hand swipes and jabs in cleanly defeating press-man coverage. A pleasant surprise, he compares to George Pickens, reliably speaking, and Martavis Bryant, making him a vertical field stretcher as a serious threat in rotation or an immediate contributor on special teams. A size-speed combination that requires double-teams, Brazzell has the ceiling of a potential wide receiver one, once his functional weight consists of 10-15 more pounds.
_Main Image: Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images_