With just 15 days until the 2026 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ positions of need and the potential targets at those positions are starting to become a bit clearer.
The franchise, which is currently in its offseason program, is busy bringing in prospects for pre-draft visits, getting good looks at players whose name they could potentially call across the three days of the draft.
One position that the Steelers remain interested in, at least from the outside, is offensive tackle.
While GM Omar Khan recently gave a positive report on veteran offensive tackle Broderick Jones’ health and he worked in some capacity during the first day of the offseason program Tuesday, the left tackle position remains a major question mark for the Steelers.
Jones is still recovering from spinal-fusion surgery, and while Dylan Cook played well down the stretch last season in place of Jones, he’s still relatively inexperienced as the top backup to both Jones and Troy Fautanu.
Knowing that, NFL.com’s Nick Shook believes that exploring another left tackle option and shoring up the position is the one goal the Steelers must nail in the draft.
“General manager Omar Khan has done a commendable job of rebuilding Pittsburgh’s offensive line over the last few years, and depending on who you ask, the Steelers might be just fine up front,” Shook writes. “With a starting defense that is largely settled (and surprisingly deep at the second and third levels), Khan should direct his attention toward the blocking unit, especially if he’d like to maximize a backfield that includes Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdleand Kaleb Johnson. The position I’m targeting: offensive tackle, where Broderick Jonesisn’t cemented into his starting job on the left side. Bring in some competition and further raise the standard up front.
“It might be especially necessary once the Steelers are forced to turn toward a younger quarterback after 2026.”
The Steelers have invested heavily in the trenches in recent years, and they might need to continue investing there in 2026, too. With Jones’ injury and the concerns about him long-term, it could affect the decision the Steelers have to make about his fifth-year option. Add that the Steelers lost veteran guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency, and the left side of the line is facing a very uncertain future.
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, it’s a very deep, talented class at left tackle, as well as interior offensive line.
The Steelers have already hosted Miami (FL) offensive tackle Markel Bell for a pre-draft visit and are set to host Memphis OT Travis Burke later this week. They’ve also been connected to the likes of Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor and Clemson’s Blake Miller as potential first-round picks.
It will be very interesting to see which direction the Steelers go at the position. Chances seem high that they’re going to draft a tackle. The Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo believes the sweet spot is in the third round with three picks to do so.
Time will tell. But a left tackle will almost certainly be among the selections the Steelers make in late April.
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