While they might not find their next franchise quarterback this year, the 2026 NFL draft will still be important for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have 12 total picks, the most for any team currently. However, there’s no guarantee that they’ll use all of those selections. They could package some together to move up. NFL insider Jordan Schultz’s recent report supports the idea that there will be a lot of movement on draft day.
“The expectation among many NFL teams is that the 2026 draft will be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory, according to multiple league sources,” Schultz wrote Wednesday on Twitter. “Specifically, on the defensive side of the ball – EDGE, CB, and LB are all strong/deep – while WR is typically considered to be the most talented offensive position.
“Several executives I’ve spoken with believe we’re likely to see a flurry of activity in the first half of Round 1. Additionally, because this specific draft lacks depth in the later rounds, many teams plan to pursue extra Day 2 and early Day 3 picks, per league sources.”
The expectation among many NFL teams is that the 2026 draft will be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory, according to multiple league sources.
Specifically, on the defensive side of the ball — EDGE, CB and LB are all strong/deep — while WR is typically… pic.twitter.com/NhNQJiM91T
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 8, 2026
It’s important to note that just because Schultz is hearing this doesn’t mean it’s actually going to happen. It’s easy to talk about teams trading now, especially in the first round. However, it can be much harder to strike a deal during the draft.
It won’t take much for this year’s draft to surpass last year’s in terms of early trades, though. There was only one swap in the top 20 picks last year, with the Jacksonville Jaguars trading with the Cleveland Browns to move up to the second overall pick. There were only two trades in the top 20 in 2024, too.
However, there could be more moving pieces on Day 1 this year. That would be good for the Steelers if they want to trade up. They’re sitting at pick 21, and they’ve got plenty of ammo to move around, including three third-round picks and two fourth-round picks.
If Schultz is correct about teams valuing Day 2 and early Day 3 selections, those picks could hold a little more weight. The Steelers could put some of them together to move up a few spots.
That would depend on who’s available, too. The Steelers aren’t going to trade up just for the sake of making a move. There has to be a player on the board who they think is worth jumping up for.
Who could that be? It’s hard to say at the moment. One of the top offensive linemen or wide receivers would make sense, though. Perhaps a safety or corner could be on their radar, too. They have plenty of needs.
Just as well, they could save those picks and add more players to their roster. It’s a good problem to have. We’ll see in a few weeks if Schultz’s information proves to be true.
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