The Pittsburgh Steelers are lining themselves up for a compensatory pick windfall next year. They don’t hold all the cards, but if some of their former players play up to their capability, they could gain three to four additional quality draft picks in 2026. There is a feeling of intentionality here, given the timing within their timeline for acquiring a franchise quarterback.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, however, disputes that notion. Commenting on the Steelers’ potential compensatory haul for next year, he said in a recent chat, “It is not a conscious effort, but it could turn out to be a good one.”
The Steelers should earn a third-round compensatory pick for losing OT Dan Moore Jr. They should also net at least a fourth-rounder, if not a third, for QB Justin Fields. If Russell Wilson plays extensively and hits incentives, he could net anywhere between a third and a fifth. That’s potentially three additional third-round picks, plus a likely sixth for James Daniels.
While the Steelers are pursuing Aaron Rodgers, they recognize the 41-year-old quarterback is not a long-term answer. Holding the 21st overall pick in 2025 in a draft class considered weak at the position, they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Given that, many interpret the compensatory gains as part of a strategy.
If the Steelers stockpile additional draft picks, they would have more maneuverability, aiding their ability to make a trade up. It’s very likely they would have to do just that to land a potential franchise quarterback.
Still, Dulac insists that what we are seeing this off-season is not by design. He denied that the Steelers and GM Omar Khan are “hoarding” compensatory picks. “That’s just the way it is occurring”. However, I’m not sure that it can’t be a little of both.
The Steelers may not be going out of their way to gain extra draft picks, but it seems they are conscious of it. Signing players like CB Darius Slay and aiming for Rodgers, both of whom don’t factor in the compensatory formula because their previous teams released them, is a staple of what teams like the Ravens do. They could have gone after another cornerback, but they chose Slay. Yes, they initially tried to re-sign Fields, but having failed, they turned their attention to Rodgers.
It might be too strong to suggest that playing the compensatory game will become a “staple” of the Steelers under Omar Khan. But it’s not unreasonable to buy the idea that they intend to pay more attention to it in the future.
At the same time, it’s entirely plausible that what we’re seeing is nothing more than a coincidence. The Steelers never intend to re-sign Dan Moore Jr. or James Daniels. They were never going to re-sign both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. And they did replace Elandon Roberts, whose contract didn’t qualify, with Malik Harrison, whose contract did. The bottom line is that it’s too early to say whether the Steelers are actively focusing on compensatory picks or if it’s for more than just one year.
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