2026 NFL Draft Grade: Pittsburgh Steelers -- C+

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear hierarchy of needs. Quarterback was the glaring critical hole -- the post-Aaron Rodgers era had left the depth chart with Will Howard and Mason Rudolph, neither of whom profiles as a long-term starter. High-priority needs at defensive tackle, cornerback, and along the offensive line also demanded attention under new head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan.

What Khan delivered over the course of 10 selections was a class that screams "development project" louder than "immediate impact." The Steelers made aggressive trades to target specific players, swung on traits-based upside at the game's most important position, and landed two legitimate steals in the seventh round. But the middle rounds produced several picks that left evaluators scratching their heads, pulling the overall haul down to a grade that feels fitting for a team building for 2028 rather than 2026.

Pick 21 (Round 1) -- Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State Grade: C (58.0)

The Steelers have cycled through left tackle options since the Alejandro Villanueva era, and the Broderick Jones transition has not been smooth. Iheanachor is a massive, long-armed tackle with the kind of raw power that made him a standout at Arizona State, but most boards had him as a late-first to early-second-round projection. Pittsburgh reached roughly 10 slots early by those estimates, and the grade reflects a team that prioritized positional need over board value. The upside is real -- Iheanachor moves well for his size and has the frame to anchor against power rushers -- but he will need technical refinement in pass protection before he can stabilize the left side. This is a bet on coaching and development, not an instant plug-and-play solution.

Pick 47 (Round 2) -- Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama (From IND) Grade: B- (68.0)

After trading down or back into the second round via Indianapolis, Khan found value in Bernard, who slid a few spots past where most evaluators had him ranked. Bernard is a physical, competitive receiver who produced at Alabama in a crowded room. For a Steelers offense that already features DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. on the outside, Bernard fits the profile of a WR3 who can work the intermediate areas and contribute on special teams. The need was moderate -- the receiver room was already solid -- but the value was fair, and Bernard's demeanor fits Pittsburgh's preferred personality profile. This is a solid, unspectacular pick that adds quality depth to a position group that needed it under McCarthy's 11-personnel-heavy scheme.

Pick 76 (Round 3) -- Drew Allar, QB, Penn State (From DAL) Grade: C (56.0)

This is the swing that will define the class. Allar entered the draft with a polarizing profile -- the arm talent is undeniable, the size and mobility are prototypical, but his consistency and processing speed at Penn State drew mixed reviews. By most draft boards, Allar was a Day 3 prospect, making this a significant reach in the early third round. But context matters: the Steelers had no long-term answer at quarterback, and waiting until the fourth or fifth round meant risking that someone else would take the plunge. Khan identified his guy and traded up to get him. The grade is a C because the value gap is real, but the logic -- swing on a traits-heavy quarterback when you have no franchise option -- is defensible. Allar will sit behind a veteran bridge in 2026, and the hope is that McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio can mold him into a starter by 2027.

Pick 85 (Round 3) -- Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia Grade: A (86.0)

The best pick of Pittsburgh's entire draft. Everette was a starting cornerback on one of the most talented defenses in recent college football history, and he slid to the middle of the third round despite most evaluators having him pegged as a top-80 player. The Steelers had a clear hole at corner -- Jalen Ramsey is still elite, but behind him the depth chart was thin, and Joey Porter Jr. has battled durability concerns. Everette is a long, press-man corner who fits defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's scheme seamlessly. He can play outside or slide into the slot, and he brings the kind of competitive toughness that Pittsburgh demands. Getting a potential starter with this grade at pick 85 is a home run.

Pick 96 (Round 3) -- Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa (From SEA) Grade: D (43.0)

Iowa offensive linemen typically translate well to the NFL, and Dunker has the fundamental technique you expect from the program. But the value here is difficult to defend. Most boards had Dunker as a fifth- or sixth-round prospect, and the Steelers took him roughly 70 slots ahead of that projection. The need at offensive tackle was real -- the left side is unsettled -- but passing on higher-ranked players at the same position who went later in the round is a tough look. Dunker is strong at the point of attack and understands angles, but his lack of elite athleticism will be tested against NFL speed. This feels like a pick where the Steelers fell in love with a specific player and overpaid to get him.

Pick 121 (Round 4) -- Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa Grade: F (28.0)

This is the clear low point of the class. Wetjen is a slot receiver who showed flashes at Iowa, but the numbers and tape never suggested a Day 2 or early Day 3 caliber prospect. Most boards had him as a priority free agent or late-Day 3 flier. Taking him in the fourth round, especially at a position where the Steelers already added Germie Bernard and have established starters in Metcalf and Pittman, is a head-scratcher. The value delta is enormous, and the need was minimal. This is the kind of pick that drags down an entire class grade, and it's hard to argue with the F mark here.

Pick 169 (Round 5) -- Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana (From LAR via KC) Grade: D (40.0)

Nowakowski is a throwback tight end -- more of a fullback/H-back hybrid who brings physical blocking but limited receiving production. Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington are already on the roster, so the positional need was moderate at best. The value gap is again significant, with most boards projecting Nowakowski as a late-Day 3 or undrafted free agent. He could carve out a role as a sixth offensive lineman in heavy packages, but expecting much more than that is optimistic. The grade reflects a reach for a limited-upside player at a position that was not screaming for help.

Pick 210 (Round 6) -- Gabriel Rubio, DT, Notre Dame (From LAR via KC) Grade: C- (53.0)

Rubio is a massive, run-stuffing defensive tackle who can occupy blockers and eat double teams. The Steelers needed to add youth and bulk to a defensive interior that has Cameron Heyward entering the twilight of his career and Keeanu Benton needing a running mate. The value here is less egregious than the earlier reaches -- sixth-round picks are dart throws anyway -- and Rubio's skill set addresses a genuine need. He will not be a pass-rush threat, but as a rotational nose tackle in the 3-4 base, he has a clear path to making the roster. The grade is below average primarily because of the value gap, but the logic is sound.

Pick 224 (Round 7) -- Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma (From NO via NE) Grade: A (85.0)

Suddenly, the late-round magic appears. Spears-Jennings is a versatile safety who played both deep and in the box for the Sooners, and most evaluators had him as a top-210 prospect. Getting him 20 picks after his projected range in the seventh round is outstanding value. With the Steelers facing potential departures at safety -- Jaquan Brisker and Kyle Dugger were free agents this offseason -- adding another young, athletic body to compete alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott is smart business. Spears-Jennings has special teams value and the instincts to develop into a starter down the line. This is exactly the kind of pick that makes late rounds rewarding.

Pick 230 (Round 7) -- Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy (From IND) Grade: A (85.0)

And just like that, the Steelers pull off another seventh-round gem. Heidenreich was productive and explosive at Navy, and his consensus ranking of 102 made him one of the biggest value steals of the entire draft when he fell to pick 230. The running back room is solid with Jaylen Warren and a stable of capable reserves, but Heidenreich brings a different dynamic -- acceleration, receiving ability, and the kind of scheme-versatility that fits a modern NFL offense. This is a low-risk, high-reward flier that could pay dividends in a committee role or as a returner.

Overall Grade: C+ (60.2)

The Steelers' 2026 draft class is a study in contrasts. On one hand, Daylen Everette and Robert Spears-Jennings represent excellent value picks. Eli Heidenreich in the seventh round is the kind of steal that can define a class for years. The Drew Allar gamble, while a reach, is defensible given the team's desperation at quarterback.

On the other hand, the Kaden Wetjen selection in the fourth round is indefensible by any value metric, and the reaches on Gennings Dunker and Riley Nowakowski in the middle rounds dragged the average down significantly. The first-round pick of Max Iheanachor was fine but unspectacular -- a need-based selection that did not maximize the board.

When you zoom out, Khan and McCarthy added a potential franchise quarterback, a starting-caliber cornerback, a developmental left tackle, and a pair of intriguing late-round talents. That is a real haul. But the accumulation of negative-value picks in Rounds 3 through 5 -- the meat of the draft -- prevents this class from receiving a higher grade. The Steelers got better, but they left value on the table in a way that will be felt when the draft board is evaluated in three years.

Pick-by-Pick Summary