B+
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers let McNeil-Warren fall and pounced. Final grade: B+.
by Frank DC ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 14 picks
· 4 steals
· 0 reaches
Whoever sat across the table from the Steelers should ask for a receipt. They cleaned the room out, prying loose far more value than they gave up, and it was the quiet MVP of their weekend. No fireworks, but a solid B+.
The McNeil-Warren pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch. The Steelers indulged a want in Hecht while a need in edge rusher, running back and other spots stayed open. For all the activity, edge rusher went untouched, which is hard to explain.
In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 25 they get a blindside protector. Need was not the driver here.
A linebacker of that caliber at the Round 2 slot is the definition of value, full stop. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
They will replay Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at the 76th pick for years; that is how good the value is. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
They took Skyler Bell at par in pick 85, which is nothing to complain about. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A surprising call. With edge rusher, running back and other spots still to address, they spent slot 92 on Sam Hecht, an offensive lineman they were not short of.
Darrell Jackson Jr. in the 99th overall pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Will Lee III at Round 4, Pick 21 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the cornerback. A need, and now a little less of one.
Davison Igbinosun at the 129th pick nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, J.C. Davis adds an offensive lineman and leaves edge rusher, running back and other spots untouched.
Nice patience on Drew Allar, who had no business lasting to the 161st overall pick. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They paid sticker price for Jeff Caldwell in pick 216, and that is fine. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Jimmy Rolder slid further than he should have, and the Round 7 slot is lovely value for the linebacker. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A market-rate quarterback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Cole Payton. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
By-the-book stuff, Eli Heidenreich at slot 237 squarely in line with his ranking. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.