B-
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers let Branch fall and pounced. Final grade: B-.
by Jdb154 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 5 steals
· 0 reaches
You could see the war room lean forward. Zachariah Branch at pick No. 85 is the sort of fall that does not happen, except it just did. They moved the roster forward and banked a B- for it.
They will regret leaving interior defensive lineman for another day if the season turns on it. They gave back a little on the phones for the right to move.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the interior defensive lineman spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a building block for the line. Need was not the driver here.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Anthony Hill Jr. at Round 2, Pick 21. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Zachariah Branch at pick No. 85 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Chandler Rivers at No. 99 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. It fills a real need, too.
Deion Burks at the 121st overall pick is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Value with a capital V on Davison Igbinosun in pick 135, a genuine coup. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Drew Allar is a better player than the 161st pick suggests; smart patience, rewarded. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A tidy little value on Jeremiah Wright in slot 216, a step better than break-even. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.