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2026-56
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SAMMY 123 DRAFTING FOR THESteelers
Draft Selections
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall
B-
ValueC+
NeedB
TradesB-
FutureB-
A respectable, level-headed haul for the Steelers: B-. There is reaching, and then there is Cole Payton at the Round 4 slot. The Steelers jumped the board by 117 and dared it to prove them wrong. No fireworks, but a solid B-.
The McAlister pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch. The Jones pick reads as want over need, and the roster will feel it at edge rusher, running back and other spots.
Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. They went 6 of 9 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.
Pick Analysis
Pick21
Rnd1
Sonny Styles
In No. 21 they get the heartbeat of the defense. A real need, handled.
Pick53
Rnd2
Caleb Tiernan
Caleb Tiernan in pick No. 53 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Pick76
Rnd3
Michael Taaffe
Michael Taaffe in the Round 3 slot lands just on the right side of the ledger. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick85
Rnd3
Elijah Sarratt
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Elijah Sarratt in pick 85. It fills a real need, too.
Pick99
Rnd3
Logan Jones
They bypassed pressing needs at edge rusher, running back and other spots to take Logan Jones, an offensive lineman that was not the priority.
Pick121
Rnd4
Cole Payton
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Cole Payton well ahead of where he belonged. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick135
Rnd4
Davison Igbinosun
A tidy bit of business in slot 135, where Davison Igbinosun graded well above the range. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick161
Rnd5
Kaleb Proctor
The board had cheaper options than Kaleb Proctor at Round 5, Pick 21, and it noticed. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick214
Rnd6
Zavion Thomas
A conviction pick on Zavion Thomas at pick 214 that the board grades a round light. The roster fit checks out.
Pick216
Rnd6
Eric McAlister
The board fumbled Eric McAlister all the way to the 216th overall pick, and they scooped it up. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick224
Rnd7
TJ Hall
A reasonable price with a little left over, TJ Hall in No. 224. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick237
Rnd7
Daevin Hobbs
They reached a country mile for Daevin Hobbs at pick No. 237, and the board is aghast. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.




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