B-
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers cashed the board's mistake on Stowers: B-.
by Jlev ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 2 steals
· 2 reaches
This is the pick they will still be bragging about in July: Eli Stowers, the No. 53 name on the board, stolen at the 85th pick. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B-.
The World pick is fine in a vacuum, less so with safety, edge rusher and other spots still on the board. They punted on safety, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. If Capehart pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about.
A competent weekend that does not make headlines and does not need to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 21st pick they get an anchor for the offensive line at fair value. More want than need.
They took Anthony Hill Jr. at par in No. 33, which is nothing to complain about. It fills a real need, too.
A quiet steal in Round 3, Pick 12: Zachariah Branch for less than the market said. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Eli Stowers at pick No. 85 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. The roster fit checks out.
Jalon Kilgore in slot 99 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
The board had cheaper options than DeMonte Capehart at the 121st overall pick, and it noticed. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Isaiah World at offensive lineman with safety, edge rusher and other spots open.
Nothing to complain about; Drew Allar went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They did well to land Zavion Thomas in No. 230, just ahead of his grade. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.