D-
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers got the worse of every deal, and it shows in the D-.
by kmp90 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 13 picks
· 4 steals
· 6 reaches
Somewhere a scout is still blinking. The Steelers spent the 237th pick on Dominic Zvada, a name the board had a full 70 spots lower. Put together, it is a D-.
They handed away value on the phones that the picks cannot earn back. That cornerback hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall.
Spending an early pick on offensive lineman with cornerback, linebacker and other spots open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to. Landing Stowers that late papers over a lot of smaller sins.
Bottom line, they will need several of these picks to beat their grades just to break even, and cornerback is still a hole.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get an anchor for the offensive line at fair value.
No edge and no loss on KC Concepcion in the 25th pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Caleb Banks is a better player than the 53rd overall pick suggests; smart patience, rewarded. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Drew Shelton at offensive lineman with cornerback, linebacker and other spots open.
They robbed the room for Eli Stowers here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Domonique Orange in No. 99 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Bud Clark slipping to No. 121 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A conviction pick on Malik Benson at the 135th pick that the board grades a round light. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Fair-plus on Drew Allar, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Kaden Wetjen in the Round 6 slot is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. It fills a real need, too.
Jack Pyburn in slot 224 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Robert Spears-Jennings at Round 7, Pick 14 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Dominic Zvada. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.