aechean'S MOCK DRAFT
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aechean'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON MAR 15, 2026

no trades allowed

  • aechean DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Sonny Styles Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Sonny Styles
LB Ohio State
Dontay Corleone Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
Dontay Corleone
DT Cincinnati
Harold Perkins Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Harold Perkins Jr.
LB LSU
Markel Bell Head Shot
PICK: 85 RND: 3 (PIT)
Markel Bell
OT Miami
Isaiah World Head Shot
PICK: 99 RND: 3 (PIT)
Isaiah World
OT Oregon
Parker Brailsford Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (PIT)
Parker Brailsford
C Alabama
Drew Allar Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
Drew Allar
QB Penn State
Kage Casey Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (PIT)
Kage Casey
OT Boise State
Dane Key Head Shot
PICK: 214 RND: 6 (PIT)
Dane Key
WR Nebraska
Zavion Thomas Head Shot
PICK: 216 RND: 6 (PIT)
Zavion Thomas
WR LSU
Thaddeus Dixon Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Thaddeus Dixon
CB North Carolina
Nick Barrett Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
Nick Barrett
DL South Carolina
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueC NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
More right than wrong for the Steelers, and a B- to prove it.

The Steelers bet big and early on Harold Perkins Jr., 49 picks ahead of the board. Bold does not always mean right. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B-.

With safety, edge rusher and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on offensive lineman is the choice that costs them. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped safety, which is a strange place to end up. Landing Casey that late papers over a lot of smaller sins.

Quarterback was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.

All told, a draft that does its job without fuss, and there is real value in that.

Pick Analysis
Pick21 Rnd1 Sonny Styles
No drama and no debate, Sonny Styles went about where he belonged in pick 21. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick53 Rnd2 Dontay Corleone
They liked Dontay Corleone enough to skip the value, taking him in slot 53. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick76 Rnd3 Harold Perkins Jr.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Harold Perkins Jr.. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick85 Rnd3 Markel Bell
They reached a country mile for Markel Bell at Round 3, Pick 21, and the board is aghast. A minor itch, scratched.
Pick99 Rnd3 Isaiah World
Of all the spots to shop, they chose offensive lineman. Isaiah World in the 99th overall pick leaves safety, edge rusher and other spots for later.
Pick121 Rnd4 Parker Brailsford
A want over a need in the Round 4 slot: Parker Brailsford adds an offensive lineman while safety, edge rusher and other spots keeps waiting.
Pick135 Rnd4 Drew Allar
A premium they did not need to pay, Drew Allar a notch or two before his time. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick161 Rnd5 Kage Casey
Nice patience on Kage Casey, who had no business lasting to pick No. 161. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Pick214 Rnd6 Dane Key
Dane Key in No. 214 lands just on the right side of the ledger. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick216 Rnd6 Zavion Thomas
They paid a round early for Zavion Thomas in the 216th pick, more than the board wanted. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick224 Rnd7 Thaddeus Dixon
Value with a capital V on Thaddeus Dixon in slot 224, a genuine coup. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick237 Rnd7 Nick Barrett
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Nick Barrett well ahead of where he belonged. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.