B-
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers checked most of the boxes and earned a B-.
by JohnMcKean ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 12 picks
· 6 steals
· 1 reaches
Nobody had Deven Eastern this high, and it is not close. The Steelers reached 49 spots to get him at slot 230. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.
Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Wheatley. The edge rusher hole is the one line item this class does not answer. With edge rusher, running back and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on offensive lineman is the choice that costs them.
Quarterback was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 21st pick they get a No. 1 receiver, outstanding value to boot. A real need, handled.
Emmanuel Pregnon at Round 2, Pick 21 is money in the bank, a offensive lineman taken below his worth. A minor itch, scratched.
Nothing to complain about; Jacob Rodriguez went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
No drama and no debate, Skyler Bell went about where he belonged in the 85th overall pick. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Ted Hurst in the Round 3 slot is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A need, and now a little less of one.
They will replay Zakee Wheatley at slot 121 for years; that is how good the value is. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A curious use of Round 4, Pick 35. Edge rusher, running back and other spots needed the pick; an offensive lineman in J.C. Davis did not.
Good price on Beau Stephens in the 161st pick, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Steal is underselling it; Cole Payton at the Round 6 slot is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Thaddeus Dixon at pick 224 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. It fills a real need, too.
Value said wait; Deven Eastern in No. 230 says they were not listening. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
The board had Kaden Wetjen higher than slot 237, and the wide receiver fell to them anyway. It patches a soft spot without any drama.