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

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  • aechean DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Sonny Styles Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Sonny Styles
LB Ohio State
Caleb Banks Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (PIT)
Caleb Banks
DL Florida
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
S Toledo
Harold Perkins Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 85 RND: 3 (PIT)
Harold Perkins Jr.
LB LSU
Parker Brailsford Head Shot
PICK: 99 RND: 3 (PIT)
Parker Brailsford
C Alabama
Isaiah World Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (PIT)
Isaiah World
OT Oregon
Drew Allar Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
Drew Allar
QB Penn State
Patrick Payton Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (PIT)
Patrick Payton
DL-EDGE LSU
Ted Hurst Head Shot
PICK: 214 RND: 6 (PIT)
Ted Hurst
WR Georgia State
J. Michael Sturdivant Head Shot
PICK: 216 RND: 6 (PIT)
J. Michael Sturdivant
WR Florida
Robert Spears-Jennings Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Robert Spears-Jennings
S Oklahoma
TJ Hall Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
TJ Hall
CB Iowa
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueC+ NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
A respectable, level-headed haul for the Steelers: B-.

The Steelers went off the board in a big way for Patrick Payton, 90 picks early. Conviction is one thing; this is another. A dependable weekend that grades out a B-.

On value alone, Hurst makes the weekend a net positive. They punted on running back, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. Spending an early pick on offensive lineman with running back and tight end open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to.

They went 7 of 9 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.

Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.

Pick Analysis
Pick21 Rnd1 Sonny Styles
A straight-up fair deal on Sonny Styles at Round 1, Pick 21, value and slot in agreement. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick53 Rnd2 Caleb Banks
Caleb Banks in No. 53 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick76 Rnd3 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at the 76th pick is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick85 Rnd3 Harold Perkins Jr.
Harold Perkins Jr. at slot 85 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick99 Rnd3 Parker Brailsford
They reached a country mile for Parker Brailsford at pick No. 99, and the board is aghast. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Pick121 Rnd4 Isaiah World
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Isaiah World adds an offensive lineman and leaves running back and tight end untouched.
Pick135 Rnd4 Drew Allar
Drew Allar in slot 135 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick161 Rnd5 Patrick Payton
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Patrick Payton. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick214 Rnd6 Ted Hurst
Ted Hurst in pick 214 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick216 Rnd6 J. Michael Sturdivant
They reached into another round for J. Michael Sturdivant, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick224 Rnd7 Robert Spears-Jennings
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Robert Spears-Jennings well ahead of where he belonged. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick237 Rnd7 TJ Hall
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing TJ Hall in the 237th pick. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.