bstrouse38'S MOCK DRAFT
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bstrouse38'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON MAR 12, 2026

Post FA

  • bstrouse38 DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Olaivavega Ioane Head Shot
PICK: 21 RND: 1 (PIT)
Olaivavega Ioane
OG Penn State
Omar Cooper Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 36 RND: 2 (PIT)
Omar Cooper Jr.
WR Indiana
Deontae Lawson Head Shot
PICK: 76 RND: 3 (PIT)
Deontae Lawson
LB Alabama
Domonique Orange Head Shot
PICK: 81 RND: 3 (PIT)
Domonique Orange
DT Iowa State
Drew Allar Head Shot
PICK: 135 RND: 4 (PIT)
Drew Allar
QB Penn State
VJ Payne Head Shot
PICK: 161 RND: 5 (PIT)
VJ Payne
S Kansas State
Charles Demmings Head Shot
PICK: 214 RND: 6 (PIT)
Charles Demmings
CB Stephen F. Austin
Kaden Wetjen Head Shot
PICK: 216 RND: 6 (PIT)
Kaden Wetjen
WR Iowa
Nolan Rucci Head Shot
PICK: 224 RND: 7 (PIT)
Nolan Rucci
OT Penn State
Desmond Reid Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (PIT)
Desmond Reid
RB Pittsburgh
Draft Picks Received
Omar Cooper Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 36 RND: 2 (LV)
Omar Cooper Jr.
WR Indiana
Domonique Orange Head Shot
PICK: 81 RND: 3 (JAX)
Domonique Orange
DT Iowa State
Draft Picks Traded
CJ Allen Head Shot
PICK: 53 RND: 2 (LV)
CJ Allen
LB Georgia
Jake Slaughter Head Shot
PICK: 85 RND: 3 (LV)
Jake Slaughter
C Florida
Caden Curry Head Shot
PICK: 99 RND: 3 (JAX)
Caden Curry
DE-EDGE Ohio State
Jack Endries Head Shot
PICK: 121 RND: 4 (JAX)
Jack Endries
TE Texas
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueC NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
The Steelers did the meat-and-potatoes work well: B-.

The Steelers torched the value chart for Nolan Rucci, taking him 34 spots sooner than anyone had him slotted.

For all the activity, edge rusher went untouched, which is hard to explain. The roster is better shaped than it was, with quarterback chief among the fixes.

All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.

Pick Analysis
Pick21 Rnd1 Olaivavega Ioane
In the 21st pick they get a building block for the line at fair value.
Pick36 Rnd2 Omar Cooper Jr.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Omar Cooper Jr. this early at slot 36. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick76 Rnd3 Deontae Lawson
A straight-up fair deal on Deontae Lawson at Round 3, Pick 12, value and slot in agreement. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick81 Rnd3 Domonique Orange
Domonique Orange at No. 81 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the interior defensive lineman. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick135 Rnd4 Drew Allar
They paid up for Drew Allar at pick 135 when waiting would have done the job. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick161 Rnd5 VJ Payne
VJ Payne in the Round 5 slot is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick214 Rnd6 Charles Demmings
Charles Demmings at slot 214 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick216 Rnd6 Kaden Wetjen
No drama and no debate, Kaden Wetjen went about where he belonged in pick No. 216. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick224 Rnd7 Nolan Rucci
They reached a country mile for Nolan Rucci at the 224th overall pick, and the board is aghast. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Pick237 Rnd7 Desmond Reid
Desmond Reid at the Round 7 slot is a conviction pick that outran the value. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.