The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most picks of any team in the 2026 NFL Draft with 12. Whether or not the team uses all 12 picks remains to be seen, but in the latest mock draft by The Athletic draft guru Dane Brugler, the Steelers used all 12 of their selections. Brugler has the Steelers taking Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 21 overall, while following it up with Georgia Tech OG Keylan Rutledge, Pitt LB/S Kyle Louis, LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier and Duke CB Chandler Rivers on Day 2.
Here’s the full breakdown of what the Steelers did in Brugler’s mock:
1 (21). Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
2 (53). Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
3 (76). Kyle Louis, LB/S, Pittsburgh
3 (85). Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
3 (99). Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
4 (121). Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
4 (135). Jack Kelly, LB, BYU
5 (161). DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
6 (216). Trey Moore, edge, Texas
7 (224). Enrique Cruz, OT, Kansas
7 (230). Emmanuel Henderson, WR, Kansas
7 (237). Ryan Eckley, P, Michigan State
It’s a draft that makes a lot of sense for the Steelers. They hit on a key need at receiver in the first and later add another receiver in Emmanuel Henderson who has return ability. Rutledge is a guard with a mean streak who has risen a bit and can compete for the starting left guard job. He also came in for a pre-draft visit with the team, as did Louis, who is versatile and highly athletic. A standout at the Senior Bowl, he’s a player who really helped his draft stock throughout the pre-draft process.
If the Steelers do take a quarterback early, Nussmeier makes a lot of sense due to the connection between his father, Doug, and Mike McCarthy from their time coaching together in Dallas. Rivers is a cornerback who profiles as a slot but can also play on the outside as needed and is an aggressive playmaker. In our scouting report, Jim Hester gave him an 8.1 (long-time starter) grade.
Moving onto Day 3, Klein came in for a pre-draft visit and is a solid addition to Pittsburgh’s barren tight end room. He offers high upside as a blocker. Kelly also came in for a pre-draft visit after he showed a knack for getting after the quarterback at BYU last season and has the toughness to play in the middle for the Steelers. Capeheart has the measurables Pittsburgh looks for in a defensive lineman and he had a strong showing at the Combine, though his production was a bit light last season.
Moore is solid depth off the EDGE for the Steelers and a potential long-term piece for the room with Nick Herbig entering the final year of his deal. Round 7 is about adding depth and special teams value as Henderson projects as a returner, Eckley can compete with Cameron Johnston and Cruz adds a tackle option with a little bit of uncertainty about the future at left tackle.
Overall, Brugler addresses Pittsburgh needs well. They add a high-impact receiver in the first and a starting-caliber offensive lineman in the second, while taking a swing on a QB and adding impact talent to the secondary. They add young talent as solid depth for positions of needs throughout the draft, and if this were the class the Steelers wound up with, I would be pretty pleased.