It's almost written in stone that the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to draft a wide receiver in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. Outside of quarterback, that is still the team's biggest need, as it is expected to use personnel groups with three or more wide receivers much more often than it has in previous years. It makes perfect sense, and it seems obvious that this is the path that the offense will go. It might be a bit too obvious. General Manager Omar Khan loves himself a good smokescreen in the offseason.
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Steelers general manager Omar Khan looks on from sidelines before 2023 NFL preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
There is a possibility that Khan passes on wide receiver in the first round. The franchise prefers to go for best player available, so if some highly-rated prospect falls far enough, the Steelers may feel the need to go get him whether it's at Pick 21 or via a trade-up for one of the potential stars of the league. There is not much that is out of the question for Pittsburgh with the city hosting the draft.
1.) Spencer Fano, OL
It's no secret that the Steelers love their players in the trenches. With questions on the left side of the offensive line, they could select Spencer Fano from the Utah Utes. He was projected to fall in the draft due to his lack of arm size, but a second opinion showed that that's not actually much of a problem. It will be up to Pittsburgh to determine which measurement is the correct one.
Utah OL Spencer Fano’s arms measured 32 7/8 just now at his pro day, up from 32 1/8 at the Combine. Another indication that, for whatever reason, the measurements in Indy were short for a number of prospects. That’s a big 3/4 inch difference for Fano. pic.twitter.com/ddJXAljtKM
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 19, 2026
Fano is listed as a player that has "five-position versatility." In the Steelers' case, that means he can slot in at either left tackle or left guard depending on how things play out in training camp. Protecting the quarterback is of utmost importance for right now and in the future, no matter who's taking the snaps back there in a given year. If he makes it to Pick 21, this would not be a shocking selection at all.
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Former Ohio State star defensive tackle Kayden McDonald holds up the football after creating a turnover.
2.) Kayden McDonald, DT
Sticking with the theme of the trenches, there is expected to be quite a bit of turnover at the defensive line position over the next year or two. Kayden McDonald could be the guy that gets brought in for stability. In 2025 with the Ohio State Buckeyes, he racked up 65 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. For an insanely stacked defense like Ohio State's, that isn't bat at all.
McDonald appears to be the perfect blend of fundamentally sound run-stopper and interior playmaker, which will definitely help fill Cameron Heyward's shoes whenever he retired. The prospect would get to sit behind him for a year or two and rotate across the defensive line before taking his place and making sure those big shoes get filled.
Steelers Could Execute A Massive Trade-Up
3: Sonny Styles, LB
Speaking of Ohio State, Sonny Styles is seen as a Top 5 prospect by most people, but need and intrigue could make him fall in the draft. There's no way that he will fall all the way to 21, but if he goes down to about Pick 9, Khan might be willing to strike up a massive trade to go get him. With 12 picks in his control for 2026, he won't be too upset about losing a few of them to get a franchise linebacker.
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Sonny Styles gets ready to make a play during a home game for the Ohio State Buckeyes
Styles is a physical freak and a tackling machine. He could become a three-down linebacker quickly with his ability to both tackle and cover. Once he learns the playbook, it won't take very long for him to be trusted with the green dot. It could happen as early as his second year in the NFL. Trading up to get him will be expensive, but it may be worth it in the long run.
What do you think about the non-receiver options for the first round of the NFL Draft? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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