Steelers Likely Have Absolutely No Interest In 1 Specific Position Until Day 2 Of 2026 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most selections in the league in the 2026 NFL Draft, which means they have to work even harder to find diamonds in the rough while searching for all kinds of different prospects. The good news is that they had a great free agency period, so they are not forced to go for any one specific position with their premium picks. General Manager Omar Khan may want to put an emphasis on wide receiver, but that doesn't mean he's all in on that one decision while passing up a much better player at another spot. 

While Khan is likely keeping his options open, there may be some positions that he is not intrigued by in the first round. In his weekly Q&A chat, insider Ray Fittipaldo was asked if Pittsburgh was drafting a linebacker immediately, and he gave a timeline for when the Steelers might be interested.

"It's not like they do it every year. They did it in 2014 and 2019 and the only reason they did it in 2019 was because [Ryan] Shazier got hurt," Fittipaldo said. "But I'd be surprised if they went down that road this year. But how about Jacob Rodriguez in the second round?"

The Steelers do have a few quality linebackers on the roster, so it's not like that's a massive need. Of course, if they could find some realistic way to get their hands on a guy like Sonny Styles, they will, but there's no reason to believe they will reach for anyone in that position. Wide receiver and safety are the two most likely options for Pittsburgh with its first pick, whether it trades up or not. 

There are no middle linebackers graded anywhere near Pick 21, where the Steelers are expected to pick. Styles is not expected to fall far enough for them to even consider trading up to grab him. Anthony Hill Jr. would be the next best option, but he is seen as more of a second-round option. There's no realistic linebacker option for Pittsburgh with its top choice, so that could easily be ruled out. 

Meanwhile, Jacob Rodriguez of the Texas Tech Red Raiders feels like a slam-dunk pick for Pittsburgh. He led the Big 12 in solo tackles each of the previous two seasons while also leading the conference in forced fumbles in 2025 with seven of them. His strong mix of big-play ability and fundamentally-sound tackling is exactly what the Steelers need for the future. He would be a great addition for Day 2. 

On top of his conference-leading stats in 2025, Rodriguez also had 11 tackles for loss, four interceptions, six passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries, including one that he ran back for a touchdown. He is projected to fall into Day 2 of the draft due to being too aggressive, but with the right coaching, he can eventually learn to diagnose plays and be a true all-around three-down linebacker for a long time to come. 

Steelers Are Perfect For Rodriguez To Learn From And Develop Properly

Rodriguez has a very high ceiling, but he needs time to get there. He will have time to learn the ropes as a rotational piece and a special teamer in his rookie year. Patrick Queen will most likely be the defensive quarterback again while Payton Wilson continues to grow into his role and become a true all-around threat himself. Rodriguez can sub in when either one needs a breather to get some more experience. 

The Steelers were seemingly considering trading Queen, but that never materialized. With one year left on his deal, he is not expected to have his contract renewed at season's end now. That means there will be a chance for Rodriguez to win the starting linebacker job next to Wilson, who would likely be the next defensive quarterback. Once that happens, he can show the world how great he truly is.

What do you think about the Steelers looking to draft a linebacker on Day 2, as well as Rodriguez possibly being selected? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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