The Pittsburgh Steelers may not be able to trade up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft for a quarterback, but that won't stop General Manager Omar Khan from working the phones constantly until then. With 12 selections likely in hand, many analysts and insiders have said that the team would not just use all 12 picks, and there will be some wheeling and dealing going to get value out of them. That could include a possible trade up from pick 21 to many other potential options for different players.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
Every NFL team uses a trade value chart, where each pick is assigned a certain number of points. The first overall pick is worth 3,000 points for example, while Pittsburgh's is worth 800. The Steelers seemed to have avoided this method for a very long time, but under Khan, draft day trades have been more aggressive and more favorable for Pittsburgh. It's safe to say that this chart will be a good indicator of what kind of deals Pittsburgh would be willing to make.
Maybe the Steelers believe a potential superstar cornerback like Mansoor Delane is falling in the draft, and they want to snag him before he falls to a defensive back-needy team like the Detroit Lions, who have the 17th overall selection. They could make a deal with the team that comes just before them: the New York Jets, who's selection has a point value of 1,000.
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New York Jets General Manager Darren Mougey speaks to the media.
Khan will have options. For example, he can trade away pick 76, which is worth 210 points, while also getting a low-value pick in return from the Jets, like #218. Alternatively, he can give up #85, which is 165 points. In that case, he would have to throw in another one, like #159, which has a value of 27.8 — which would get closer to 200. Some seventh-rounders might be thrown in as well.
Potential Trade: Pick 16 to Steelers, Picks 21, 85, 159 to Jets
Steelers May Make Trade To Screw Over AFC North Rival
With the Baltimore Ravens holding the 14th overall selection, they're in a great spot to get a high-end player. That could make the Steelers go for a low blow and leapfrog them with the Los Angeles Rams to try and get stud like Delane or maybe manage to get Carnell Tate if he somehow has a hard fall while making Baltimore scramble for a plan B.
The Rams' 13th overall selection has a value of 1,150. The Steelers have #53 at a point value of 370, which gets them right there while also getting a fifth-rounder back for 24.6 points, in case Pittsburgh wants to make another trade-up in the middle rounds. This would likely only happen if an elite talent was in free-fall, but it's always best to prepare for anything.
Potential Trade: Picks 13, 167 to Steelers, Picks 21, 53 to Rams
Steelers.com
Steelers executives watch the draft from their war room as they await their pick.
If the Steelers wanted to get hyper-aggressive, they could move up to #9 in the draft and swap with the Kansas City Chiefs for another potential elite player. That selection is valued at 1,350. It's not impossible, but it would be costly. The Chiefs need a lot of help at receiver and offensive line, so moving back in the draft does not help them at all.
The Steelers are likely giving up pick 53 no matter what. They could either give up #76 as well to give more value to the Chiefs, or they could give up #85 and #159 to make it more even. Of course, players don't have a pick value number attached to them, so an even deal may not be enough to push the deal through. Risks may have to be made.
Potential Trade: Pick 9 to Steelers, Picks 53, 76 to Chiefs
What do you think about the Steelers' potential trade-ups in the 2026 draft? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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