Steelers Expected To Hand The Browns A Top Wide Receiver On A Silver Platter Due To Bold First-Round Move

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a true wild card heading into the player acquisition phase of the 2026 offseason. The team has obvious weaknesses, but it is hard to determine what exactly the organization is going to do in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft under new head coach, Mike McCarthy. It is safe to say that the wide receiver position will be addressed, but that could happen at any point in the draft, and the free agent class isn't too great when it comes to the position. Pittsburgh will need to decide when to bring in some promising talent at receiver, as that is what was missing during the 2025 season.

The Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and many fans expect that pick to be used on a wide receiver. In fact, the Steelers are projected to have five picks across the first three rounds of the event, and more than one of those selections should probably be used on wideouts. Pittsburgh will have plenty of receivers to choose from as the draft seems to be pretty loaded at the position, and some of the most commonly mocked players to the Steelers include Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, and Jordyn Tyson. However, well-respected draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic did not have the Steelers going with any of those players in his recent mock draft. Instead, he had Pittsburgh selecting Omar Cooper Jr. out of Indiana.

"The third wide receiver off the board in this mock, Cooper has the ball skills that would make him a great fit for the Steelers’ quick-strike offense," Brugler wrote. "His strong lower body and toughness make him a chore for defenders to finish to the ground."

Cooper is a great player that has been generating some excitement after being a part of a National Championship run. He was initially seen as a second-round talent, but now he has been sneaking into first-round conversations. Brugler has him being the third wideout coming off of the board in April, which would certainly be a surprise.

Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon were the other two wide receivers that were taken before Cooper in this scenario, with the first wide receiver not coming off of the board until the eighth overall selection. Bringing Cooper to Pittsburgh wouldn't be all bad, but what happens in this scenario would be nerve-wracking. Brugler had Tyson being drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 24th overall pick.

Tyson was initially seen as a top-12 or so pick, but his medical history has sparked some concerns. He chose not to participate in most events at the NFL's Scouting Combine, and some have speculated that he may fall down some draft boards for the time being. He has plenty of time to make it up to teams, whether that be by impressing at his Pro Day or by dazzling an organization on a formal visit. Right after the 2025 season ended, it would not have seemed possible that the Steelers could land Tyson without moving up, so passing on him and allowing him to fall to Cleveland would be completely devastating.

Steelers Have To Keep An Eye On The Browns In The First Round

The Browns had a horrible year in 2025 and will be picking sixth overall in the NFL Draft, which is the usual operating procedure for the organization. However, the Browns also have the 24th overall pick after the franchise's draft night trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2025. Cleveland needs help at wide receiver, and if one of Lemon, Tyson, or Tate happens to be falling, the Steelers need to make sure they do not get leap-frogged by the Browns. Pittsburgh has the draft capital to move up if needed, and General Manager Omar Khan cannot let a rival get a win like that on draft night.

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