Steelers Could Be Setting Up A Stunning Draft Pick At An Unexpected Position

The Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten through the thick of free agency, and the decision-makers now have a better idea of what the roster might look like moving forward. There are still areas that need some focus, including the left side of the offensive line, quarterback, and wide receiver. In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers are expected to focus on the wide receiver position early on, while left guard is also a position that the franchise would like to bring in a quality player at. Left tackle is still up in the air, and other positions to watch in the draft would be safety, the interior defensive line, and possibly inside linebacker.

Pittsburgh is still waiting for a decision from quarterback Aaron Rodgers on whether or not he will be returning to the team in 2026. Quarterback is far and away the franchise's biggest need, but the organization is not in a place to find a franchise quarterback in the upcoming draft. Fans have been speculating on who the Steelers could be targeting in the draft, and beat-writer Mike DeFabo wants to be sure that fans do not rule out the tight end position. He explained how this has become a position of need for the Steelers in a recent article for The Athletic.

"Two weeks ago, the Steelers had an overstocked tight end room featuring four players," DeFabo wrote. "How quickly things change. After cutting Jonnu Smith to save about $7 million against the cap and letting Connor Heyward walk in free agency, the Steelers now have a need at the position. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Steelers add to this group in the draft."

Tight end hasn't been a talked about position when it comes to the Steelers, mainly due to how good the room has been thought to be. Darnell Washington is one of the best blocking tight ends in the league and he is an absolute menace after catching the ball. Pat Freiermuth has the potential to be one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league as soon as he gets more involved in the offense.

Pittsburgh had four tight ends that saw consistent playing time during the 2025 season, including Freiermuth and Washington. They will be the team's top two tight ends in 2026 as well, but DeFabo expects Pittsburgh to look at bringing in a rookie tight end as well. The Steelers cut Jonnu Smith and allowed Connor Heyward to leave in free agency as DeFabo mentioned, which has created a vacancy in the tight end room.

The good news for the Steelers is that the tight end class in 2026 is deep. Since the organization does need a tight end, it does not mean it will be a high-round selection, but it does mean Pittsburgh might begin to look at the position at the end of Day 2 or at the start of Day 3 of the event. It is also important to consider that tight ends were more important to the last two years of Pittsburgh's offense than they will be in 2026.

Steelers Had The Ideal Tight End For Mike McCarthy's Offense

New head coach Mike McCarthy typically rosters a fullback, or at least a tight end with fullback capabilities. Heyward filled that role perfectly, and he was an extremely effective lead blocker in the run game for Pittsburgh. Heyward got some hate from time to time, but he was good at his job on offense and special teams. It was a bit surprising to see the franchise let him leave in free agency.

What do you think of the Steelers going after a tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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