The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be one of the more intriguing teams to watch during the 2026 NFL Draft. Currently, they hold 12 selections in the event, including four on Day 2. The organization should not be expected to make all 12 selections, as that is a lot of rookies to carry on a roster. Expect the franchise to attempt to move up in some spots, or trade some picks for capital in the 2027 NFL Draft. That is a storyline to follow, as is who will be added to the offensive side of the ball. The Steelers have clear holes at left guard, wide receiver, and quarterback, and some of those will be addressed in the event.
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Steelers' Mike McCarthy (left) during his introductory press conference in 2026.
New head coach Mike McCarthy is an offensive-minded leader, so building out his arsenal of weapons on offense should be a priority. Pittsburgh found a reliable wide receiver two (WR2) in Michael Pittman Jr. after completing a trade with the Indianapolis Colts earlier this month, but the franchise needs to add more at the position in the draft. Wide receiver is certainly on the table for the Steelers with the 21st overall selection, but there are some players that will be available later in the event that cannot be ignored.
Steve Muench, a draft analyst and co-host of The Todd McShay Show, believes one wide receiver could get general manager around the league in some trouble by passing on him.
"Don’t be surprised if, when looking back on this draft, a lot of GMs look bad for not taking Ted Hurst earlier out of Georgia State," Muench said. "He’ll be a starter by the end of his rookie season, and he’ll be a team’s long-term answer at the position. At the Senior Bowl, he stood out immediately. 6'4", 206, he just moves different."
Muench seems to be high on Ted Hurst, who is a wide receiver out of Georgia State. He is a freak of nature that is 6'4" and over 200 pounds, and he is physically daunting compared to some of the other wide receivers in the draft class. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, which is extremely good when considering his size.
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Wide receiver Ted Hurst runs the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Hurst spent four seasons at the college level and his first two years with Valdosta State before transferring to Georgia State. In his two seasons at Georgia State, Hurst recorded 127 receptions for nearly 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was extremely productive at the college level, and he has all of the physical tools to be effective in the NFL.
According to the NFL.com, Hurst ranked fourth out of all wide receivers in the draft class when it comes to pure athleticism. His prospect grade is 6.19, which translates to him being a good backup with the potential to turn into a starter. Muench expects him to blow those projections out of the water.
Steelers' Omar Khan Needs To Keep An Eye On Ted Hurst
The Steelers having a clear need at wide receiver means it is important to try to find some value at the position later on in the draft. Think about the franchise drafting Antonio Brown in the sixth round back in 2010. That was an absolute home run and a pick like that is hard to come by that late in the event. A player that was half of what Brown was during his prime is all the Steelers really need. Hurst could be that guy, and Pittsburgh should have plenty of chances to grab him.
Peter Diana / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Antonio Brown was never shy about telling the world how talented he was.
It will depend how quickly some of the top wide receivers go off of the board, but Hurst is currently projected to be a late-third or early-fourth round selection. The Steelers have three third-round selections, and two fourth-round picks. The franchise will be right in the sweet spot to grab Hurst, and it is something that certainly should be considered.
What do you think about Muench's thoughts on Hurst? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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