Steelers Fans Receive A Bold Statement About The 2026 NFL Draft: "I Can't See Him Getting Past Pittsburgh"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting the 2026 NFL Draft for the first time ever on April 23rd. Leading up to the Draft, the team has made some nice additions to their roster -- addressing wide receiver, cornerback, running back, the trenches, and safety. While they still have needs, none are truly dire. General Manager Omar Khan and the Steelers now have the opportunity to select the best player available if they choose to stay put at pick No. 21 overall. There are Draft Day shockers every year, so there is no telling who could be on the board when Pittsburgh is up, but for the Black and Gold, they should hope that one offensive lineman is available.

The Steelers signed interior offensive lineman Brock Hoffman to a one-year contract earlier this month. Hoffman has never been a full-time starter, and that likely won't change in the Steel City. Khan still needs to address the team's starting left guard spot, and there is a perfect fit for the Steelers if available at 21. Penn State's Olaivavega Ioane is regarded as the best interior offensive lineman in the Draft. He has been mocked to fall to the Steelers, but most mock drafts have the Steelers taking a wide receiver early.

Former NFL lineman, Brian Baldinger recently spoke on his show, The Best Football Show, where he discussed his favorite players in the 2026 draft class. Baldinger mentioned that Ioane was not only the best offensive lineman in this draft class, but also his favorite player. He also made a bold statement saying he believes Ioane doesn't make it past the 21st pick if Pittsburgh elects to stay put. 

"Not only is he the best interior offensive lineman in the Draft, and I think he's the best offensive lineman in the Draft, he's my favorite player in the draft," Baldinger said. "He's got unusual power. If you think about last year's draft, Tyler Booker went to Dallas in the first round. You look at what Seattle did with their first-round pick, Grey Zabel. I think Ioane is better than both of those players... I can't see him getting past Pittsburgh."

The franchise has spent their last three first-round picks on linemen (two offensive and one defensive). Ever since Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl arrived in Pittsburgh, the main focus has been on building through the trenches, much like with his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. While they haven't gotten the desired results, the vision is certainly there. The Steelers have one of the brightest young offensive lines, and promising pieces on their defensive line. 

If Ioane lands in the Steel City, he will have some big shoes to fill. His predecessor, Isaac Seumalo, was a solid stabilizing piece on the Steelers' offensive line and former Super Bowl champion. He was often hurt, however, and it's clear to see why the Steelers decided to move on and take the younger route.

Steelers May Not Even Get An Opportunity At Ioane

While the idea of the team snagging Ioane at 21 sounds great, he likely won't be available by then. As Baldinger mentioned, Ioane is the best offensive lineman in this draft class. There are certainly some teams that could look to snag the Penn State product, like the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, or their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens. All of those teams lost offensive linemen this offseason and are in need of a guard. A trade-up would likely be required for the Steelers to select the former Nittany Lion. 

Khan certainly has the ammunition to make a move up with 12 total selections at his disposal. With the Draft being in Pittsburgh, there's no telling what the Steelers' front office will decide to do. Trading up for an offensive lineman usually isn't a popular move, but for a potential generational prospect, the Steelers may need to take it into consideration if they want to continue to fortify their o-line.

#SteelerNation