Steelers’ Interesting Plan For Their 12 Draft Picks Finally Comes Into Focus

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft plans have everyone talking. Of course, the added element of the draft being hosted in the city of Pittsburgh for the first time ever in NFL history is part of it, but not the full story. This is the first year for the 62-year-old head coach Mike McCarthy in the Steel City. He is coming in eager to end this playoff win drought that has lasted almost a decade now. His goal is to have an incredible 2026 NFL Draft to really set this roster up.

Of course, the big news is what is going to transpire with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. While that situation continues to develop, the roster still needs to be built out. It seems like Rodgers is eventually going to return for 2026, and the quarterback spot will get figured out. Still, that leaves a remaining boatload of draft capital at General Manager Omar Khan and McCarthy’s disposal, which is driving a lot of discussion.

With that level of draft capital and flexibility, the Steelers have the ability to maneuver in the draft and address key needs across the roster. Between the uncertainty at quarterback and the broader need to strengthen the team, how Pittsburgh approaches the 2026 NFL Draft could play a major role in shaping the franchise’s direction moving forward. Steelers insider Gerry Dulac provided more clarity in his chat with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"To me, that's why you stockpiled those picks in the first place," Dulac said. "To maneuver with them."

Dulac finds it hard to believe that this version of McCarthy would go into the draft planning to use all 12 picks strictly on selecting players. In his view, the more realistic approach is that Khan intentionally worked to stockpile those selections to give the team maximum flexibility, rather than simply adding a large volume of rookies to the roster all at once.

Dulac’s perspective suggests that those picks are more of a strategic asset than just a means to fill out the depth chart. With that kind of draft capital, the Steelers would be positioned to move up when the right player becomes available, or potentially package picks to target higher-value selections. That kind of maneuverability can be especially important in a draft class where impact talent may not be evenly distributed across all rounds.

Looking ahead, the idea is that this flexibility will not just apply to the 2026 NFL Draft, but could also extend into future drafts as well. By accumulating picks now, the Steelers are effectively giving themselves options for both immediate upgrades and long-term planning. Whether that means trading up, trading back, or making multiple moves across draft classes, the emphasis appears to be on positioning rather than volume, which aligns with Dulac’s assessment of how this front office is approaching roster building.

Steelers Still Must Solve Face Of The Franchise QB Problem

The Steelers still need to desperately figure out what the future of the quarterback position is going to look like. If Rodgers comes back for the 2026 season, that would be fine, but it is ultimately a one-year solution. Will Howard has been talked up very highly by this new staff, including McCarthy. However, the idea that he would be the franchise quarterback down the line still seems hard to grasp at this point.

As the Steelers look ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft, there is a real possibility that their next long-term answer at quarterback could come from that class. With that in mind, it raises the question of whether part of their current strategy is to position themselves now with enough draft capital to make a move when the time comes.

Maybe the plan is not just about 2026, but also about setting themselves up for 2027. With a flexible draft war chest, the Steelers would have the ability to trade up if the right quarterback emerges, or to make other moves that help them secure a true franchise-caliber option.

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