Steelers’ "Perfect Spot" Identified To Target Overlooked Position In 2026 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have now gone through the meat of free agency and added quite a few names to the roster that plugged a lot of holes. Whether it was the trade for Michael Pittman Jr. or the big signing to get Jamel Dean on a three-year deal, some major needs were filled. However, Steeler Nation still sees some holes throughout the roster, and those might not get filled until the upcoming NFL Draft. 

Just a couple weeks away, the 2026 NFL Draft is a big one for the Steelers. Not only is it being hosted in Pittsburgh, which will have everyone focused on what the Steelers end up doing throughout, but also this draft will likely be a big indication on the direction they want to go to build their roster. 

One area that isn't being talked about a bunch is offensive tackle, and it might end up being an Achilles heel for the Steelers throughout the 2026 season if they aren't focused on the position internally. However, it appears they are well aware of the need to at least look into adding someone at that position. 

While joining 93.7 The Fan, insider Ray Fittipaldo spoke on the offensive tackle position, and how the Steelers appear to be doing their research on offensive tackles expected to be taken throughout the middle rounds. 

"They met with some guys (offensive tackles) at the [NFL] Combine," said Fittipaldo. "And they brought in some guys for top-30 visits who are in that Day 2 range. That second- and third-round range." 

The team did meet with a handful of guys at the NFL Combine at the offensive tackle position, as well as brought in a couple for top 30 pre-draft visits as mentioned. The majority of these guys were not considered to be surefire first round picks. 

It might surprise some that the team is looking into selecting an offensive tackle that early in the draft given the fact the team selected two in the first round in back to back years in 2023 and 2024, but the left tackle position does have some question marks at the moment despite that capital commitment. 

"I think Dylan Cook is a real interesting prospect, but it is hard to view a guy like that as the next guy when he is 28 years old. It has taken him a while to develop. He did really well in that short amount of time, so I am intrigued by it. I want there to be some competition there, but to your point, you don't really know. Third-round would be the perfect spot, you got three picks there, I would not be surprised at all if one of those is made on a tackle."

Dylan Cook's performance down the stretch last season was really impressive given it was his first time appearing in an NFL game since going undrafted in 2022. However, Fittipaldo's points are definitely worth considering still, as it was such a small sample size and he is already inching towards 30. 

Regardless of whether or not the Steelers believe that Cook can be the guy, the question mark of Broderick Jones is still looming out there without a clear answer on when he will be ready to return to football. His neck injury has always had a ton of mystery around it, and the lack of a timeline given to this point makes is hard to believe in him for the upcoming season. 

Steelers' Focus On The Offensive Line Is A Must According To Ben Roethlisberger

Fittipaldo mentioned that the second- or third-round would be the "perfect" spot for the Steelers to take an offensive tackle, but former QB Ben Roethlisberger thinks that the first round should be very much in play for the offensive line. 

Roethlisberger mentioned he didn't care what position the player played, what side the player played on, or who was even on the roster at the moment. He just wanted them to take the best offensive lineman on their board. That would be a bold strategy to ignore the fit, but building the unit up front has clearly been a priority by Omar Khan and the team.

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