Massive Rumored Trade Sparks Big Worry For The Steelers Heading Into 2026 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the entire football world guessing what this new era is going to look like under Mike McCarthy. It won’t be easy for McCarthy to win over the fan base if he doesn’t get off to a strong start. Steelers fans have grown tired of a decade-long playoff win drought, and McCarthy isn’t ignorant of that fact. He’s eager to be the one who turns things around for a franchise known for hanging Super Bowl banners.

Of course, the 2026 NFL Draft is where the focus now shifts. The Steelers are loaded with 12 draft picks, giving them significant flexibility. General Manager Omar Khan even joked that he 'spoiled' McCarthy by providing such an abundance of draft capital. All eyes are on the two of them to see how quickly they can reshape this roster.

However, not everyone is convinced the Steelers will use all of those picks. They could trade up or down the board, and Khan has once again been open about his willingness to do whatever it takes to maneuver in their favor. NFL draft analyst Todd McShay added another layer of intrigue, revealing that there’s growing buzz surrounding both the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the draft. So how does that impact Pittsburgh? There are a couple of key angles that should have Steeler Nation paying close attention.

"Trading out of No. 3 remains one of the priorities, or one of the things that could absolutely happen with Arizona," McShay said while speaking about the 2026 NFL Draft. "There’s a lot of buzz about Dallas, and what comes to the noise, with Dallas trading up from 12 to three to get Bailey, right? Keep it in state. Texas Tech, pass rusher. Most importantly, they’ve put all their efforts into rebuilding that defense over the last year."

McShay revealed that the Cardinals, who currently hold the No. 3 overall pick, are rumored to be open to trading back. That matters because if the Cardinals were to strike a deal with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, they could walk away with a significant haul of draft capital.

That becomes important when you look ahead. The Steelers are widely expected to be in the market for a potential franchise quarterback, likely in the 2027 NFL Draft. While this may seem like a minor detail right now, there’s a scenario where it becomes a real problem for Pittsburgh. Since the Cardinals have already moved on from Kyler Murray, they’re firmly in the quarterback market and could emerge as serious competition for the Steelers in future drafts, and potentially even in the 2026 draft depending on how things play out.

There’s another angle to watch as well. Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen has been mentioned in trade rumors involving Dallas. While those reports have been downplayed, they haven’t been completely dismissed by some Steelers insiders. If Queen is legitimately a target for the Cowboys, Pittsburgh could potentially lose a trade partner. If Jones parts with too much draft capital in a deal with Arizona, Dallas may not have enough flexibility left to pursue Queen or other players during the draft.

Steelers Could Quickly Feel Ripple Effects From Draft Rumor

Right now, this may all seem like small, speculative movement, but the NFL moves quickly and rarely forgives hesitation. Teams have to capitalize on every edge and every piece of insight they can get. Sometimes all it takes is one quarterback-needy team with extra draft capital to jump ahead and land the player you wanted.

With quarterback expected to be a major priority for Khan and the Steelers, even unrelated rumors can have ripple effects. The idea that Dallas could be positioning itself for a move, whether for a prospect like Texas Tech's David Bailey or something bigger, has the potential to shake up the Steelers’ plans and the rest of the league.

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