The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the final couple of weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on April 23rd. This is a special year for the draft as the event is being hosted in Pittsburgh. Due to the fact that the event is being hosted in the city, many fans were hoping that the organization would have a chance to land the team's next franchise quarterback. That does not seem like a possibility in 2026, and there really is no telling what the Steelers might do with the 21st overall pick in the event. There are several areas on the roster that could be addressed, but the franchise is also in a spot where it could just grab the best player available.
Joseph Maiorana / Imagn Images
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stands on the field with his arms folded as he looks out into the distance while the team gets set to play in a professional football contest.
An explainable selection could include a pick of a wide receiver, offensive lineman, defensive tackle, or safety. Those are all positions that the Steelers could use a high-impact rookie at, and there are also some older players in those spots currently that may need to be replaced in the next season or two. There is a reason to use a high selection on any of those four positions, and there should be players available with the 21st overall pick and beyond to grab guys that fit what the Steelers might be looking for.
The Steelers have five selections in the top 100 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, and those four positions will likely be addressed during that time. However, fans could also be due for some surprises. Beat writer Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted a mailbag on Wednesday, and he was asked about a move the Steelers could make in the first three rounds that would surprise the fan base.
"Draft a TE," Dulac wrote.
Drafting a tight end might not have been on many fans' radar earlier in the offseason, but some personnel moves made by the organization make this seem semi-realistic. The franchise released Jonnu Smith, and Connor Heyward walked in free agency to join the Las Vegas Raiders. This leaves a hole at tight end behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) walks on the field with his helmet off while the team warms up prior to going through a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers having both Freiermuth and Washington on the roster should delay the franchise selecting a tight end until at least the third round of the event. There is no need to spend a super high pick on the position when Freiermuth is already on the roster getting paid a good amount, especially with Washington due for an extension. However, Pittsburgh grabbing a tight end within the first two days of the event might be a sign that Washington's days in Pittsburgh are limited.
The top tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft is Kenyon Sadiq out of Oregon, and he will probably be off of the board by the time the Steelers pick in the first round. No other tight end is worthy of a first round pick, so the Steelers will more than likely be waiting until the back half of Day 2, or even Day 3, to add to that room.
Steelers Will Have Plenty Of Tight Ends To Choose From
What makes Sadiq special is the fact that he has a lot of qualities of a wide receiver, and he is extremely fast. That should cause him to fly off the board, but there will be more traditional tight ends for the franchise to choose from. One is Max Klare out of Ohio State.
Jacob Musselman / Imagn Images
Former Ohio State tight end Max Klare speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
He is fairly highly regarded, and he is expected to go somewhere on Day 2 or early in the fourth round. Other tight ends to keep in mind include Oscar Delp, Eli Stowers, or Justin Joly.
When would you want the Steelers to draft a tight end? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
#SteelerNation