Expert Reveals The 5 Positions Steelers' Mike McCarthy Will Target First In The 2026 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for an exciting 2026 NFL Draft, one that could set the tone for the next era of football in the Steel City. New head coach Mike McCarthy enters his first year in Pittsburgh with the pressure and opportunity to shift the direction of a franchise that has been stuck in neutral for nearly a decade. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016 season, a stretch that ultimately led to major organizational change. After a 24-point playoff loss to end the 2025 season, Mike Tomlin made the difficult decision to step away, clearing the way for McCarthy to take over and bring a fresh approach to one of the NFL’s most storied teams.

Now McCarthy walks into a situation that many first-year coaches with a new team would envy. The Steelers are armed with 12 draft picks, giving the new regime significant flexibility to address multiple needs and build out the roster with young, cost-controlled talent. General Manager Omar Khan even joked that he may have spoiled McCarthy with that level of draft capital, noting that it is not something the team should expect to have every year. Still, having that kind of flexibility allows Pittsburgh to be aggressive, move around the board if needed, and truly execute a draft strategy that reflects both short-term competitiveness and long-term stability.

With all of that in mind, Steeler Nation is closely watching what direction Khan and McCarthy will take when they are on the clock with the 21st overall pick in the first round. There is a growing sense that Pittsburgh could go in several different directions depending on how the board falls, and that makes this particular draft especially intriguing. Steelers insider Gerry Dulac recently highlighted five positions that he believes are firmly in play for Pittsburgh in Round 1. Dulac's insight provides fans with a clearer picture of where the team’s priorities may lie as they begin building around McCarthy’s vision for the future.

"Any number to be honest," Dulac said when asked what positions are going to be targeted in the first round. "It could be WR, S, TE, G, DT."

That kind of range highlights just how many directions the front office could realistically go, and it reinforces the idea that the Steelers are in a position to simply take the best available player while still addressing key areas of need. 

The other part of the question is that Khan didn’t stockpile these picks for no reason. He is well aware of the Steelers’ quarterback situation involving veteran Aaron Rodgers and the need to figure out the future beyond him. That uncertainty also depends on whether Rodgers even decides to play for the Steelers in the 2026 season. With so much unpredictability at such a critical position, it raises a lot of questions about what Pittsburgh plans to do with its draft capital.

Steelers Fans Get Question Answered About Round 1 Of The 2026 NFL Draft

They have plenty of opportunities to move up and down the draft board, and with 12 picks in their back pocket, Khan will almost certainly explore those options. That kind of flexibility gives the Steelers real maneuverability to target specific players or positions they value most. 

Because of that, Steelers fans can start to feel confident that wide receiver, safety, tight end, guard, and defensive tackle are among the first positions likely to be in play when they are on the clock at 21st overall.

All of that puts Pittsburgh in a strong but unpredictable position heading into Round 1. With multiple needs and valuable draft capital, the Steelers can stay flexible and aggressive. How Khan and McCarthy choose to approach that first pick could ultimately shape the direction of the franchise for years ahead.

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