The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be hosted in Pittsburgh for the first time in league history. It’s an exciting moment for Steelers fans all around the world. With that excitement building, anticipation is starting to grow as many wonder which direction their team will take.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new head coach Mike McCarthy smiles as he addresses the media during his introductory press conference that took place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
For Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy, this draft carries even more significance, and not just because it’s taking place in the Steel City. This marks McCarthy’s first year as head coach in Pittsburgh, and he’s eager to turn things around. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and McCarthy understands the weight that comes with being just the fourth head coach in the organization since 1969. To have a successful tenure, he will need to start strong with this draft.
Ray Fittipaldo recently spoke with Christopher Carter on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette YouTube channel and shared an interesting insight into what he believes the Steelers will do. Despite Pittsburgh being aggressive in free agency at cornerback, Fittipaldo still expects that position to be addressed by Khan and McCarthy before the end of the third round.
"I definitely think, with the way they've treated these top-30 visits, I would be surprised now if they do not draft a corner within the first three rounds of this draft," Fittipaldo said while speaking with Carter on Monday.
For Steelers fans, this is incredibly pivotal information, especially when you consider the team holds five picks within the top 100 of the 2026 NFL Draft. That kind of draft capital naturally fuels speculation and gives fans more to work with as they try to piece together what the front office might be planning. While predicting the exact direction of the draft is never an easy task and often feels nearly impossible from the outside, hearing Fittipaldo speak with this level of confidence about the cornerback position is certainly telling.
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Newly acquired Steelers cornerback Jamel Dean in Super Bowl LV during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Even after making notable moves in free agency, including the re-signing of Asante Samuel Jr. and already having promising talent in Joey Porter Jr. along with proven veteran Jamel Dean, it still feels like the Steelers are not completely satisfied. Instead, it suggests they may be prioritizing the addition of younger, high-upside depth that can develop behind this group while also providing immediate insurance if needed.
Steelers Want To Improve Cornerback Depth In The 2026 NFL Draft
The reality is that cornerback is widely viewed as one of the most physically demanding and injury-prone positions in all of football. Because of that, teams that lack depth at the position often find themselves in trouble as the season progresses. Pittsburgh appears to be fully aware of that risk, which helps explain why they are being so aggressive in their approach to strengthening the position across the board.
On paper, a secondary featuring Porter, Dean, and Samuel has the potential to be highly effective and competitive at a high level. However, the idea of adding another talented piece through the draft could take that unit from solid to truly dangerous. It would not just be about depth, but about building long-term stability and flexibility within the defense.
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San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson celebrates a huge play during a game in college.
Now, with all of this in mind, Steelers fans are left speculating even more as they look ahead to draft night. The big question becomes whether a top cornerback prospect such as Chris Johnson, Colton Hood, Keionte Scott, or another fast-rising name could ultimately be the selection within those first three rounds.
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