Strong Ties To Top Offensive Prospect Have Steelers Likely Sold On Draft Decision

With the 2026 NFL Draft being hosted in the Steel City, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the center of attention heading into the upcoming season. The Steelers, of course, also have a lot of extra eyes on them after bringing in Mike McCarthy as their fourth head coach since 1969. He is eager to come into Pittsburgh and get this team back to making deep and meaningful postseason runs. However, to do that, he will need to have a great first draft with the Black and Gold.

The Steelers are loaded with a ton of draft capital, 12 picks to be exact. Many fully expect them to target a wide receiver early in the draft, and some of the names most heavily connected to Pittsburgh include Denzel Boston, Makai Lemon, Omar Cooper Jr., and Jordyn Tyson. There are several other prospects the Steelers could target, but Cooper has been especially interesting. The Steelers did not host Cooper for a formal pre-draft visit, which struck many as surprising.

However, after Steeler Nation looked deeper into the situation, it became abundantly clear why the Steelers likely did not use one of their formal pre-draft visits on Cooper. For starters, the team’s new wide receivers coach, Adam Henry, knows Cooper very well after recruiting him during his time on staff at Indiana. Then, of course, the Steelers’ senior offensive assistant, Frank Cignetti Jr., is the brother of Hoosiers Head Coach Curt Cignetti. This gives the Steelers a strong pipeline of direct intel on Cooper, and it may have led them to feel they didn’t need to use a formal pre-draft visit on a player they already know better than most.

The Steelers' wide receiver room has been in need of help for several seasons. In the 2026 offseason, Steelers General Manager Omar Khan finally addressed that need by trading for veteran Michael Pittman Jr. Now, Pittsburgh has a strong duo at wide receiver with DK Metcalf and Pittman. However, they could still use more help in the slot. There are growing rumors that the Steelers have strong interest in using the 21st overall pick to possibly select Cooper.

Cooper has traits that would complement what the Steelers already have in their wide receiver room. Many believe he is NFL-ready and can step in right away to make an impact as a rookie, which is exactly what Pittsburgh needs from any offensive player they draft early in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Cooper recorded 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns during the 2025 season while playing for the national champion Hoosiers. His versatility, with the ability to line up both outside and in the slot, fits the mold of what McCarthy is looking for in a young receiver. Many expect the Steelers to draft multiple wide receivers, and Cooper is firmly considered in play, even though the team did not host him for a formal pre-draft visit.

Steelers Expect To Hear From Aaron Rodgers Soon

Of course, another big question is what will happen at the Steelers quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers has many convinced he could return for one more run in the 2026 season, potentially reuniting with his former head coach, McCarthy. However, no one truly knows what his intentions are at this point.

While the wide receiver room has generated excitement, everything ultimately hinges on who will be throwing the football. If Rodgers is under center in 2026, it could significantly raise expectations for the Steelers’ offense.

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