NFL Insider Gives Detailed Update On How Steelers Are Going To Approach The 2026 NFL Draft

The excitement is rising for the Pittsburgh Steelers and it is not just because the 2026 NFL Draft will be held in the Steel City. The team will have a very new look to it without Mike Tomlin on the sideline, and fans will finally be proven right or wrong about the recent criticism of the long-time head coach. Looking to lead the organization to its first playoff win since the 2016 campaign will be Mike McCarthy. The first big step of revamping the roster came during free agency, and now the franchise will have the ability to bring in up to 12 rookies, as the front office has the most picks across the league.

The elephant in the room remains as no one truly knowing what Aaron Rodgers' plan is, at least, publicly. The coaching staff could already know that he is going to return; however, the Steelers hosted a plethora of quarterbacks for Top 30 visits. It's still possible that the decision is made to take one in the middle rounds, even if the four-time MVP is coming back.

With that said, Team Owner Art Rooney II has been adamant that tanking is not at all in play. He doesn't want to waste a year not trying to win, so there have been some debates about what the team needs to do in order to be competitive. The free agency period was a good start, but there is still a long way to go if the collective wants to be dangerous.

Recently, NFL insider Albert Breer joined the 2 Bros and a Cup of Joe podcast to discuss what to expect in the upcoming NFL Draft. As far as the Steelers go, the reporter stated that he does not expect Pittsburgh to plan for the future early on.

"I'd be surprised if they took a quarterback with the 21st pick," Breer said. "They aren't backing off from competing with the existing core they have. That would indicate that they're confident that they're going to have [Aaron] Rodgers back."

Many believe that Rodgers will play for another season, so this doesn't come as surprising, but Breer also indicated that the Steelers are going to back up Rooney's claim about winning now.

"I think it would also indicate that, when you look at what they're trying to do in the draft, it wouldn't surprise anybody if the guys they go get are pointed towards trying to win now," Breer stated. "Who could that be? At 21, it could wind up being corner, like a Colton Hood or Avieon Terrell. It could end up being a safety, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, the kid from Toledo."

The Steelers have been connected to the three top safeties in the class, including Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He is someone who could be inserted immediately and fortify the defensive backfield. Pretty simply put, Pittsburgh wants to win, and now.

"It still feels like they're trying to win in the here and the now," Breer noted. "I think you'll see that in the way they approach this draft."

Depending on how the 2026 season goes, the Steelers might take a different approach in 2027, but, for now, it surely seems as if the front office is going to make moves to stay competitive in the present.

Steelers Can't Afford To Swing And Miss During 2026 NFL Draft

Coming off of a 10-7 season, it could make sense for Pittsburgh to attack the draft as if it wants to compete for a Super Bowl in the next couple of years. It doesn't mean that the fan base will be happy if the end result is another first-round playoff loss; however, it doesn't appear like the decision-makers care about that. The group believes winning sooner rather than later is attainable.

General Manager Omar Khan has not been shy when it comes to making aggressive moves, so fans should look out for one or two during the big event. Pittsburgh is certainly a team to watch for when it comes to moving way up the board in either of the first three rounds.

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