The Pittsburgh Steelers have been rumored to be trading up in the 2026 NFL Draft due to all the draft capital they have. The franchise has 12 picks in hand, and many believe that there is no way that General Manager Omar Khan will actually use all 12 when he could give some up for a top-tier player. The organization doesn't need quality role players anymore, as it has plenty of those on the team. Now would be a great time to go get a future star and leader to help raise the ceiling of the team.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone and has a conversation in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend as he speaks with someone on the other line.
During his weekly Q&A chat, Gerry Dulac revealed who exactly the Steelers would be interested in if they did decide to trade up from the 21st overall pick.
"There are probably three [options] -- Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon," Dulac said. "Downs and Tate would require a big move. I don't think they would trade up for Fano or Ioane."
The draft is unpredictable, so it's hard to tell if either of those three prospects will be in range for the Steelers to trade up for. However, there is expected to be some sort of big run on both edge rushers and offensive tackles, so there is a solid chance that one of them will be available. With how top-heavy the draft is, it will be hard to justify settling on a quality prospect when a team like Pittsburgh can get an amazing one, and still have a lot of selections left to play with.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Owner Art Rooney II on the field at a team practice while having a discussion.
Caleb Downs may play a position that is undervalued in the modern NFL, but his ability is slowing down that narrative. He is projected to be an elite safety that can change a game plan just by his mere appearance on the field. With the amount of depth the Steelers have at that position, they can also allow him to learn and develop at his own pace, which would enable him to reach his sky-high ceiling.
Meanwhile, Carnell Tate is seen as the top wide receiver of the class. It's unclear exactly how far the Steelers are willing to trade up, but if he falls to about Pick 9 or 10, then they will have to strongly consider making a move to bring him in. There's enough of a veteran presence in the receiver room, so Pittsburgh just needs a potentially elite option to grow behind them and eventually become the WR1.
If Tate goes earlier, then the Steelers may have to trade up to that same area to draft Makai Lemon. He is one of the more interesting prospects of this class, he could easily go Top 10, but it's also plausible that he is the prospect that free falls out of nowhere. Dulac did also mention that the team does not care about his supposed concerns from the combine, so this could be the most likely move for them.
Kyusung Gong / Associated Press
University of Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon running past the Rutgers defense in a 2024 college football game.
There are numerous ways the Steelers can go in the draft. If enough pieces fall their way, they could just stand pat at 21 and have an elite player fall into their laps. However, they have to be prepared for any and all situations. The top three wideouts may all be gone by Pick 10, so they would have to figure out where to go from there.
Steelers' Backup Plan If They Can't Trade Up For Top Targets
If Tate, Downs, and Lemon are all gone before the Steelers pick, they will most likely pivot to focusing on the 2027 draft. Whether they trade up or trade down, they will try to strike a bunch of deals where they get more capital to make a move for a big-time quarterback in the next draft, as long as it's not nearly as disappointing as 2026's passer class has been.
What do you think about the Steelers' trade-up targets? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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