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Re-drafting the Steelers 2026 NFL Draft
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- Re-drafting the Steelers 2026 NFL Draft
There's nothing better after the NFL draft than some good old-fashioned snap judgments. Maybe the best example is NFL draft grades. But while those grades might be meaningless at some point, they do put the draft pundit on the record with how they feel about the picks.
Same for a re-draft. When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers , we always do a re-draft on the Monday after draft just to go on the record as to how we would have made the picks.
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First round
The original pick here was offensive tackle Max Iheanachor and while we like him as a prospect, not knowing how the rest of the draft would go, would have gone for the safer pick and automatic starter in guard Keylan Rutledge. Rutledge is the immediate Day One starting left guard at a very high level.
Second round
If we could do it all over again, we would also trade up for wide receiver Germie Bernard . Bernard is the best receiver on the board and we have high hopes for what he can add to the offense.
Third round
First up in the third round was quarterback Drew Allar . While we aren't as high on Allar as many, we recognize this is a pick that had to be made so we leave it as is. If the Steelers didn't have to roll the dice on a quarterback here, cornerback Jerod McCoy is the pick 100 times out of 100.
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The second pick of the round is cornerback Daylen Everett. We don't like taking project players this year and would have gone with offensive tackle Austin Barber if the team passed on Iheanachor or guard Emmanuel Pregnon is not.
Finally in the third round we have offensive line Gennings Dunker. Dunker is a guy who was born to be a Steeler so if the hadn't address guard yet, it's an easy pick. If Rutledge or Pregnon are Steelers, our highest-rated option is defensive tackle Darnell Jackson Jr.
Fourth round
Drafting a return specialist was a risky move here but if Kaden Wetjen ends up an All-Pro, it won't matter. I'm leaving the pick but our highest-rated Steelers prospect here is linebacker Kyle Louis.
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Fifth round
Moving to the fifth, we don't see what tight end Riley Nowakowski brings that other tight ends can't do better. Sticking with the position, we'd have opted for Joe Royer, who went one pick later.
Sixth round
We still can't figure out why the Steelers drafted Gabriel Rubio other than nepotism, because he only has a single good game from last season. If we still with defensive tackle, There aren't many options so we pivot and go with Ohio State edge Caden Curry.
Seventh round
We like that the Steelers were willing to take a shot on Robert James-Spears in the second. He's not a great coverage player but a very physical run defender. We will leave this pick as the team must address safety.
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And finally we have Eli Heidenreich who represents everything great about the NFL draft but also happens to be an exceptional football player. No changes here and in fact, I'd have taken him in the sixth over Rudio and not batted an eye.
Mock Draft
First round - G Keylan Rutledge
Second round - WR Germie Bernard
Third round - QB Drew Allar
Third round - CB Jerod McCoy
Third round - OT Markel Bell
Fourth round - LB Kyle Louis
Fifth round - TE Joy Royer
Sixth round - EDGE Caden Curry
Seventh round - S Robert Jennings-Spears
Seventh round - RB Eli Heidenreich
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Re-drafting the Steelers 2026 NFL Draft
