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Bell: One Non-QB First Rounder for Steelers in 2026 NFL Draft
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- Bell: One Non-QB First Rounder for Steelers in 2026 NFL Draft
KC Concepcion, Texas A&M Athletics
Regardless of how the rest of the regular season unfolds with Aaron Rodgers under center, it's no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be on the hunt this offseason for their next franchise quarterback. Headlined by Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, the 2026 quarterback class is better than most are currently giving it credit for, but it's admittedly dependent on a handful of inexperienced signal callers declaring early. How will those situations unfold? Only time will tell.
The bigger concern is that there are three quarterback-needy teams with multiple first-round picks, such as the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets , that are guaranteed to be picking near the top of the order, with Sean McVay's Los Angeles Rams looming. Sure, Omar Khan and company have been stockpiling draft capital to give them more ammunition, but what happens if they're simply left without a dance partner?
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For years now, this is a franchise that has been stuck in middle-class purgatory for a myriad of reasons, none more critical than struggling to find a solution at the sport's most important position. However, if the Kenny Pickett selection in 2022 taught them anything, they'll realize that reaching for a need only sets you back further in the long run. With that in mind, what other positions could they look to address in the first round as an alternate route?
They could certainly use a cornerback, having drafted only one ( Joey Porter Jr. ) before the 7th round in the last six cycles. The left tackle spot remains a significant weakness and will most likely need to be upgraded at some point. There's an argument to be made that the position where the Steelers need the most significant boost, aside from quarterback, is at wideout Luckily for Mike Tomlin's club, this receiver class as a collective has seen a meteoric rise this fall.
Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson continued to assert his dominance prior to unfortunately getting injured again. Southern California's Makai Lemon, a personal favorite, is deservedly one of the favorites for the Biletnikoff Award. Ohio State's Carnell Tate has grown into a more well-rounded receiver and seems like a sure-fire first-round prospect at this point. Those are just some of the more household names in a talented crop of playmakers. By my estimation, the player that has helped himself the most this season is KC Concepcion, a former three-star and NC State transfer that has accumulated 787 receiving yards and eight touchdowns thus far.
Before arriving at Texas A&M, there was this perception around his game that he was merely this slot receiver that was electric with the ball in his hands but would need role catering before developing into more than just a gadget player. If you looked closely enough at his tape, there were flashes of much more than that, and now the 2025 film has confirmed that he's a legit baller. Now playing a career-high 64% of his snaps out wide, Concepcion has looked unrecoverable for most of the season, even when matched up against strong competition. His work versus press coverage in particular has been a treat to watch because of his cat-like quickness and varied release package.
Concepcion has eye-popping burst off the ball and can get to his top speed in a flash, which gives him the ability to consistently stack defenders vertically. He's hauled in eight deep receptions this year, totalling 240 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but those numbers alone don't tell the story of how often he's been open downfield. There's real craftiness to the way that he runs his routes, weaving in-and-out of defenders' blind spots and setting guys up at the break point. His ability to stop on a dime makes him a strong separator versus man coverage because he can decelerate as well as anyone in this class.
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The junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, is deserving of first-round buzz at this point, but there are a few areas of his game that need some fine-tuning. First, his hands are not quite as reliable as you'd want them to be at this stage of the proceedings, with a drop rate of over 11% in each of his past two seasons per PFF . Because of how light his feet are, he's difficult to make contact with at the line of scrimmage, but he can run into issues through the route stem when guys latch onto him. There are times when his routes can have a bit too much sauce on them, causing him to be late with the quarterback's timing. He's got below average size and play strength for the position with a frame that looks nearly maxed out.
As currently constructed, the Steelers lack a separation specialist at the receiver position, and Concepcion would certainly give them that as a complement to DK Metcalf . This year's film should put to rest the notion that he should be boxed into one particular alignment and should offer plenty of inside/outside versatility at the next level. His value extends to special teams as well, averaging nearly 20 yards per return, taking multiple punts to the house.
As time continues to roll on, the buzz surrounding Concepcion should only begin to ring louder, assuming this level of play is sustained.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Bell: One Non-QB First Rounder for Steelers in 2026 NFL Draft
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