Massive Offensive Lineman, Explosive Wide Receiver Named Ideal Top Two Picks for Steelers
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- Massive Offensive Lineman, Explosive Wide Receiver Named Ideal Top Two Picks for Steelers
Eric Edholm of NFL.com recently named ideal top two picks for every NFL team. For the Pittsburgh Steelers , Edholm thinks Alabama offensive lineman Kaydn Proctor (No. 21 overall) and North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance (No. 53 overall) would be perfect picks for the Steelers in the first two rounds.
"Proctor feels like an ideal pick for the Steelers because he has three years of experience at left tackle, a position that's the subject of some consternation in Pittsburgh now. He can also be tried at guard if needed, with a spot potentially open there, too," Edholm wrote. If the goal is to find the best starting five up front, Proctor could factor in at four different spots, potentially."
Proctor turned heads at his pro day. Some analyst believe he can go in the top 10 now .
"Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor had a lot of people buzzing here at pro day. His movements skills during the on-field drills were exceptional. And you could hear the sound of him hitting the bags from the opposite side of the field," Field Yates of ESPN wrote on X .
Proctor has been mocked to the Pittsburgh Steelers in several mock drafts . Offensive tackle could be a major need for the Steelers in the draft, especially considering Broderick Jones' season-ending neck injury last year.
Proctor was a consensus All-American and first-team All-SEC in 2025.
Proctor's NFL.com prospect report lists him at 6-foot-7 and 366 pounds. Analyst Lance Zierlein describes Proctor as "a mass of humanity with rare size and length at his command. He's capable as a move blocker but shines when rolling downhill as a bona-fide people mover with bulldozing power."
Proctor has a 6.45 prospect grade, which means he will become a good starter within two years. Proctor could slot in as Broderick Jones ' replacement or move over to guard, which is a position of need with Isaac Seumalo signing with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency.
Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) plays in their game with the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on Oct 11, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA. — Reese Strickland / Imagn Images
The Steelers acquired Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts on the first day of free agency, sticking him beside DK Metcalf to form a 1-2 pass-catching punch. Speaking to the media at the NFL Owners Meetings on Monday, first-year head coach Mike McCarthy stressed that any other wideout additions will have to be versatile.
"I think, like anything, I don't like to play, 'This guy's an X, this guy's a Z,'" McCarthy said. "The slot receivers, there's been great slot receivers in the history of the league. … You really don't get it until you become a head coach. If guys that make the 53-man roster, everybody's gotta have two jobs — unless you're a kicker or a quarterback. That third, fourth, fifth receiver; your fifth, sixth DB.
"When you have guys that are position specific — and they really don't do anything else — they've gotta be an all-pro. My point is, I've always looked for diversity at receiver. I like receivers that can play all three spots, because I wanna move the receivers around so the quarterback has the same read."
Lance, who stands at 6-foot-3, 204 pounds, fits exactly what McCarthy is looking for. Lance also ran a blazing-fast 4.34 in the 40-Yard dash at the NFL Combine.
"Lance also fits a need and possesses what both Mike McCarthy and the Steelers traditionally have looked for in receivers: length and explosiveness," Edholm wrote.
Lance was named first-team Associated Press FCS All-American in 2025. He ranked sixth in the FCS with 21.2 yards per reception. He recorded 51 receptions for 1,079 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Massive Offensive Lineman, Explosive Wide Receiver Named Ideal Top Two Picks for Steelers
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