If Roger Goodell steps to the podium at next month's 2026 NFL Draft and announces the Pittsburgh Steelers are taking a receiver with their first-round pick, it'll be the first time he's done so.
The Steelers are one of four teams that haven't used a first-round draft pick on a receiver over the past decade. In fact, it's almost been 20 years since Pittsburgh selected a wideout with their initial turn, that being eventual Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes in 2006.
Goodell's predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, announced that choice.
Since then, the Steelers have drafted 13 receivers in the second or third rounds. That list is made up of Willie Reid (2006), Limas Sweed (2008), Mike Wallace (2009), Emmanuel Sanders (2010), Markus Wheaton (2013), Dri Archer (2014), Sammie Coates (2015), JuJu Smith-Schuster (2017), James Washington (2018), Diontae Johnson (2019), Chase Claypool (2020), George Pickens (2022) and Roman Wilson (2024).
The other three teams not to take a receiver in the first round in at least 10 years are the Indianapolis Colts ( Phillip Dorsett , 2015), the Buffalo Bills ( Sammy Watkins , 2014) and the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams ( Tavon Austin , 2013).
The Baltimore Ravens , Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings have all taken three wideouts in the first round over the past decade.
Mike McCarthy and the Steelers formally met with a cavalcade of receivers at the NFL Scouting Combine, signaling that they have legitimate interest in adding another, even after acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts. Ohio State's Carnell Tate, Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, Washington's Denzel Boston, USC's Makai Lemon, Indiana's Omar Cooper and Texas A&M's KC Concepcion were among those the Steelers spoke with in Indianapolis.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Could Buck Long-Lasting Run in 2026 NFL Draft
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