The draft is almost here, so you know what that means. It is time to predict what draft class Steelers GM Omar Khan builds. I’m going to give you my 7-round Steelers Mock Draft with trades to show you what I think the Steelers will do. The Steelers have a lot of needs but one thing I can say is that Ty Simpson won’t be picked in the first round.
Round 1, Pick 13 (Projected trade with Rams): G, Olaivavega Ioane Penn State
The Steelers will start the draft off with a bang, trading up with the Los Angeles Rams, getting their future left guard in Ioane. This pick makes a lot of sense for the Steelers in multiple ways. One reason is that I don’t believe the Steelers can trade up and take the USC wide receiver in Makai Lemon, who they have shown interest in drafting. The Dolphins with the 11th pick could easily take him and they would have to trade inside the top 10 which would cost at least two first round picks. They instead trade up and jump the Ravens to get their future guard. Ioane is the best guard in this draft class. At Penn State this past year, he played 614 snaps without allowing a single sack, only four pressures and was assessed one penalty all season. That is very impressive for a guy at the FBS level and he would go right into that starting Left guard role. With a new offensive line coach, who is very good at developing guys in that position, this just feels like a perfect fit for both sides.
Round 2, Pick 48 (Projected trade with Falcons): WR, Germie Bernard Alabama
In the second round the Steelers go back to the phone making another trade, this time trading up 5 picks to select Germie Bernard, a wide receiver from Alabama. The Steelers would only give up pick 53 and 135 to move up to get the big time playmaker to add to their receiver room. Bernard is a good fit to this team giving the Steelers a receiver in the slot who can give them productive yards, but also is a deep threat even being only 6 ‘1, 204. He plays like he is 6’5 and can go up for contested balls and bring them down. That ability would add a lot to the Steelers offense and would force defenses to adjust how they match up against D.K. Metcalf. Bernard had 64 receptions last year for 862 yards and 7 touchdowns. This would be an awesome pick for Pittsburgh and the future of their offense.
Round 3, Pick 76: LB, Kyle Louis Pitt
Kyle Louis will be the next pick here at 76. The linebacker from Pitt will be staying home and his skill set gives the Steelers multiple options of where to play him. He was a first team All-American linebacker at Pitt in 2024 and has had two amazing back-to-back seasons. At only 6 ‘1 many scouts believe that he is more of a safety in the NFL, but I think that he is better at linebacker and can be a star in that position. He is a great in pass coverage and the Steelers have struggled at finding that kind of linebacker for years. Louis could change all of that with his ball-hawking ability and knowledge of the game. He just seems to know where the best spot to be at is every play and that’s what made him so good in college. Adding him with the pass rushing of TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig could be trouble for opposing teams. Louis had 79 total tackles (43 solo), 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions this past season. He would be an A+ pick in the third round.
Round 3, Pick 99: DB, Bud Clark TCU
With the Steelers second third round pick, they will stay on defense and select the safety/defensive back in Bud Clark. He was a standout player for the Horned Frogs creating multiple turnovers and can be a huge game changer in the right position. In a Steelers system I believe he would play in the slot corner position as that has really lacked in recent years. This past season Clark had 31 solo tackles, 56 total tackles, 4 interceptions, and a touchdown as well as multiple pass deflections. He is a game changer. Develop him behind Jalen Ramsey and you could see him become a good starter with a lot of potential to get even better.
Round 4, Pick 134 (Projected trade with Raiders): DL, Zane Durant Penn State
With the 121st pick in the draft the Steelers decide to trade down with the Raiders and receive picks 134 and 185 to build more depth in this draft and gain some of the picks back they lost in their first two trades of their draft. The defensive line gets a boost of help, grabbing former Penn State star Zane Durant. Durant struggled this past season for the Nittany Lions, but when he is playing his best he can be at least a solid role player on the defensive line. He recorded 25 total tackles, 14 solo tackles, 4 sacks and 1 interception this year. In 2024-25 he was a huge piece in the Penn State defense that made it all the way to the College Football Playoff Semifinals recording 42 total tackles.
Round 5, Pick 161: QB, Taylen Green Arkansas
The Steelers wait until the 5th round but draft a quarterback, Taylen Green. Green is a freak athlete with long arms, super fast speed and has the potential of being a good quarterback in this league. He took the SEC and Arkansas by storm, becoming a 4-year starter and one of the best players in the SEC. Even though he may not be a day 1 or 2 player he definitely has the potential of being a player like that. In his career he has thrown for over 1,100 yards, 59 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. He definitely has potential and Mike McCarthy is the QB development wizard so anything could happen. The Steelers said they want a QB with long arms, well Taylen Green is your guy.
Round 6, Pick 185 (Projected trade with Raiders): WR, Harrison Wallace III Ole Miss
With the second pick acquired from the projected trade with the Raiders, the Steelers snag their second receiver in Harrison Wallace III. Wallace was the leading receiver for Ole Miss this past season and helped lead the Rebels all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He had 61 receptions, 934 yards, and 4 touchdowns. He was the number one target on the offense and is a big time threat on deep balls and 50/50 balls. He had a huge catch for a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia which helped them get the win. Wallace is 6’1 but that does not stop him from being a difference maker on offense. Adding him and Germie Bernard to the receiving core builds more depth to the position and gives them a bright future with some young exciting players.
Round 7, Picks 224, 230, 237: OT, Aamil Wagner Notre Dame, TE, Riley Nowakowski Indiana, S, Xavier Nwankpa Iowa
In the three picks in the 7th round the Steelers take the remainder of team needs as well as gaining depth. The first pick, 224 is Aamil Wagner, offensive tackle out of Notre Dame. He is a solid tackle and with the uncertainty of Broderick Jones he could be thrown into a competition to start the season at left tackle or at least be the first backup on the offensive line.
The next pick I have them taking tight end Riley Nowakowski. He was a very productive player on the national champions this past season having over 300 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns, including a touchdown in the National Championship. After losing Connor Heyward in free agency and cutting Jonnu Smith the Steelers are in need of adding another backup tight end with Darnell Washington and Nowakowski is that guy.
And the last pick of my mock draft I have the Steelers taking Xavier Nwankpa out of Iowa. The safety is a true safety and is really solid in deep coverage, not allowing that many down field shots when he is out there. I could see him being more of a special teams player but could end up being a rotational player by the end of his first season or by his second season.
This draft should be very interesting, especially for the Steelers as they could go multiple different ways with it. This is what I see them doing and if its not all these specific trades or all these players I think it could be pretty similar to their actual draft. We will have to wait and see what Omar Khan has in store this weekend and hope he gets it right and builds our team closer and closer to a Superbowl.
