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3 players Steelers must avoid in first round of 2026 NFL Draft
TL;DR
The Pittsburgh Steelers should avoid drafting QB Ty Simpson from Alabama and two other prospects in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With the draft approaching in less than 10 days, the Steelers hold the 21st pick and need to make strategic choices.
3 players Steelers must avoid in first round of 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft is less than 10 days away, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of prospects to consider ahead of the big event.
Holding pick No. 21 in the first round of the draft, the Steelers would be wise to stay away from these three prospects, including one wide receiver whoâs been heavily linked to Pittsburgh.
QB, Ty Simpson, Alabama
The Steelers would be making another Kenny Pickett mistake if they draft Simpson with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft â a subpar class for quarterbacks compared to next yearâs batch of signal callers.
OT, Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
There are plenty of worthy offensive line prospects the Steelers should consider drafting with pick No. 21 â but Proctor isnât one of them. After what can only be described as an up-and-down 2025 season, Proctor likely heads into the draft hoping a team in desperate need of an offensive tackle reaches in the first round â and hopefully it wonât be Pittsburgh.
Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) celebrates after tackling Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) blocks at the line of scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Dec 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (76) looks to block Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) during the first half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) gestures against the Houston Texans during the first quarter in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Nov 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) runs with the ball against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter (49) during the first half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Dec 28, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) reacts in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Oct 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) crosses the goal line to score a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) stares down a section of Bengals fans after scoring a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. The Bengals won, 33-31.
Dec 18, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers guard Kevin Dotson (69) during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) takes the field against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Jan 15, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) runs the ball in the second half against the Buffalo Bills in a 2024 AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
September 22, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner (30) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) in action against the Houston Texans during the second quarter in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Aug 12, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) runs off the field against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
September 22, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave (79) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) celebrates after tackling Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
1 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) celebrates after tackling Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
2 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) blocks at the line of scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
3 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Dec 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (76) looks to block Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) during the first half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
4 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) gestures against the Houston Texans during the first quarter in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
5 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Nov 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) runs with the ball against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter (49) during the first half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
6 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Dec 28, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) reacts in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
7 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Oct 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) crosses the goal line to score a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
8 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) stares down a section of Bengals fans after scoring a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. The Bengals won, 33-31.
9 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Dec 18, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers guard Kevin Dotson (69) during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
10 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Nov 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) takes the field against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
11 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Jan 15, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) runs the ball in the second half against the Buffalo Bills in a 2024 AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
12 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
September 22, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner (30) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
13 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) in action against the Houston Texans during the second quarter in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
14 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
Aug 12, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) runs off the field against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
15 / 15
Steelersâ best draft picks from 2016 to 2025
September 22, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave (79) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
WR, Denzel Boston, Washington
Boston, although exceptional in contested catch scenarios, may struggle to create separation at the next level, especially given overall speed concerns for the hulking wide receiver. Pittsburgh already has two receivers who fit the massive build that Boston offers in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman, and the Steelers would be smart to go a different route at receiver.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers 2026 NFL Draft: 3 players to avoid in first round
Q&A
Who are the three players the Steelers should avoid in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The article identifies three prospects, including QB Ty Simpson from Alabama, that the Steelers should avoid in the first round.
What position does Ty Simpson play in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Ty Simpson is a quarterback from Alabama.
What pick do the Pittsburgh Steelers have in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the 21st pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
When is the 2026 NFL Draft scheduled to take place?
The 2026 NFL Draft is less than 10 days away from the article's publication date.