Steelers awarded impressive draft grade despite mixed fan reaction

Yahoo Sports3h ago10 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The Pittsburgh Steelers received an A- draft grade from Fox Sports for their 2026 NFL Draft class, despite mixed reactions from fans. The grade is among the highest in the AFC, highlighting their strategic picks.

Key points

Steelers received an A- draft grade from Fox Sports
Grade is among the highest in the AFC
Max Iheanachor was selected at No. 21 overall
Fans had mixed reactions to the draft class
Germie Bernard was also a notable pick

Max IheanachorGermie BernardPittsburgh SteelersPhiladelphia Eagles

Steelers awarded impressive draft grade despite mixed fan reaction

As polarizing as the Pittsburgh Steelers' NFL Draft class has been received, Fox Sports handed down a more than generous grade for the team's 2026 haul.

According to Fox Sports' Rob Rang, the Steelers earned an overall grade of A-, which ties for the second-highest mark in the AFC conference.

"… I like the investment in gifted young tackle Max Iheanachor at No. 21 overall, even if it was a pivot after the Eagles swooped in to nab wideout Makai Lemon a pick earlier," Rang wrote. "If the Steelers were at all soured by losing out on Lemon, Khan turned it into lemonade a round later by nabbing Germie Bernard, a similarly versatile weapon.

"Pittsburgh added a special teams ace in Kaden Wetjen, one of the best guards of this class in Gennings Dunker, a cornerback with the traits worthy of developing in Daylen Everette — and perhaps most importantly, a quarterback with the size and big arm to push Aaron Rodgers — either back onto the roster or into retirement. I’m not as high on Allar as others — and that is reflected in my grade, but I love the swing for the fences at this point in the draft. Finally, I love the exclamation point at the end of the draft with the selection of Navy’s do-everything star Eli Heidenreich."