The Pittsburgh Steelers have 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including a promising offensive tackle, Max Iheanachor, selected 21st overall. The team aims to strengthen its roster amid a playoff win drought since 2017.
Key points
Pittsburgh Steelers have 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
Max Iheanachor selected 21st overall
Team aims to end playoff win drought since 2017
New head coach Mike McCarthy leads the team
Focus on building a competitive roster
Mentioned in this story
Mike McCarthy
Pittsburgh SteelersMax Iheanachor
A potential successor for Aaron Rodgers? Maybe some help for that surprisingly leaky secondary? How about some youth to pair with veteran receivers D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.?
The good news? The Steelers have 12 picks to work with in this year's draft, and after taking raw but promising offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with the 21st overall pick, they have four Day 2 picks and another seven to work with on Day 3.
Will the Steelers make a move with their draft war chest or push a potential youth movement? Time will tell.
Here’s an in-depth look at the Steelers’ 2026 NFL Draft selections and the grades they earned for their picks.
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A general overall view of the downtown skyline and Fort Duquesne bridge of the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 22, 2026.
Large helmets of the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
Fans watch during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
A general overall view of Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
A Pittsburgh Steelers fan plays a bagpipe in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
Pittsburgh Steelers and Terrible Towel banners in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
Local military members watch the Q&A session with ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes and Cam Heyward at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A Here We Go sign is featured at Steelers Country at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Construction crews continue to put the finishing touches on the draft theater Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from outside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The NFL Draft Red Carpet at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A fan takes video of the Q&A session at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans pose at a 2026 NFL Draft activation in downtown on April 22, 2026.
A City of Pittsburgh River Rescue boat sails along the Allegheny River near Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A general overall view of 2026 NFL Draft banners on the Roberto Clemente aka Sixth Street bridge on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A statue of former Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente outside the center field gate of PNC Park on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A general overall view of large Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts helmet at the 2026 NFL Draft Experience at Acrisure Stadium on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A statue of Pittsburgh Steeles fullback Franco Harris completing the Immaculate Reception at the Pittsburgh International Airport on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Street banners promoting the 2026 NFL Draft in downtown on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Duval representing in Pittsburgh as Nikki Mcglockton aka Tally Jag, right, and Jerome Johnson, aka Jaxonball Z, gear up for Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026.
Bengals Twins Steve, left, and Jeff, prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in downtown Pittsburgh, where they want their team to draft 'defense, defense, defense.'
Tennessee Titans cheerleaders excited for Round 1 of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
The 2026 NFL Draft Theater stage at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
The 2026 NFL Draft Theater stage at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of the downtown skyline and Fort Duquesne bridge of the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 22, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Large helmets of the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Fans watch during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A Pittsburgh Steelers fan plays a bagpipe in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers and Terrible Towel banners in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Local military members watch the Q&A session with ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes and Cam Heyward at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A Here We Go sign is featured at Steelers Country at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Construction crews continue to put the finishing touches on the draft theater Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from outside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
The NFL Draft Red Carpet at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A fan takes video of the Q&A session at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers fans pose at a 2026 NFL Draft activation in downtown on April 22, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A City of Pittsburgh River Rescue boat sails along the Allegheny River near Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of 2026 NFL Draft banners on the Roberto Clemente aka Sixth Street bridge on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A statue of former Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente outside the center field gate of PNC Park on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of large Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts helmet at the 2026 NFL Draft Experience at Acrisure Stadium on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A statue of Pittsburgh Steeles fullback Franco Harris completing the Immaculate Reception at the Pittsburgh International Airport on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Street banners promoting the 2026 NFL Draft in downtown on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Duval representing in Pittsburgh as Nikki Mcglockton aka Tally Jag, right, and Jerome Johnson, aka Jaxonball Z, gear up for Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Bengals Twins Steve, left, and Jeff, prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in downtown Pittsburgh, where they want their team to draft 'defense, defense, defense.'
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Tennessee Titans cheerleaders excited for Round 1 of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 NFL Draft grades
NFL Draft grades by USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz. Return for the latest grades as picks are made.
The Steelers have 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list and grades for each pick:
Round 1, Pick 21: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State – Grade: B
Omar Khan didn't have too many pressing concerns with his roster, but the outlook at offensive tackle was a little shaky amid Broderick Jones' recovery from a neck injury. Enter Iheanachor, who's short on refinement but long on athleticism as a latecomer to football. He provides flexibility in the short and long term, with Troy Fautanu potentially able to slide over to the left side and allow Iheanachor to step in at right tackle if required.