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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 10: A general view of Heinz Field prior to the AFC Wild Card Playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns on January 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

The eyes of the football world are on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Thursday night as the 2026 NFL Draft. 257 prospects will hear their name called and fulfill a lifelong dream. It is a golden opportunity for the Steelers to spread the good word of Pittsburgh, its’ fans and the city.

What The Players Are Saying

Potential first-round pick and Arizona State wide receiver, Jordyn Tyson, was mentored by Steelers legend Hines Ward at Arizona State. As a result, Ward will return to the Steel City, “I came here, had two great years with JT, and to have the draft in Pittsburgh and to be a part of that, he wanted me to tag along and be a part of it,” Ward said. “I wouldn’t miss that for anything in the world. Super excited about the opportunity. Whoever he ends up with is going to get a winner. He’s going to make some plays in his rookie season.:

Tyson is a potential name to look at if the Steelers move up to take the star wideout. At Arizona State last season Tyson had 61 receptions, 711 yards and eight touchdowns.

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Tyson had this to say about Pittsburgh, “It is amazing, the city is actually pretty nice. I didn’t think it was going to be like that, I didn’t know it was a real city to be honest,” Tyson laughed.

The star receiver revealed that Ward took him out to dinner and would not mind if he made a call to tell the Steelers to take Tyson.

Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper was complimentary of the Steelers and his former coach at Indiana and now Steelers wide receiver coach, Adam Henry, “With Coach Adam Henry, he’s always been there for me. Even after he left my freshman year, he still stayed in contact, and he was one of the first coaches that told me I have the potential to have this opportunity that I’m having right now to go to the NFL,” said Cooper. “From the stuff he’s seen that I was able to do my freshman year, he believed in me when I probably didn’t even think I had a chance. Hearing that from him, and just the players that he’s coached, it means something special. So, if there’s an opportunity, and them already being connected, I know he’s gonna put in a good word, and he would love to coach me again as well. If that is what’s for me, then I’ll be excited to be a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

Steelers insider Gerry Dulac predicts the Steelers to trade up in the draft on Thursday and select Cooper, “If a trade doesn’t materialize and Lemon is gone, the Steelers will still use the 21st overall pick on a player who will give McCarthy three big-time receiving weapons for his offense. And that player will be Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr,” Dulac wrote.

Thursday night is set to be historic, as it will be the first time that Pittsburgh has hosted the NFL Draft since 1947 (1948 draft in a different calendar year) and 2026 is set to look quite different.