The Pittsburgh Steelers selected 10 players in the 2026 NFL Draft. Brooke Pryor broke down the Steelers’ picks in three different categories: immediate starters and contributors, special teams contributors and rising but developmental phase.

Immediate Starters and Contributors

Pryor believes that Alabama wide receiver who the Steelers selected Germie Benard with the 47th pick of the draft,

“Bernard (6-foot-1 and 206 pounds) is a physical, well-rounded and versatile player. The Steelers lacked wide receiver depth last season, so much so that they added Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen late in the season, and the duo became key targets for Aaron Rodgers down the stretch,” wrote Pryor.

“Now, Thielen is retired and Valdes-Scantling is a Dallas Cowboy. Receiver Calvin Austin III also departed in free agency, and running back Kenneth Gainwell, the Steelers’ leading pass catcher and team MVP last season, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”

Pittsburgh also added to the offensive line and it is not the first round pick that will have an immediate impact its third round pick Gennings Dunker,

“The Steelers also had a need at guard after losing starter Isaac Seumalo to the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. Though 2023 seventh-round pick Spencer Anderson played well in place of Seumalo in spurts last season, the Steelers still eyed an upgrade,” wrote Pryor.

“Enter the Iowa hay bale toss champion. Though the mullet-sporting redhead spent his college career at tackle, Dunker showed his versatility and promise as a guard at the Senior Bowl in February — something that caught the eye of Steelers offensive line coach James Campen.”

Special Teams Contributors

Pryor has listed Iowa standout Kaden Wetjan who the Steelers selected with the 121st pick as an immediate special teamer,

“Though Wetjen was a bit of a reach in the fourth round, he was an electric returner at Iowa. He averaged 26.8 yards per punt return last season to lead the FBS, and he became the first player in Big Ten history to have three punt return touchdowns and one kick return touchdown in the same season,” wrote Pryor.

“He was the only player in FBS to have a kick return and punt return touchdown last season. The Steelers had neither last year and ranked 29th in kickoff return average (24.2) and 21st in punt return average (8.8).”

Rising But Developmental Phase

Pittsburgh’s first round pick of Max Iheanachor came us a surprise,

Iheanachor only started playing football in 2021, but he developed rapidly over the past five seasons between junior college and three seasons at Arizona State, eventually becoming a two-year starter at right tackle, Pryor write.

“At 6-6 and 320 pounds with a basketball background, Iheanachor has the size and agility to be a great tackle, but he’s still relatively new to the game. He’s not exactly a plug-and-play prospect, which could be an issue if Jones isn’t ready to go when the season starts.”

The Steelers will hope that the 10 players of the 2026 draft class provide an instant impact through a new era of Steelers football. The Mike McCarthy era is officially underway after 19 seasons with Mike Tomlin at the helm.