Full Breakdown
Steelers' 2026 Draft Class: Strategy, Controversy, Outlook
5/2/2026, 9:46:03 AM
Draft Overview and Numbers
The Steelers drafted ten players, seven on offense. Round 1 brought OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State); round 2 added WR Germie Bernard (Alabama). Round 3 yielded QB Drew Allar (Penn State), CB Daylen Everette (Georgia) and OG Gennings Dunker (Iowa). Later rounds supplied FB/TE Riley Nowakowski (Indiana), versatile Eli Heidenreich (Navy), returner Kaden Wetjen (Iowa), DT Gabriel Rubio (Notre Dame) and S Robert Spears-Jennings (Oklahoma). Five early picks are projected to make the 53-man roster; the remaining five must survive cuts.
Executive Criticism
Anonymous NFL executives questioned drafting Iheanachor, a right-tackle projected for left side, and the inclusion of Nowakowski and Heidenreich. One executive asked, “I do not know if (Iheanachor) answers the questions that exist with Broderick Jones… What are you trying to do?” A second executive praised Bernard as a mature, urgent receiver compared with Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr.
Quarterback Debate
The selection of Allar at No. 76 sparked debate. Ray Fittipaldo noted a quarterback run, accelerated by the Cardinals’ pick of Carson Beck, may have forced Pittsburgh’s hand, adding, “I have no problem with that pick.” Former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was less impressed, saying Allar “never jumped off the page.”
Official Statements
Team insiders said the Steelers “feel very good about the class” and see it as an infusion of “high-end talent.” The organization highlighted Bernard as a “great fit” for the receiving corps and cited head coach Mike McCarthy’s record in developing quarterbacks as justification for keeping Allar as a project.
Conflicting Reports
Reports differ on left tackle Broderick Jones’s neck injury; the Steelers have denied a setback. Iheanachor’s shift from right-tackle at Arizona State to Pittsburgh’s left side remains untested, leaving the offensive line’s stability uncertain.
Impact
If Iheanachor adapts to left tackle, the Steelers could fill a long-standing vacancy. Bernard adds depth beside DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. Allar’s development will shape the quarterback hierarchy, especially as Aaron Rodgers’s future remains unclear. The rookie influx pressures veteran roster spots, likely prompting cuts before the season.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I do not know if (Iheanachor) answers the questions that exist with Broderick Jones,” — Anonymous NFL Executive
- “Mike [McCarthy] spoke up early in the process; he said he wanted to get a quarterback in this draft -- even though it's not known as a great quarterback class. He had his eye on a couple. We saw Carson Beck go early in that third round. When that happened guys, I was wondering, 'Is the run on quarterbacks coming?' I would have to think Carson Beck going where he did likely affected that Allar had to go at 76, rather than at 85 or 99, where they probably wanted to pick him. But I have no problem with that pick.” — Ray Fittipaldo, Steelers beat writer
- “He never jumped off the page to me,” — Ben Roethlisberger, former Steelers quarterback
Looking Ahead
Training camp will decide which late-round picks survive roster cuts. The Steelers intend to redshirt Allar while assessing his readiness, and decisions on the left-tackle spot and Heidenreich’s role will shape the Week 1 lineup.
