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Steelers shift attention to offensive line in latest mock drafts

Chris Harlan
By Chris Harlan
3 Min Read March 27, 2026 | 19 hours ago
| Friday, March 27, 2026 4:51 p.m.
Penn State lineman Olaivavega Ioane (71) could be a first-round option for the Steelers in the NFL Draft. (AP)

The consensus among draft experts has shifted away from the Pittsburgh Steelers taking a receiver in the first round.

The prevailing idea for weeks was that the Steelers would use the 21st pick in next month’s NFL Draft to grab one of the top pass catchers. But after trading for receiver Michael Pittman Jr., a growing number of draft gurus see the Steelers taking an offensive lineman instead.

The Steelers have an opening at guard after Isaac Seumalo signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent. Plus, there is uncertainty about left tackle Broderick Jones’ status after his neck injury.

If the Steelers do take an offensive lineman in the first round, it will be the third time in four years.

Here is a look at this week’s latest mock drafts.

Field Yates, ESPN

Pick: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

Updated: Tuesday

Ioane is considered the best guard in this year’s draft class, giving the Steelers an immediate replacement for Seumalo.

Yates described the 6-foot-4, 323-pounder as “a physical, rugged guard who shows crunching power at the point of attack.” ESPN colleague Mel Kiper Jr. also projected the Steelers taking Ioane in his mock draft last week.

Josh Edwards, CBS Sports

Pick: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Updated: Thursday

The Steelers pass over Ioane (and Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson) to address a need at tackle. Edward suggests the 6-6, 321-pound Iheanachor could play right tackle, allowing Troy Fautanu to move to the left side.

Ioane goes one pick later to the Chargers, and Tyson gets drafted 24th by the Browns.

Rob Maaddi, Associated Press

Pick: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

Updated: Thursday

Maaddi had the Steelers selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in his first mock draft earlier in the month, but this time Simpson is off the board five spots earlier. So, Maaddi joins the trend and has the Steelers strengthen their offensive line.

Maaddi notes Miller “can step in right away” after starting 54 games in college.

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com

Pick: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Updated: Tuesday

Brooks wonders if Mike McCarthy might see “a little Randall Cobb in the Texas A&M standout,” comparing him favorably to one of McCarthy’s wideouts with the Packers. Brooks calls Concepcion “a catch-and-run specialist” who’d add a new dimension to the Steelers offense.

The 6-foot, 196-pounder was the fourth receiver drafted after Ohio State’s Carnell Tate (sixth overall), Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson (eighth) and USC’s Makai Lemon (13th).

Charles Davis, NFL.com

Pick: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Updated: Thursday

Brooks’ colleague at NFL.com also sees the Steelers taking a receiver. Davis notes that the offense got a boost from adding Pittman but asks “why stop there?”

Tate, Tyson and Lemon are already drafted before the Steelers are on the clock. So among the wideout options remaining, he chose the 6-foot, 199-pound Cooper, who helped the Hoosiers win a national title.

Ben Arthur, Fox Sports

Pick: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Updated: Thursday

Not everyone has given up on the Steelers taking a quarterback at pick No. 21. Arthur predicts they take Simpson even if Aaron Rodgers returns, calling the former Alabama QB “the best quarterback in this class not named Fernando Mendoza.”


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