When it comes to the 2026 NFL draft, all bets are off for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are set to have three or four significant needs that could take up their first-round pick. It will all depend on where the Steelers end up picking and which top prospects declare.

In a new three-round mock draft from Pro Football Network, the draft takes an interesting approach to the Steelers draft, and while it starts off strong, it takes some strange turns in the third round. Let’s break down the picks.

First round – WR Makai Lemon – USC

Second round – QB Jayden Maiava – USC

This is a great start and a smart choice by the Steelers. Landing Lemon and Maiava in the first two rounds not only gives the Steelers one of the best pass catchers in the draft but also lands them a high-ceiling quarterback prospect who threw Lemon all those passes. Excellent start, filling two huge needs.

Third round – CB Daylen Everett – Georgia

Third round – WR Omar Cooper Jr. – Indiana

Third round – CB Malik Muhammad – Texas

This is where things go a little off the rails. We don’t dislike any of the prospects selected but taking a second wide receiver and two cornerbacks doesn’t feel like something the Steelers front office does and it doesn’t hit the mark for some other top needs. Everett is an exceptional prospect and a great fit so we leave him at that first pick of the round but switch things up with the other two.

Instead of Cooper, I’d go with Cincinnati’s Dontay Corleone to line up with Keanu Benton on on the inside of the defensive line or Florida State defensive tackle Darnell Jackson Jr. to be a potential replacement for Cameron Heyward down the road. Instead of Muhammad, we would have gone with Duke guard Brian Parker II to provide depth and develop into a starter.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Breaking down the Steelers picks in a new 3-round mock draft