With fewer than three weeks until the NFL Draft officially begins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the draft big board preparation and mock draft simulations only stand to ramp up as the day draws near. There are many positional needs, yet only so many prospects can be selected with a team’s respective picks, ensuring every single draft pick individually carries added weight and pressure. Speaking of host cities, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be at the forefront of attention, where they’ll have seven selections within the first four rounds and 12 in total (the most of any team). Like others, they also have needs that have to be thoroughly addressed in order for them to end their playoff winless drought dating back to January 2017.
While none of the roster additions made thus far in free agency, and soon to be in the upcoming NFL Draft, will solve their lack of a long-term quarterback solution, it will certainly make life much easier for whoever might be exactly that in the near future. A strong, well-rounded roster and supporting cast go a long way toward becoming immediate playoff contenders, as the 2026 draft class would be a great place to start. Super Bowls and playoff games are not won overnight, nor are championship rosters forged together on the spot, but they all lay the groundwork for it in the long run. Pittsburgh would benefit from a vision that involves building the foundation first in a year where there are no true answers at quarterback.
Need #1: Wide Receiver
Trotting out a wide receiver core consisting of Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller, 35-year-old Adam Thielen, Marques Valdez-Scantling, and Ben Skowronek in the year 2025 is what unserious franchises do if the goal is to win, no matter who’s your starting quarterback. In other words, there was D.K. Metcalf and then a bunch of nobodies and aging veterans who were not raising the bar or moving the ceiling for a position group that has not been the same since George Pickens departed for the Dallas Cowboys via trade last May. For what felt like an eternity, the Steelers did not have an adequate second wideout, but that finally changed this offseason when they acquired Michael Pittman Jr from the Indianapolis Colts in a late-round draft pick swap. Metcalf and Pittman Jr form, at worst, a formidable duo for Aaron Rodgers and Head Coach Mike McCarthy on offense. It is already leaps and bounds better than what they’ve had over the last several seasons, but more additions need to be made to fill out the rest. McCarthy is known as an offense-minded play-caller who prefers to have at least three physically imposing, tall, and capable pass-catchers lining up outside and inside the slot, a huge change from the latter days in the Mike Tomlin era.
Need #2: Offensive Guard
While this position wasn’t a liability for Pittsburgh over several years, it is now an eyesore, missing a plug-and-play starter at the interior of the offensive line, as very well-respected guard Isaac Seumalo left in free agency for the Arizona Cardinals. Running the football effectively between the tackles and protecting the quarterback, especially one as old as Rodgers, are both priorities when it comes to finding the next starting left guard. You’re drafting with the expectation in mind that this is a player who will be holding the fort down for years to come up front. Offensive linemen are not the flashiest picks, but they typically are the ones who determine just how far a team might advance. Mason McCormick continues to progress in his development as the starting right guard, Zack Frazier has established himself as one of the better centers in the entire league, Troy Fautanu is living up to his first-round status as the right tackle manning the blind spot, and Broderick Jones (based on current offseason reports) is expected back from a season-ending neck injury in 2025 for the upcoming season, so solidifying the interior left guard spot looms quite large.
Need #3: Safety
On paper, the Steelers secondary looks mostly set at the safety position with Jalen Ramsey, DeShon Elliott, and free agent signing Jaquan Brisker, but the future is worth taking care of, as two out of their three starting safeties are either 30 or older. Plus, they need someone who can not only offset Ramsey’s versatility but also allow for Brisker to be best utilized downfield. If anything, communication breakdowns and a lack of quality depth when the injury bug strikes hurt this team more often than that, so adding another safety to the room might do wonders for everyone to fulfill their exact roles without interference. Going up against the likes of J’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Zay Flowers, and others inside the AFC North division will require lockdown coverage and positional flexibility. It’s never a bad idea to have too many good defensive backs on the depth chart, combatting age and availability concerns in a league where receivers are getting faster and harder to go up against. Pittsburgh is built to win now with the names they currently have, but playing the long game might be the wiser move with new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham looking to schematically mold the defense to his liking over time.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers draft needs: Three positions Pittsburgh must address
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