Analysis: What we learned about the Steelers' NFL Draft plans from their list of pre-draft visitors

Reliably, the Steelers invest in the NFL Draft prospects they know best. Four years running, their first-round selection has been a pre-draft visitor to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. That's well-documented.

But even beyond that most premium pick, the Steelers' annual visit schedule leaves clues for the rest of the draft.

Since Omar Khan succeeded Kevin Colbert as general manager, the Steelers have drafted at least three players they played host to at their facility.

Last year it was Derrick Harmon, Kaleb Johnson and Yahya Black. The year before it was Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Payton Wilson, Mason McCormick and Logan Lee. And in 2023, they had their first four draftees Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton and Darnell Washington in for visits.

That's 12 of 21 choices.

So while it's not the be-all, end-all for deciphering the Steelers' draft preferences, it's a strong correlation. And it makes sense. Why fly players in from all over the country, put them up in a hotel room and devote a portion of the day to them if you're not interested in their services?

Each year can be different, of course, but here's what we learned from the Steelers' pre-draft visits in 2026:

3 positions stand out

The first-round pick almost certainly will be a receiver, offensive lineman or safety.

In the end, the Steelers wound up using only five of their 30 allotted visits on players widely projected as first-rounders. Those were Washington wideout Denzel Boston, Southern California receiver Makai Lemon, Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, Utah tackle/guard Spencer Fano and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.

No Ty Simpson, the Alabama quarterback who appears to be a fringe first-rounder. No Kenyon Sadiq, the Oregon tight end who brings an intriguing skill set to that position. No defensive linemen at all one year after betting on Derrick Harmon.

Same goes for Round 2

Their second-round targets figure to be at the same positions. The next tier of prospects who came through Steelers headquarters includes Alabama receiver Germie Bernard, Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge, Connecticut receiver Skyler Bell and Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes, who could line up anywhere from slot cornerback to free safety.

But there are a couple of wild cards in this mix, too, such as San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson and Texas Tech inside linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. If the Steelers aren't comfortable with the rankings on their board to take two players at receiver, offensive line or safety with the first two picks, perhaps they pivot to more of a best-available approach.

More upside bets later on?

There's always a time and place for traits. We've also learned this from Steelers picks in the past few years. Think Darnell Washington and Payton Wilson late in the third round, despite no glaring needs for a starter at those positions at the time.

If the price is right, Pitt inside linebacker Kyle Louis, LSU inside linebacker Harold Perkins Jr., Florida State defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr. and Washington cornerback Tacario Davis all have tantalizing physical tools to work with.

None would have an obvious fit on the roster Week 1, it appears, but all would bring upside to the table for a defense that is laden with well-compensated veterans. The Steelers don't quite have a hybrid linebacker like Louis or Perkins, while Jackson (6 feet 6, 315 pounds) and Davis (6-4, 194) are rare finds at their positions.

Hey, look, quarterbacks!

The 2026 quarterback class perception has gone from cornucopia of talent to barren wasteland to choose-your-own-adventure for the Steelers.

In a watered-down version of their round-the-globe search for an heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger back in 2022 - which ended with the guy next door in Kenny Pickett - the Steelers have clearly circled four passers who fit their archetype in their own ways.

Penn State's Drew Allar, Arkansas' Taylen Green, North Dakota State's Cole Payton and Miami's Carson Beck are all big bodies with massive hands perfect for gripping a ball in late December as snow falls on the North Shore.

Allar has a laser right arm to go with that. Green is a straight-line speedster. Payton is a battering ram of a runner. And Beck ... well, Beck has plenty of big-game experience and they seem to like him for some reason.

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 8:04 AM.