The Pittsburgh Steelers will enter the 2026 NFL Draft with an opportunity to do something they typically don’t do. In the past, Pittsburgh has often avoided adding to its wide receiver room early in the draft. If we see the Steelers take a wide receiver in the first few rounds, it would be a surprising shift from their usual approach.
However, all indications currently point to them doing just that. The Steelers understand that if they want to become the team they envision, they need to improve on the offensive side of the football. The quarterback question is still there, but any quarterback needs quality options to throw to.
With all of the wide receiver talent in this upcoming draft, the Steelers have taken the opportunity to meet with several prospects, suggesting they’re serious about addressing the position.
“With that in mind, the Steelers have done significant homework on the 2026 wide receiver draft class. Through Tuesday, the Steelers hosted six wide receiver prospects on predraft visits in Alabama's Germie Bernard, USC's Makai Lemon, UConn's Skyler Bell, Washington's Denzel Boston, Cincinnati's Jeff Caldwell and Kentucky's Kendrick Law.
“Of those, Boston and Lemon are most likely first-round picks, though Lemon, who had 11 touchdown receptions and 1,156 receiving yards in 2025, may not be on the board long enough to fall to the Steelers at No. 21. At nearly 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, Boston -- who had 881 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches last season -- would give the Steelers another big-bodied target alongside Metcalf and Pittman,” ESPN wrote.
If they can come out of the draft with one of Makai Lemon or Denzel Boston, the Steelers should view that as a win. I also think Omar Cooper, if available in the second round, would be an excellent addition.
He might not be getting as much attention as some of the other top wide receivers in this class, but that’s more a reflection of the depth of the group than his ability. He was arguably the biggest piece of Indiana’s offense when things got tough for Fernando Mendoza last season, and he deserves more love.