Steelers Target Carson Beck and Blake Miller in Aggressive 2026 Mock Draft

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers are officially in “rebuild the engine” mode. With the 2026 NFL Draft just weeks away, NFL Media’s Chad Reuter released a four-round mock that signals a massive shift in the Steel City. The headliner? Pittsburgh secures Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller in the first round and takes a high-stakes gamble on Miami quarterback Carson Beck on Day 2.

Restoring the Iron Curtain on Offense

Pittsburgh’s front office isn’t hiding its concern regarding the blindside. Broderick Jones is currently in the grueling stages of recovery following December neck surgery, leaving his 2026 status murky at best. Reuter suggests the Steelers won’t wait for a miracle. By drafting Miller, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound mauler with 54 career starts at Clemson, they gain immediate insurance. If Jones isn’t cleared by training camp, Troy Fautanu likely slides to left tackle while Miller anchors the right side as a Day 1 starter.

The aggression didn’t stop in the trenches. Reuter has the Steelers using their second-round pick on Georgia’s Zachariah Branch. The speedster, who clocked a 10.33 100-meter dash in high school, is exactly the kind of vertical threat Mike McCarthy’s new-look offense needs to stretch the field.

The Quarterback Conundrum: Carson Beck to Pittsburgh?

The most polarizing move in the mock is the selection of Carson Beck at pick No. 85. Beck’s journey has been a rollercoaster. After a turbulent 2024 at Georgia, he transferred to Miami and caught fire. He dragged the Hurricanes to the National Championship game, tossing 30 touchdowns and completing 72.4% of his passes. While his stock dipped during his final year in Athens, his 2025 tape in Coral Gables shows a pro-ready passer who thrives under pressure.

The timing is loud. Aaron Rodgers, now 42, remains a free agent and has yet to tell Omar Khan if he’s coming back for a 22nd season. Currently, the room consists of Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. Adding Beck provides a potential long-term successor regardless of Rodgers’ decision. You can practically feel the urgency in the facility; the Steelers cannot afford another year of “wait and see” at the most important position in sports.

“We know the expectations here. Whether it’s a veteran under center or a young guy coming in, this offensive line has to be a brick wall. We owe that to this city.”
— Mike McCarthy, Steelers Head Coach

Draft Board Breakdown: The Full 4-Round Haul

• Round 1: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
• Round 2: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
• Round 3: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
• Round 3: Carson Beck, QB, Miami
• Round 3: Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky
• Round 4: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
• Round 4: Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma

This draft is about density. By grabbing Oscar Delp and Jalen Farmer, the Steelers are clearly prioritizing a return to the “bully ball” identity that defined their AFC North title run last season. With Malik Muhammad added to the secondary, the defense gets a ball-hawking corner to pair with Joey Porter Jr. The message is clear: the Steelers are building a roster that can compete today while finally securing the future of the franchise.