Pundit Leaks Steelers Early Draft Strategy And It's Explosive

The coming months are guaranteed to reveal far more about Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan than fans have ever seen before. That is largely because the 2026 NFL Draft will mark the first time Khan operates without Mike Tomlin directly alongside him. Tomlin officially stepped down following the 2025 season, closing the book on a historic era in Pittsburgh. Now the responsibility shifts to a new leadership structure, with Mike McCarthy and Khan set to guide the franchise through a critical draft process with the rest of the front office.

McCarthy brings a long and well-documented résumé when it comes to identifying offensive talent. Over the course of 18 seasons as a NFL head coach with the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, McCarthy consistently found playmakers through the draft and development process. 

His hope is to bring that same offensive-minded vision to the Steel City. Doing so will not be easy, but the opportunity is certainly there, especially with Pittsburgh projected to hold as many as 12 total selections in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo believes this new regime could make a bold statement early by selecting two wide receivers within the first 100 picks of the draft. That approach would signal an aggressive commitment to upgrading the offense and surrounding the quarterback, whoever that will be, with explosive options as quickly as possible.

"It's a very strong position," Fittipaldo said while speaking on the North Shore Drive podcast on Friday afternoon. "Receivers, with the way the spread game is now, the way those guys come up playing 7-on-7, it's a really strong group every single year. And like we said, this might be the year the Steelers finally address that. And don't be surprised if they address it twice in the top-100 picks."

Adding even more intrigue, the 2026 NFL Draft will be hosted in Pittsburgh for the first time in league history. That moment alone is significant for the organization and the fan base. With the 21st overall pick, all eyes will be on which direction Khan and McCarthy decide to take as they begin shaping the next era of the roster. There are several paths available, but one particular idea has gained traction among those closest to the team.

The Steelers wide receiver room has long been an issue. They traded away George Pickens after many thought he and DK Metcalf could solve the problem together. Pittsburgh chose not to give that pairing a chance, and now heads into the 2026 offseason with Metcalf as the clear top option in the room, but with concerning depth behind him. 

This draft class has talent across the board, and Pittsburgh has the resources to secure help and finally shore up the wide receiver room. They also still have Roman Wilson, and it remains to be seen what happens with him. Maybe this new regime gives him a real opportunity, or maybe they do not, but either way this wide receiver room is clearly a priority to be addressed in this draft.

Steelers Own 5 Picks Within Top 100 Of 2026 NFL Draft

If Fittipaldo’s projection proves accurate, Pittsburgh will have ample opportunity to execute that plan. The Steelers currently own multiple selections inside the top 100, including the No. 21 overall pick in Round 1, the No. 53 overall pick in Round 2, and three selections in Round 3 at Nos. 76, 85, and 99 overall. 

The Steelers own five picks within that top 100 and Fittipaldo seriously thinks that two wide receivers will come from that. With that level of draft capital, double-dipping at wide receiver early is not only possible, but very much in play for this new leadership group. A wide receiver to keep an eye on is Denzel Boston from the University of Washington. He has been linked several times to Pittsburgh.