Breaking down the Steelers’ picks in a new mock draft from The Athletic

It’s not even Super Bowl week yet and the Pittsburgh Steelers have had an incredibly busy offseason. With new head coach Mike McCarthy in place and coordinator positions quickly filled, it won’t be long until the staff turns its attention to the 2026 NFL draft. The Athletic released a new two-round mock draft and we want to break down the Steelers’ two picks and see if these picks were hits or misses.

First Round – OL Kadyn Proctor – Alabama

In the first round, The Athletic went with Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. The logic behind this choice is sound, but maybe not for the reasons you think. This drill sends Proctor to the Steelers in case Broderick Jones doesn’t produce and ends up benched. We look at it differently. With Dylan Cook on the roster, the offensive tackle position is safe, but we actually project Proctor as a guard in the NFL so he can be a replacement for Isaac Seumalo.

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With all that being said, in this scenario, the only players I would rate significantly higher would be Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Either player would fill important needs and be rated higher than Proctor.

Second round – WR Ja’Kobi Lane – USC

If the Steelers pass on a wide receiver in the first round, landing Lane in the second is a great consolation prize. Makai Lemon steals the headlines at USC, but Lane makes a great pairing with a player like DK Metcalf. If the Steelers draft a wide receiver, the first pick left on the board is Oregon safety Dillon Thienemen, who is an elite player and would be an immediate starter with the potential losses in free agency. The Steelers can’t go wrong with either pick.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: analyzing the Steelers’ picks in a new mock draft from The Athletic.