Steelers 7-round Mock Draft: Could Pittsburgh Land Garrett Nussmeier?

The Pittsburgh Steelers will enter the 2026 NFL Draft with some significant questions, but they will have plenty of opportunities to answer them.

The Steelers are set to have a league-high 12 selections in this year's draft. That will include five top-100 selections, a number buoyed by the team's three third-round picks.

Pittsburgh's bevy of draft assets will allow it not only to plug its major holes along the offensive line and at receiver, but also to add some young talent to serve as eventual successors to its veteran defensive talents.

Of course, the team will also consider drafting a quarterback. The expectation remains that Aaron Rodgers will return for one more season, but if he doesn't re-sign, adding a top signal-caller to challenge Will Howard for the starting job will quickly become the team's top priority.

Here's a look at how the Steelers could use all 12 of their selections in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

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Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round mock draft

Round 1, Pick 21: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Broderick Jones hasn't panned out as the Steelers hoped since they selected him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The 6-5. 311-pound blocker graded 66th among 84 qualified tackles last season, per Pro Football Focus, after committing six penalties and allowing one sack across 632 snaps last season.

Proctor would be a high-upside replacement for Jones, who is entering the final year of his contract in 2026. The 20-year-old has great movement skills and a massive 6-7, 352-pound frame that could allow him to blossom into a formidable left tackle.

Round 2, Pick 53: WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia

The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr., who will pencil in as a versatile No. 2 receiver across from DK Metcalf, but adding a quick separator and field-stretching deep threat would be sensible.

Branch is undersized at 5-10, 180 pounds, but he is an explosive playmaker who should be a big-play threat out of the slot and as a kick returner. Rodgers would love being able to hit the Georgia product with quick screens and slants – should he return to the Steelers for another season.

Round 3, Pick 76: DT Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State

Cameron Heyward is still playing at an All-Pro level, but it's fair to wonder just how much longer the soon-to-be 37-year-old will be able to do that. Adding a successor to him and a long-term partner for Derrick Harmon should be high on Pittsburgh's list of priorities during the draft.

Jackson has great size at 6-6, 315 pounds with a huge wingspan and hands, but needs to hone his technique to find consistent success at the next level. Doing so behind Heyward during his rookie season could be an ideal option for both parties.

Round 3, Pick 85: LB Deontae Lawson, Alabama

Patrick Queen endured a difficult 2025 season, as the Steelers' top linebacker missed 31 tackles and allowed a 115.5 passer rating in coverage, per Pro Football Focus. Pittsburgh may be willing to write that off as a one-year blip on the radar, but adding insurance behind the 26-year-old as he enters the final year of his contract would be wise.

Lawson is a very good sideline-to-sideline athlete who could emerge as a star if he can improve his play recognition and instincts. He was a three-year starter at Alabama and a two-time team captain, traits the Steelers would certainly value while considering him as a mid-round selection.

Round 3, Pick 99: QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Rodgers may return to the Steelers for the 2026 NFL season, but if he does, it will likely be the 42-year-old's last season. With that in mind, Pittsburgh could consider adding another young quarterback to join Howard - a 2025 sixth-round pick - behind Rodgers.

Nussmeier has the tools needed to develop into a starter, as he has an NFL-caliber arm and solid mobility. He also comes with a gunslinger mentality that saw him put the ball in harm's way a bit too often during his time at LSU.

If Nussmeier can clean up that issue and get healthy after being hampered by a core injury in his final collegiate season, he should find success in the NFL. Learning behind and from Rodgers could go a long way toward helping Nussmeier – who is the son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier – reach his full potential.

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Round 4, Pick 121: G Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame

The Steelers lost Isaac Seumalo to the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. They may be willing to let Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman battle to replace him, but adding a mid-round pick to join the competition should also be on the table.

Schrauth (6-5, 310 pounds) was a two-year starter and team captain at Notre Dame. He has good play strength and experience at both guard spots, two factors that could help him quickly become a solid starter at the NFL level.

Round 4, Pick 135: RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Kenneth Gainwell signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after leading the Steelers with 73 receptions in 2025. Pittsburgh signed Rico Dowdle to help replace Gainwell, but it would still be wise for the team to add another pass-catching option to join Dowdle, Jaylen Warren and 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson in the team's backfield rotation.

Singleton was a prolific pass-catcher at Penn State, racking up 102 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns across four seasons with the Nittany Lions. He also posted two 1,000-yard seasons as a rusher, so his production, along with his size (6-0, 219 pounds) and explosiveness, could make him a fun addition to Mike McCarthy's roster.

Round 5, Pick 161: CB Ephesians Prysock, Washington

Prysock is another athletic player the Steelers could target for depth purposes. The 6-3, 196-pound cornerback performed well at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, blazing the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds while logging a 39-inch vertical jump and a 10-4 broad jump.

Prysock also posted solid production across his four college seasons at Arizona and Washington, totaling 20 pass defenses and two interceptions. He would be an ideal developmental backup for the Steelers.

Round 6, Pick 216: WR J. Michael Sturdivant, Florida

Sturdivant never quite lived up to the potential he displayed at California in 2022, when he posted 65 catches for 755 yards and seven touchdowns. That said, he has excellent athleticism for his 6-3, 207-pound frame and could be molded into a quality outside receiver in time at the NFL level.

Double-dipping at receiver wouldn't be a surprising move for Pittsburgh, as its depth beyond Metcalf and Pittman is shaky. Sturdivant is a much different receiver than the Steelers' second-round pick in this mock, Branch, and would be a quality understudy for Metcalf.

Round 7, Pick 224: S Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma

Spears-Jennings turned heads by blazing the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. That speed could help make him a big-time asset on special teams early in his career as he continues to hone the skills he developed at safety across his two seasons as a starter at Oklahoma.

Round 7, Pick 230: TE Matthew Hibner, SMU

The Steelers released Jonnu Smith, who was part of Pittsburgh's three-headed rotation at tight end, ahead of free agency. They also lost their H-back – a role that combines the responsibilities of a tight end and full back – Connor Heyward to the Las Vegas Raiders and could stand to add a replacement for his well-rounded skill set.

Hibner (6-4, 251 pounds) logged 55 catches for 804 yards and eight touchdowns during his two seasons at SMU. He's on the older side at 24, but the Steelers won't mind if he can carve out a role as a third-string tight end and H-back.

Round 7, Pick 237: DT Nick Barrett, South Carolina

Keeanu Benton is a free agent after the 2026 NFL season. The Steelers would probably like to keep him, but adding organizational depth at nose tackle would provide them with insurance in case they can't.

Barrett is a 6-3, 312-pound space eater who could be a solid practice squad stash behind Benton and Yahya Black.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers 2026 NFL mock draft: Pittsburgh builds up offense, lands QB