FOX Sports' Nick Wright, ESPN's Peter Schrager, and Daniel Jeremiah have endorsed Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren as the Pittsburgh Steelers' pick at No. 21 in the 2026 NFL Draft. Schrager forecasts a historic first-round run on top safeties, with the Steelers—the only team to host McNeil-Warren for a pre-draft visit—needing young talent at the position.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the No. 21 pick and five selections in the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, positioning them to bolster an aging defense, particularly at safety. Veterans like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt highlight the need for youth, while the safety room features Jalen Ramsey (who shifted from cornerback mid-2025 but may return under coach Mike McCarthy's positional flexibility), DeShon Elliott (returning from injury through 2027), and short-term options Jaquan Brisker and expected signee Darnell Savage.
On FS1's First Things First, Nick Wright advocated for McNeil-Warren as Pittsburgh's first pick, calling him superior to Oregon's Dillon Thieneman and a replacement for 'old Jalen Ramsey' amid the team's heavy defensive investments. McNeil-Warren was the only first-round safety the Steelers hosted pre-draft, where he impressed with dominance at Toledo.
ESPN's Peter Schrager, on his Schrager Hour, mocked McNeil-Warren to Pittsburgh at 21, citing defensive age and depth concerns: "I’m gonna say at safety, 21, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Emmanuel McNeil-Warren." Daniel Jeremiah enthusiastically agreed: "Yeah, I’m a fan, you don’t have to sell me on that one. I’m a McNeil-Warren guy, through and through." Schrager later predicted on The Pat McAfee Show a safety surge, with Alabama's Caleb Downs going early, Thieneman as high as No. 10-12 (noted for Big Ten athleticism), and McNeil-Warren in the top 15.
Scouting reports peg McNeil-Warren as a late first-rounder, excelling in run defense, tackling, man coverage against tight ends, and zone instincts despite average speed. He edges peers in fit for Pittsburgh's schemes.