Anonymous NFL executives expressed puzzlement over the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 NFL Draft selections, particularly first-round pick Max Iheanachor and later versatile players. The picks aim to bolster the offense under new head coach Mike McCarthy amid concerns at quarterback and left tackle. One standout addition, wide receiver Germie Bernard, drew widespread praise.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected 10 players in the 2026 NFL Draft, focusing heavily on offense with seven picks to address needs at offensive line, wide receiver, cornerback, and quarterback. This marked the first draft under new head coach Mike McCarthy, who emphasized versatility on that side of the ball. The team added high-end talent, including Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round, despite his experience only at right tackle amid uncertainty with Broderick Jones' neck injury setback prior to the draft. Potential line shuffling, such as moving Troy Fautanu to left tackle, could result from this choice. The Steelers also drafted Indiana fullback Riley Nowakowski and Navy's Eli Heidenreich, adding alignment versatility that suits McCarthy's mixing style. However, anonymous executives voiced confusion in comments to The Athletic's Mike Sando. One said, “I do not know if (Iheanachor) answers the questions that exist with Broderick Jones. He will have a learning curve as a super athletic, super raw player. They drafted the Indiana fullback (Riley Nowakowski) and the Navy kid (Eli Heidenreich). What are you trying to do? Meanwhile, the quarterback situation is a real concern, whether or not (Aaron) Rodgers comes back.” A second executive praised second-round trade-up pick Germie Bernard from Alabama at No. 47, calling him “a great fit for them” and “a really mature, good player” with more urgency than Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. Bernard profiles as a hard-nosed, consistent receiver to pair with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. The Steelers feel confident in the class, though its long-term success remains to be seen.
