Several NFL teams have shown interest in prospects visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the draft. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. listed three players the Steelers have met with among his favorite sleepers. This comes as the Steelers narrow their first-round targets based on pre-draft visits.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have hosted top-30 visitors who could become first-round picks, a pattern that historically points to their selections. Analyst Alex Kozora identified eight such names, with others carrying second-round buzz. Teams across the league, including the New York Giants, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and Washington Commanders, have conducted pre-draft visits, virtual meetings, or workouts with these prospects, according to Steelers Depot analysis published Saturday. Other interested parties include the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and more, positioned to pick early in the draft. Among prospects with Steelers ties, North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton visited the team pre-draft. Kiper praised Payton's arm strength, accuracy, 4.56 speed, and 6-foot-3, 232-pound frame, suggesting a Taysom Hill-like role. Payton rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns in 13 games last season. Kiper projects him as a fourth-round pick. Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch attended a Steelers pro day dinner. Kiper highlighted Branch's yards-after-catch ability, with 636 of his 811 yards coming post-reception in 2025, despite his 5-foot-9, 177-pound size. He sees Branch as a second-round fit for West Coast offenses like Pittsburgh's. Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis, another pre-draft visitor, impressed Kiper with his versatility. 'Louis will line up all over the place,' Kiper wrote, envisioning roles from box safety to outside linebacker. Kiper slots him in the second or third round.