Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly stated that the team will not use all three of its third-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. He expects the Steelers to trade one to acquire more draft capital for the 2027 quarterback class. The prediction comes amid the team's five picks in the draft's top 100 selections.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hold five picks within the first 100 of the 2026 NFL Draft, including three in the third round at Nos. 76, 85, and 99 overall. General manager Omar Khan and assistant general manager Andy Weidl face several roster needs with these selections, but longtime beat writer Mark Kaboly anticipates a different approach. In a mailbag post on X on March 26, Kaboly wrote, “I can pretty much assure you that they aren’t using all three of those third-round picks.” He added, “Moving one of them would probably add value because it wouldn’t be a one-for-one swap, but having the most ammo they can have for next year’s quarterback draft class is their goal.” Pittsburgh lacks projected compensatory picks for the 2027 draft, limiting its future capital. The team had positioned itself last offseason for this year's quarterback class, which underperformed. Alternatives include trading up this year for prospects like Alabama's Ty Simpson. Analysts such as Todd McShay have praised the 2027 quarterback group as potentially one of the strongest ever. Khan and the Steelers maintain flexibility ahead of the late April draft.
