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The 2025 season is about to come to an end, which gives us the opportunity to look forward to next season. The Steelers have a lot of draft capital this year to move around the board, or stand pat within the top 100. We’re going to be looking at the more popular draft choices the Steelers will be looking at.
Makai Lemon- WR USC
Pittsburgh is in desperate need of playmakers on offense this offseason. With one of the worst offenses in football for multiple years, and following the hiring of Mike McCarthy. I think the Steelers are going to look towards the offensive side of the ball in round one this year. This year’s Biletnikoff winner would make a great addition opposite D.K. Metcalf in this stagnant offense. Lemon went for 1,156 yards on 79 catches and 11 touchdowns. Currently he seems to be landing higher in mock drafts outside of the Steelers pick at 21, however with all of their projected and current draft capital they may be able to make a move up if Lemon starts to slip.
Kadyn Proctor- OT Alabama
Proctor is someone who has been gaining a lot of buzz to the Steelers in mock drafts recently. With Broderick Jones not taking that next step it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw the Steelers invest early in the trenches again under Omar and Weidl. Aside from that, Proctor is a very intriguing prospect, with the height, weight, and arm length you want in an offensive tackle. He has looked dominant during his time with Alabama, and would give the Steelers the physicality they’re looking for upfront. If the board doesn’t fall the way they want at wide receiver they should take a long look at Proctor if he is still available.
C.J. Allen- LB Georgia
A name that I haven’t seen connected to the Steelers yet is Allen. With the focus on offense this off-season I think that the linebacker position is getting lost in the mix. With more to be desired out of Patrick Queen this year and his potential as a cut candidate, it would make sense for the Steelers to look linebacker early if they do release Queen. Allen has the run stopping ability that the Steelers have been looking for, with a projected 4.50 40-yard dash Allen has all the speed he needs to succeed at the next level. One area to monitor is his development in coverage when matched up with tight ends. But he profiles as a great option for the Steelers in the first or second round. If Mike McCarthy wants to inject some youth into this defense Allen would be a good place to start.
Ultimately, the Steelers’ approach in the 2026 NFL Draft will come down to how the board falls. Whether it’s adding a dynamic playmaker like Makai Lemon to jumpstart the offense, reinforcing the trenches with Kadyn Proctor, or shoring up the middle of the defense with C.J. Allen, each of these prospects would be great value for Pittsburgh. With flexibility in the first 100 picks the Steelers are positioned to make waves this offseason.
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By Hunter Lambert
February 1, 2026
