The lights were perfect. The stage was set. And for a few hours, the city of Pittsburgh reminded the football world exactly why it sits at the heart of the sport.
Inside the building, the franchise’s past stood shoulder to shoulder with its future. Hall of Fame icons like Ben Roethlisberger and Terry Bradshaw drew thunderous ovations, their presence a reminder of what championship standards look like in this city. By all accounts, it was the largest crowd ever assembled for a draft night—a statement
moment for both Pittsburgh and the league.
And then the pick came in. Holding a prime first-round selection, the Pittsburgh Steelers had an opportunity to match the energy of the night with a defining move for their future. Instead, they left the fanbase stunned, with the pick of Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor, moments after the Philadelphia Eagles sniped them for WR Makai Lemon.
But here’s the good news—the story isn’t finished.
The Pittsburgh Steelers still walk into day two of the NFL Draft with something most teams don’t: volume. Eleven total picks. Ammo. Flexibility. A chance to turn frustration into redemption. Here’s how I see it shaking out.
Round 2
33. San Francisco 49ers — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
34. Arizona Cardinals — Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
35. Buffalo Bills — Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
36. Las Vegas Raiders — Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
37. New York Giants — Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
38. Houston Texans — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
39. Cleveland Browns — Sam Hecht, OC, Kansas State
40. Kansas City Chiefs — Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
41. Cincinnati Bengals — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
42. New Orleans Saints — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
43. Miami Dolphins — Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
TRADE: Steelers Trade Picks, 53, 85 and 161 to the New York Jets for Picks 44 and 103
44. Pittsburgh Steelers — WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
After a puzzling first-round decision, the Pittsburgh Steelers came out swinging to open day two of the NFL Draft—and this time, with conviction.
In a clear sign that urgency had replaced hesitation, Pittsburgh strikes a deal with the New York Jets, packaging picks 53, 85, and 161 to move up to No. 44, while also acquiring pick 103.
Bernard brings a completely different profile to a receiver room that suddenly looks far more dynamic than it did 24 hours ago. Polished, explosive, and battle-tested in the SEC, he offers immediate versatility—capable of stretching the field, working underneath, and contributing right away in multiple alignments.
45. Baltimore Ravens — Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
47. Indianapolis Colts — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
48. Atlanta Falcons — Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
49. Minnesota Vikings — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
50. Detroit Lions — T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
51. Carolina Panthers — Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
52. Green Bay Packers — Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
53. New York Jets — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
54. Philadelphia Eagles — Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
55. Los Angeles Chargers — Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa
56. Jacksonville Jaguars — Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
57. Chicago Bears — Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
58. San Francisco 49ers — Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
59. Houston Texans — Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
60. Chicago Bears — Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
61. Los Angeles Rams — Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
62. Denver Broncos — A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
63. New England Patriots — Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
64. Seattle Seahawks — D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
Round 3
65. Arizona Cardinals — Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M
66. Buffalo Bills — Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
67. Las Vegas Raiders — Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
68. Philadelphia Eagles — Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
69. Tennessee Titans — Keionte Scott, CB, Miami (FL)
70. Cleveland Browns — Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
71. Washington Commanders — Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
72. Cincinnati Bengals — R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
73. New Orleans Saints — Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
74. Cleveland Browns — Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
75. Miami Dolphins — Genesis Smith, S, Arizona
76. Pittsburgh Steelers — LB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
The theme of aggression continued—but this time, it came with a hometown twist.
With their next selection in the third round, the Steelers stay right in their backyard, selecting linebacker Kyle Louis out of Pitt.
Louis isn’t the flashiest name on the board, but he’s the type of player this franchise has built its identity on for decades—physical, instinctive, and comfortable playing downhill. At Pitt, he developed a reputation as a tone-setter, someone who thrives in traffic and brings consistency to the middle of a defense.
77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
78. Indianapolis Colts — Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
79. Atlanta Falcons — Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
80. Baltimore Ravens — Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
81. Jacksonville Jaguars — Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
82. Minnesota Vikings — Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
83. Carolina Panthers — Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
84. Green Bay Packers — Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
85. New York Jets — Carson Beck, QB, Miami (FL)
86. Los Angeles Chargers — Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
87. Miami Dolphins — Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
88. Jacksonville Jaguars — Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
89. Chicago Bears — Bud Clark, S, TCU
90. San Francisco 49ers — Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina
91. Houston Texans — Connor Lew, OC, Auburn
92. Dallas Cowboys — Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
93. Los Angeles Rams — Austin Barber, OT, Florida
94. Miami Dolphins — Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
95. New England Patriots — Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky
96. Seattle Seahawks — Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
97. Minnesota Vikings — Parker Brailsford, OC, Alabama
98. Philadelphia Eagles — Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
99. Pittsburgh Steelers — QB Drew Allar, Penn State
And now, the draft has officially turned into a gamble.
Allar is the prototype. Big frame, live arm, natural tools that scouts have been intrigued by since his days at Penn State. But he’s also one of the more polarizing evaluations in this class—a quarterback whose flashes are undeniable, but whose consistency has remained a question.
That’s exactly why this pick feels less like a certainty and more like a calculated bet. For Pittsburgh, though, the logic is clear. They have the picks. They have the roster infrastructure. And most importantly, they have the flexibility to take a shot without forcing the outcome. Allar doesn’t have to be the savior. He doesn’t even have to play right away.
He just has to develop.
In many ways, this is the kind of move teams make when they understand the reality of the position: if you don’t have a long-term answer at quarterback, you keep taking swings until you find one.
And after addressing wide receiver earlier in the night, the Steelers have now injected upside into the most critical spot on the field.
100. Jacksonville Jaguars — Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
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