After the Steelers’ bye week and a quiet trade deadline for the black and gold — where Pittsburgh made a point to hold onto future draft capital — now is as good a time as ever to take a look at the team’s needs and a sneak peek at the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft.
As college bowl season approaches, what players should Steelers fans be watching, and at what position? With the notable exception of quarterback — a position that’s never lacking media coverage elsewhere — Read & React has you covered:
Wide receiver
RB: Wide
receiver, once again, looks like one of the biggest holes on the Steelers’ roster — not just this upcoming offseason, but during this season, as Pittsburgh was connected to a number of pass catchers ahead of the trade deadline. Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan seemed to do a better job than in past seasons of reworking the team’s wide receiver room ahead of 2026 with the additions of Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard, but injuries, paired with with a unexpectedly poor season from presumed WR1 DK Metcalf, have things looking rough once again.
What’s interesting is that, on paper, there isn’t a lot of expected turnover in the room this offseason, with Ben Skowronek being the only name set to hit free agency. He’ll probably sign on a cheap deal once again as one of the team’s primary special teamers, but spots could open up elsewhere if the team decides to move on from less inspiring names higher on the depth chart.
Metcalf’s monster deal is still largely immovable — I doubt many teams would want to trade for it, and a release would yield $35.8 million and $23.9 million dead cap hits in the next two seasons, respectively. And while it’s worth noting that Michael Pittman Jr. hasn’t really played enough this season to look definitively good or bad as an addition to the Steelers, his recent extension is easier to get out of with “just” $15.1 million and $7.6 million in dead cap hits in the next two respective seasons. It’s definitely worth keeping an eye on as Pittman has had health issues and recorded just 89 yards through three games as a Steeler thus far.
Elsewhere, youngsters Roman Wilson and Kaden Wetjen certainly haven’t played above the possibility of future camp competition. Wilson seems to have turned a bit of a corner this season with a respectable 188 yards and two touchdowns in five games, but consistency and health continue to be an issue in Year 3. Meanwhile, Wetjen hasn’t done much to alleviate the concerns about picking a return specialist in the fourth round; he hasn’t provided much of a spark as a returner so far his rookie season, and he hasn’t contributed a single thing as a receiver despite the rash of injuries above him on the depth chart.
All of that to say, wide receiver remains firmly on the Steelers’ draft radar heading into 2027, where it could be as high as a first-round pick if the team wants to be a little forward-thinking (I’m bullish on Germie Bernard as a long-term starter, but not as a WR1). Especially considering the Steelers will likely be trying to support a young quarterback next year, building up a strong group of pass catchers should be a top priority with the offensive line rebuild largely in place already.
Names to watch:
Probably gone before the Steelers pick: Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Charlie Becker (Indiana)
Nick Marsh, Indiana
RP: Plenty of attention this college football season is being paid to Indiana’s other star receiver, Charlie Becker, but Marsh is the one that most intrigues me. Marsh would give the Steelers the size they were chasing when they acquired D.K. Metcalf, but Marsh’s playstyle actually fits with the vision of a physical, contested catch winner. Marsh’s catch radius is one of the largest in college football because he pairs his size and length with excellent body control and strong, reliable hands.
Marsh is also a willing blocker and plays the position with the kind of controlled aggression you typically don’t get out of receivers. His willingness to mix it up as a blocker would make the eventual transition from Metcalf smoother in multiple phases of the game.
Jackson Harris, LSU
RP: Harris was not a featured prospect on any draft lists heading into this college season, but he’s certainly grabbed draftniks’ attention now with a breakout year at LSU. After spending his first two years toiling on the bench for Stanford, Harris transferred to Hawaii for the 2025 season, where he turned 49 receptions into 963 yards and 12 touchdowns. That made him an intriguing portal candidate for top programs, and he hasn’t slowed down for the Tigers in 2026.
Listed at 6’2 and 205 pounds, Harris’ build and playstyle are reminiscent of recent Tiger greats: Ja’Marr Chase and Malik Nabers. While I don’t expect Harris to be drafted within the first six picks like they were, it’s hard to watch him play and not think of him as a player cut from the same cloth. Truly a Ferrari on the field.
He’s totaled 47 receptions for 800 yards and seven touchdowns thus far. With LSU already suffering three losses, the Tigers are longshots to make the playoffs. But with games against No. 6 Texas, No. 8 Tennessee, and Arkansas still on the slate, he has a chance to leave a lasting impression regardless of what the postseason looks like for LSU.
Reed Harris, Arizona State
RP: After three seasons at Boston College, Harris transferred across the country to Arizona State, where he quickly became the Sun Devils’ top target. Listed at 6’5 and 220 pounds, Harris cuts an imposing figure and has all the looks of a classic X-receiver. He leads the Big 12 in receiving yards (907) and is second in touchdowns (9). He’s managed this despite three different quarterbacks garnering starts for Arizona State this season.
Harris projects primarily as a deep threat on the outside, but he offers some versatility too, as 20.8% of his snaps this season have come from the slot. With his size, he’s not going to run a blazing 40-time, but he shows good pacing and change of direction for someone of his build, and he possesses some yards-after-the-catch upside.
Other names to watch
- Cam Coleman, Texas
- KJ Duff, Rutgers (though he will miss the rest of the season due to injury)
- Amare Thomas, Houston
- Anthony Evans III, Mississippi State
- Omarion Miller, Arizona State
- Junior Sherrill, Vanderbilt
Cornerbacks
RB: Besides the offensive and defensive lines, cornerback is probably the position you could argue teams should pick every draft. Good cornerbacks are hard to find and expensive to keep around. Even high-end corners can be incredibly volatile, and they get hurt quite a bit. Teams have a lot of corners on the field at all times and cycle through their depth every season. The point: The draft is a numbers game; take a gamble on corners you like often.
The Steelers have a greater need at the position than previously expected after unexpectedly failing to reach an agreement with Joey Porter Jr. ahead of 2026. Now, the fate of the cornerback room has been left in the hands of free-agent addition Jamel Dean (30 years old, injured a lot), Asante Samuel Jr. (impending free agent, volatile) and Daylen Everette (the Steelers’ latest rookie gamble).
Frankly, the Pittsburgh secondary has held up surprisingly well this season without Porter, but not to the point of inspiring long-term confidence. Everette has performed well considering he was thrown into the fire and is probably a solid starter down the road. But Samuel, Brandin Echols, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Terrell Smith are all impending free agents on certainly not must-re-signs. Jalen Ramsey has had a resurgence under coordinator Patrick Graham this season, but he’s 32 and will just continue to play a more specialized, less-cornerback-heavy role in the future. Dean has been a rock-solid starter when healthy but has just one year left on his deal.
Pittsburgh could be looking for a lot of help at cornerback this offseason, even searching for a new boundary CB1 through the draft or free agency. Some depth in the slot behind Ramsey would be a plus, as would an infusion of zone/man talent that allows Graham to be more creative in his coverages.
Dean and Ramsey’s play probably won’t drop off a cliff after this season, and Everette gives the cornerback room an exciting, young talent. In 2027, the Steelers’ cornerback room doesn’t look like it’s in horrible shape, but the Steelers have some work to do to replace the talent lost in Porter.
Names to watch:
Probably gone before the Steelers pick: Leonard Moore (Notre Dame)
Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia
RP: Watch Robinson play, and the trait that immediately jumps off the tape is his aggressive mentality. Robinson is not afraid to mix it up and get involved as a tackler. At 6’0 and 180 pounds, he likely needs to add weight to survive in the NFL with that level of aggression, but you can’t coach that attitude into a player, which should make him appealing to an NFL coaching staff.
On the season, Robinson has allowed just 17 receptions for 175 yards. He’s had two interceptions and six pass breakups, and created one pressure on two pass-rushing snaps.
It should also be noted that the Steelers are a team that will often pursue former teammates to pair together. With Daylen Everette already in the fold, adding Robinson would give the Steelers two young corners with some coverage and communication chemistry already in place.
Ashton Hampton, Clemson
RP: While Robinson is an aggressive tackler, Hampton might take the cake as the most aggressive, and usually successful, attacker of the football in the air. Hampton has 22 career pass breakups, including 12 this season, to go with five career interceptions.
Listed at 6’2 and 205 pounds, Hampton has prototypical size for a modern cornerback. He’s also a willing participant against the run. This season, Hampton has allowed 17 receptions against 45 targets for 218 yards.
Zabien Brown, Alabama
RP: Listed at 6’2 and 196 pounds, I’d put Brown a tier or two below Robinson and Hampton at the moment, but he’s got plenty of physical tools that could have scouts believing his best football is still ahead of him.
Brown has played a ton of off coverage zone concepts at Alabama, which could make him a fit for Patrick Graham’s defense. He’s only been targeted 25 times this season, which is significantly lower than his previous two seasons. In three seasons, Brown is allowing just a 50% catch rate. His tackling has been an issue this year (eight missed tackles), but he had just six across 1,266 snaps in 2025 and 2024, so I’m optimistic that he can return to form as a tackler.
Other names to watch
- Kelley Jones, Mississippi State
- Jamari Sharpe, Indiana
- Jalen Mayo, Houston
- Ja’Bril Rawls, Florida State
- Xavier Scott, Illinois
- Zeke Berry, Michigan
- Jyaire Hill, Michigan
- Chris Peal, Syracuse
- Brice Pollock, Texas Tech
- Andrew Marshall, Nebraska
Safety
RB: Robert Spears-Jennings has been a nice surprise this season, but a seventh-round rookie turning into a solid role player and potential future starter doesn’t save what is ultimately a worrying safety group in this season and beyond.
Free agent signing Jaquan Brisker is on a one-year deal, and while his physicality has been a solid addition to the Pittsburgh secondary, his coverage ability hasn’t risen to the occasion — not to rehash what is now a year-and-a-half-old trade, but Pittsburgh still hasn’t found a way to remotely replace Minkah Fitzpatrick on the back end.
DeShon Elliott might be a bit forgotten this season; he’s still just 29 and has been a remarkable box safety over his time with the Steelers. He’s played in just two games in 2026 after suffering a season-ending injury last year, and hasn’t fully looked like himself after returning. After the bye week, if he can return to pre-injury form, he’ll remain a solid starter — but that would still leave Pittsburgh in desperate need of depth and free safety ability at the position, whether or not Brisker re-signs.
Safety still isn’t a high-value position, relatively speaking, meaning I’d put this position higher on the free agent need list than the draft board. Still, it’s without a doubt one of Pittsburgh’s biggest roster needs entering the offseason, and fans have seen enough busted coverages post-Fitzpatrick to know it’s still a position that matters quite a bit. Safety could be a sleeper for the Steelers’ first-round pick if more premium positions aren’t available, although it’s far too early to be making any sort of draft predictions.
Names to watch:
KJ Bolden, Georgia
RP: There’s a chance that Bolden is long gone by the time the Steelers pick. But safety is a hard position to project, because even when there is an obvious first-round talent, teams rarely want to pay a premium price for them. That’s why I’m including Bolden even though I have excluded the top-ranked players at every other position we’re examining. If the Steelers pick in the low-to-mid 20s, Bolden could still be there simply because of this historical tendency. Also playing against Bolden is his listed size: 6’0, 195 pounds. For context, NFL teams had some size concerns about 2025 first-round safety Caleb Downs, and he was listed at 5’11 and 206 pounds.
Still, Bolden is the type of player that pops on tape in nearly every facet of defense. Whether that’s roaming the middle of the field:
Or even rushing the passer:
Jaylen McClain, Ohio State
RP: If the Steelers aren’t looking to pay a first-round pick at safety, McClain should provide a solid Day 2 option. Listed at 6’0 and 205 pounds, McClain played more of a centerfielder/post safety role as a Buckeye. That could pair well with either Jaquan Brisker — if the Steelers bring him back in 2027 — or Robert Spears-Jennings, and let either of those two be playmakers near the line of scrimmage, where they’re at their best.
A two-year starter, McClain has only allowed 24 receptions against 40 targets for 185 yards during his career. He hasn’t surrendered a touchdown in coverage, and has two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Kingston Lopa, Cal
RP: One of the biggest draft risers this season, Lopa fits the mold of the modern size-speed freak that’s safety by name, but can play multiple positions for a clever and creative defensive coordinator. Listed at 6’5 and 210 pounds, Lopa was buried on the Oregon depth chart for two seasons before quickly breaking out this season following a transfer to Cal. Lopa generated five interceptions during the first three weeks of the season, but has not had one in the time since, though some of that may be due to how Cal has moved him around the formation.
Other names to watch
- Tae Johnson, Notre Dame
- Dejuan Lane, Tennessee
- Jelani McDonald, Texas
- Ty Benefield, LSU
- CJ Heard, Vanderbilt
- Earl Little Jr., Ohio State
- Peyton Bown, Oklahoma
Linebacker
RB: Linebacker is a weird position group for the Steelers this offseason. For a while, this season has felt like the last one for the Patrick Queen/Payton Wilson duo as we know it, especially with the former being the subject of some trade rumors over the past year or so.
But Queen, on the last year of a fairly expensive contract in 2026, has stepped things up in Graham’s defense, as has Wilson, who still has one more year on his rookie deal. The fact of the matter is that it is near-impossible to be an elite off-ball linebacker in the NFL — the duo has certainly had some rough moments in 2026 — but both have been putting up good coverage numbers while their high-end athletic range has shined behind an excellent Pittsburgh defensive line.
There are always some good late-round names at linebacker, and it’s a position I’d love to see the Steelers add a rookie to just to add some depth behind the likes of Cole Holcomb (30 years old, one more year under contract) and Carson Bruener (primarily a special teamer).
But whether or not Queen comes back will determine just how big of a need this is for Pittsburgh this offseason. I’d still guess that he moves on in free agency, with the Steelers deciding Wilson brings a similar-enough set of strengths and weaknesses for a lot cheaper.
It’s rare to see linebackers go in the first round these days, but Pittsburgh is expected to have three Day 2 picks in 2027 and should be able to use one on a name with the range to start in the NFL if needing a replacement for Queen.
Like safety, linebacker isn’t a premium position in the modern NFL, but you still need two starting-caliber players to achieve anything as a defense. Steelers fans may be ready to move on from Queen, but it isn’t the easy decision some might’ve thought before the season. What’s encouraging for Pittsburgh’s long-term linebacker development prospects is that Queen and Wilson’s solid 2026 thus far backs up a larger trend of Patrick Graham consistently setting his off-ball linebackers up to succeed.
Names to watch:
Probably gone before the Steelers pick: Chris Cole (Georgia)
Sammy Brown, Clemson
RP: Brown took over as a starter halfway through his freshman season in 2024 and has never looked back. At a listed 6’2 and 235 pounds, he’s right in line with the size of modern linebackers. Brown is a sound tackler and instinctive coming downhill against the run or as a pass rusher. He has 192 combined tackles/assisted tackles and 81 stops in his career, as well as 36 pressures and 11 sacks.
He’s average in pass coverage and has the athleticism to improve in that area. That’s the one thing keeping him from being a truly elite prospect in the modern game. I’d expect Brown to be a second-rounder as of now.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Notre Dame
RP: Listed at 6’3 and 234 pounds, Viliamu-Asa is a wrecking ball of a player at linebacker. His explosiveness and violence pops on tape. He would be an interesting prospect to add to the linebacker rotation against the run or as a pass rusher.
Tony Rojas, Penn State
RP: Of the three listed here, Rojas provides the most upside currently in pass coverage. A rangy linebacker, Rojas could be molded into a Patrick Queen replacement should the Steelers decide to let the veteran walk in free agency.
Other names to watch
- Sammy Omosigho, UCLA
- TJ Dottery, LSU
- Jerry Mixon, Oregon
- Whit Weeks, LSU
- Rasheem Biles, Texas
- Owen Chambliss, Nebraska
Join in on Steelers R&R by sharing your takes on this week’s topics. Feel free to pitch future questions in the comment section or on Twitter/X: tag @_Ryland_B or @ArmchairScout21, or email us at steelersreadnreact@gmail.com.
