The 2026 NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh! This draft season, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital, and their fit with the Steelers.
The Steelers have recently hit on several picks along the offensive line, building a strong core with Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick. However, a team can never have too much talent in the trenches. With
a potential starting spot opening up at left guard, would the Steelers consider taking one of the most reliable interior prospects in the 2026 class?
The basics on Emmanuel Pregnon
- Position: OG
- Class: RS SR
- Size: 6’5, 318 pounds*
- Age: 24 (still looking for official DOB)
- Projected draft round: Most likely a second-rounder with a chance to sneak into the back end of the first round
*update coming after NFL Combine or other official measurements are released
Offensive stats via Sports Reference
Emmanuel Pregnon’s scouting report
Coming out of Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Colorado, Pregnon was not rated as a prospect by either 24/7 Sports or ESPN. That led him to Wyoming for the first three years of his career. After opting out of the 2020 Covid season — Wyoming played just six games — and redshirting in 2021, Pregnon finally saw the field in 2022. He started the entire regular season at right guard, but kicked out to right tackle for Wyoming’s bowl game. That season built up Pregnon’s profile, and he would transfer to USC, playing there for the 2023 and 2024 seasons before one final transfer to Oregon for the 2025 season.
Pregnon is built both tall, wide, and stocky. He has an exceptional anchor, which makes him incredibly difficult for defensive linemen to overpower. When he does lose a rep, it’s often because he lacks top-shelf quickness, and when a defender is able to beat him in initiating contact, he can be caught off balance. As a whole, though, Pregnon negates a lot of his limitations with proper pad level and consistently winning hand position.
Pregnon has also displayed a keen eye and awareness in picking up defensive stunts.
And when he doesn’t immediately have anyone block thanks to the defense’s pass rush scheme, he’s happy to look for work.
In the running game, Pregnon provides power and a consistent push. He has experience in both zone and gap rushing schemes, starting with a zone-heavy rushing attack at Wyoming, then switching to a gap-heavy attack at USC for two seasons, and finally finishing with an Oregon team that used a fairly even split.
Pregnon isn’t the most gifted on the move, but he has enough athleticism to make his fits in zone schemes should Pittsburgh maintain the wide zone tendencies of the past few years.
Pregnon’s at his best, however, when he is able to help win an early double team and then climb to the second level and pave a lane for the runner. He’s also exceedingly capable of winning leverage on his run block assignment and then sealing the lane for the ball carrier.
And in general, a trait I love watching in Pregnon’s game is his feistiness and desire to put defenders in the dirt when he can, and to win so thoroughly the defenders start losing their minds with frustration.
Strengths
- Thick, sturdy frame with lean muscle mass and strong base
- Makes up for some athletic shortcomings with excellent hand placement and technique
- Active hands in pass protection to keep the rusher in front of him
- Powerful base and good pad level leads to a strong forward push, rarely overpowered and driven backwards
Weaknesses
- Can let defenders beat him to first contact
- Not the most agile, can struggle moving in space
- More of a pusher than a strong puncher, which can make him vulnerable to counter moves
What others are saying about [PROSPECT]
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Ultra-durable and experienced, Pregnon has the prototypical frame of a downhill blocker. He’ll get beat to first contact but usually reclaims the rep using well-placed hands, a broad base and upper-body power to displace and finish with authority. Range and foot quickness are average as a move blocker and lead to block leakage against slants. In pass pro, he leverages his length well and is quick to detect twists/blitz development. Long pass slides and forward lunges invite counters from skilled, sub-package rushers but protection isn’t a major concern. He’ll be an older rookie who projects as a good plug-and-play starter and immediate run-blocking upgrade.
Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report
Emmanuel Pregnon is a stoutly-built people-mover with a nasty demeanor, tools and tape to be a long-term starting NFL guard. Pregnon brings an enforcing mentality, with an affinity for contact, straining and finishing through the whistle. Reliable, stout presence in the run game. Pregnon can cover up, lift and uproot targets on base, double and combination blocks. Firm anchor and presence to pass off and pick up defensive line movement effectively, with pocket-clearing power when uncovered.
Emmanuel Pregnon’s fit with the Steelers
With Steelers starting left guard Isaac Seumalo, 32, due to be a free agent, the Steelers might need a new starter at the position. Pregnon was a four-year starter in college, including the past three at left guard. He has the size and ability to step in as a day-one replacement that can further cement the Steelers’ young interior group as a team strength.
Pregnon allowed just five pressures in 15 games in 2025. Whether it’s the increasingly immobile Aaron Rodgers or a younger, less experienced quarterback playing for the Steelers in 2026, Pregnon would help provide an impressive stopgap in the middle with Frazier and McCormick.
That trio could be just as dominant in the run game. The idea of Frazier and Pregnon side-by-side, road-grading running lanes for Steelers running backs should be enough to get any Yinzers’ heart racing.
Plus, Pregnon has the bully ball mentality that would instantly win over the fan base and further cement the identity the team has been striving for while building out its young offensive line. This profile showed clips from the Texas Tech game because that was one of the better defensive lines Oregon faced all year. He is how Pregnon responded after the game.
TL;DR: Pregnon is a well-built and highly experienced left guard. Both of those qualities give him a high floor as a prospect and the ability to step in as a Day One starter.
What are your thoughts on Oregon Emmanuel Pregnon? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
