Steelers Grab Two First Round Selections
by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published April 14, 2026, 4:51 PM
2026 NFL Mock Draft
- Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Big-framed passer with rhythm and command. Mendoza brings timing, poise, and enough mobility to stabilize a franchise still searching for long-term identity under center. Peyton Manning-isms are a positive trait of Mendoza.
- Jets – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Range, violence, and leadership. Reese is a tone-setter who fits the modern NFL sideline-to-sideline speed with downhill finishing ability. I must admit that I’m still very hesitant to think he is going to be what is being advertised.
- Cardinals – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Explosive home-run hitter. Love changes games with burst and vision, giving Arizona a dynamic offensive centerpiece. James Conner is 30 years old and Love change’s identity of the offense.
- Titans – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Long, disruptive edge presence with real juice. Bailey wins with leverage and closing speed and ideal for a defense needing pass rush consistency. Head coach Robert Saleh knows linebackers and do not rule out Sonny Styles.
- Giants – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Hybrid chess piece. Styles can cover, blitz and fits today’s positionless defensive evolution perfectly. Hope he isn’t the next Isaiah Simmons the Cardinals former No. 1 overall pick. Look back on his NFL Combine results and similar abilities.
- Browns – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Franchise tackle traits. Massive frame, elite feet and plug-and-play protector with Pro Bowl upside. Cleveland lands top tackle prospect with the sixth overall pick, that’s a win in my eyes.
- Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Instinctive and versatile. Downs is a defensive quarterback playmaker with elite football IQ and range. Could walk away being the best player from this draft class. He is a special blend of football player along with football IQ.
- Saints – Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
Compact power rusher with relentless motor. Bain collapses pockets and wins with leverage and effort. The recent news of the car accident may have some ramifications on his draft stock but talent wise he is top notch.
- Chiefs – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Length and ball skills. Delane thrives in press and brings the physicality Kansas City covets in the secondary. Hard to imagine that Trent McDuffie and L’Jarius Snead was once roamed the Chiefs defense is no more.
- Bengals – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Technician with toughness. Fano anchors well and brings a nasty edge in the run game and fits AFC North football.
- Dolphins – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Smooth separator with strong hands. Tate gives Miami another polished weapon who thrives in space.
- Cowboys – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
Explosive first step with inside-out versatility. Mesidor adds pass rush juice to Dallas’ front.
- Falcons – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Long and athletic tackle prospect. Developmental upside with traits teams covet on the edge.
- Ravens – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Ball hawk mentality. Thieneman reads quarterbacks well and fits Baltimore’s aggressive secondary DNA. I just think the addition of Thieneman along with Kyle Hamilton is something crazy scary for offenses to deal with. Especially with Trey Hendrickson coming off the edge.
- Buccaneers – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Powerful interior presence. Ioane mauls defenders and brings physical identity to the trenches. Really enjoy watching him and think the Bucs have one hell of a pick at 15.
- Jets (via IND) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Electric playmaker. Lemon is quick, sudden, and dangerous after the catch and ideal for modern offenses. Jets need all the weapons they can manage to obtain.
- Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Prototype tackle build. Freeling offers length, strength, and SEC-tested reliability.
- Vikings – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Steady, dependable pass protector. Miller brings balance and technique to Minnesota’s front. Brian O’Neill is 31 and hits free agency next season so Vikings have eye on future with the selection of Miller.
- Panthers – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Sticky coverage defender with physical edge. McCoy competes at the catch point consistently. As long as his medical is clean, he could go higher or possibly drop further down the board.
- Packers – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Power-based edge rusher with upside. Faulk flashes dominant traits when he strings it together.
- Steelers – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Competitive, instinctive corner. Terrell brings toughness and coverage ability and fits Pittsburgh’s defensive culture. Another piece alongside Joey Porter Jr. should provide the Steelers with a young secondary nucleus.
- Chargers – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Dynamic route runner with vertical juice. Tyson adds explosiveness to the Chargers’ offense.
- Eagles – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Big-bodied target with strong hands. Cooper wins in contested situations and moves the chains. Plus this should add some more spice to the current AJ Brown drama surrounding the Eagles.
- Jaguars – Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
Physical interior blocker with versatility. Pregnon strengthens the pocket and run game.
- Bears – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Underrated playmaker. McNeil-Warren brings instincts and physicality from a smaller-school background.
- Bills – Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
Interior disruptor. McDonald clogs lanes and pushes the pocket—classic trench presence.
- 49ers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon. Modern tight end weapon. Sadiq stretches the field and creates mismatches in coverage.
- Texans – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Big-play threat with size. Boston wins downfield and brings red-zone value.
- Chiefs (Via Rams) – Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
High-motor edge defender. Howell plays with urgency and flashes pass rush upside.
- Steelers (Via Broncos Via Dolphins) – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Elite size and raw power. Proctor has massive upside if he puts it all together. Steelers create some noise for home crowd by selecting two first round picks.
- Patriots – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Smart, disciplined defender. Allen diagnoses quickly and plays with SEC-tested toughness. I think Allen might slip of round one but the fit and need to hard to pass up for the Patriots.
32. Seahawks – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Athletic edge with upside. Young flashes burst and bend development could unlock high ceiling. One of my favorite Senior Bowl prospects Boye Mafe the defending champs for Cincinnati but Seattle does its best to add another valuable defender.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
