Steady but Not Spectacular Drafts for Steelers Omar Khan
by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published May 3, 2026, 11:49 AM
Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Classes Under Omar Khan
2023 NFL Draft (First Full Class as GM)
Round 1 (No. 14) – Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Became a full-time starter and flashed the ability to anchor the edge when technically sound. The Steelers are not picking up the 5th-year option on Jones, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Capable started has failed to become a Pro Bowl caliber option at left tackle.
Max Regular Season Games 51 | Games Played 45 | Starts 38
Round 2 (No. 32) – Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Prototype boundary corner with size, physicality, and bloodlines. Quickly developed into a tone-setter in coverage. Plays with confidence and patience traits that translate to long-term CB1 potential. One of the better picks with upside under the Khan era.
Max Regular Season Games 51 | Games Played 47 | Starts 41
Round 2 (No. 49) – Keeanu Benton, DL, Wisconsin
A free agent in 2027, Benton should fall in line with the status quo of playing his absolute best football to ensure a strong free agency. Snap increase from 43% in year one to 59% in year two for Benton should see a bigger role in the Steelers interior in 2026.
Max Regular Season Games 51 | Games Played 51 | Starts 40
Round 3 (No. 93) – Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Massive in-line tight end who functions like a sixth offensive lineman. Limited as a route runner, but his blocking presence reshapes run-game identity. Washington put together his best statistical season in 2025 with career highs in receptions (31), receiving yards (364), but with two career touchdowns, the Steelers have failed to utilize his size and athleticism in the end-zone.
Max Regular Season Games 51 | Games Played 50 | Starts 29
Round 4 (No. 132) – Nick Herbig, EDGE, Wisconsin
A rising star who is a bit undersized but explosive pass rusher with natural bend. Produced pressure in rotational snaps and showed a knack for finding the quarterback. High-effort, high-motor piece. Finished second on the team with a career-high 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback hurries.
Max Regular Season Games 51 | Games Played 45 | Starts 11
Round 6 (No. 195) – Cory Trice Jr., CB, Purdue
Length and physical tools are there, but durability concerns followed him. Developmental outside corner who flashes when healthy and that is what will either allow Trice to remain on the roster or eventually Pittsburgh will move on from him if he can’t remain healthy.
Max Regular Season Games 51 | Games Played 6 | Starts 1
Round 7 (No. 251) – Spencer Anderson, OL, Maryland
Versatile depth lineman capable of playing multiple spots. Not flashy, but valuable for roster flexibility and injury insurance. For a seventh-round draft pick, Anderson could walk away knowing the exceedingly passed expectations.
Max Regular Season Games 51 | Games Played 42 | Starts 11
2024 NFL Draft
Round 1 (No. 20) – Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Technically polished lineman with guard/tackle flexibility. Strong hands, good feet, and plays with balance. Projects as a long-term option on the right side of the offensive front. Missing 16 games as a rookie, he returned in 2025 to help give the Steelers confidence he can handle the job.
Max Regular Season Games 34 | Games Played 18 | Starts 18
Round 2 (No. 51) – Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Plug-and-play center with wrestling background and elite leverage. High football IQ makes line calls, and anchors well. Immediate tone-setter in the middle from the day he arrived in Pittsburgh.
Max Regular Season Games 34 | Games Played 32 | Starts 31
Round 3 (No. 84) – Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
A explosive slot weapon with vertical juice with speed and separation ability, isn’t what Steelers got after drafting Wilson. Up to this point he has been a big disappointment. A high ankle sprain derailed his rookie season and in year two he did little to give forward thinking to anything exciting on the horizon.
Max Regular Season Games 34 | Games Played 14 | Starts 4
Round 3 (No. 98) – Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
Athletic linebacker with range and instincts. Health was the only question entering the draft and he has appeared in all 34 games of the regular season and made eight starts. His bet abilities are in coverage and while he isn’t a thumper, Wilson has provided solid play at the linebacker position.
Max Regular Season Games 34 | Games Played 34 | Starts 8
Round 4 (No. 119) – Mason McCormick, OG, South Dakota State
Physical interior lineman with a mean streak. Dominated at the FCS level and carried over to the National Football League. McCormick has quietly established himself as one of the most reliable offensive linemen on the roster.
Max Regular Season Games 34 | Games Played 34 | Starts 31
Round 6 (No. 178) – Logan Lee, DL, Iowa
The Steelers selected Lee due to his high-motor with effort and discipline. Rotational depth piece with strong fundamentals finally was put on display last season after missing his rookie year with a calf injury. For a sixth round pick to contribute is all you can ask for in the NFL.
Max Regular Season Games 34 | Games Played 7 | Starts 0
Round 6 (No. 195) – Ryan Watts, DB, Texas
Unfortunately, one of the worst case scenarios happened to Watts, who suffered a neck injury in the preseason finale of his rookie season. It forced the talented defensive back into medical retirement.
Max Regular Season Games 34 | Games Played X | Starts X
2025 NFL Draft
Round 1 (No. 21) – Derrick Harmon, DL
Harmon is proving to be that Interior disruptor with length and power. He is built to collapse pockets and control gaps. A early-down anchor with upside as a three-down defender, Harmon is living up the expectations of his first round selection.
Max Regular Season Games 17 | Games Played 12 | Starts 8
Round 3 (No. 83) – Kaleb Johnson, RB
Seeing him and watching him at practice, makes you weak in the knees on his potential on Sunday’s during live action. That hasn’t happened and after his special teams blunder in the 31-17 loss to Seattle, Johnson was never able to get out of the coaching staffs doghouse.
Max Regular Season Games 17 | Games Played 10 | Starts 0
Round 4 (No. 123) – Jack Sawyer, EDGE
A physical edge defender with strong hands and effort, he finished with one sack along with two interceptions. More power than bend, Sawyer can set the edge and generate pressure with effort. One would expect he continues to in an upward trajectory.
Max Regular Season Games 17 | Games Played 17 | Starts 1
Round 5 (No. 164) – Yahya Black, DL
One of the day three prospects of the Khan era that might really become a valuable asset for the Steelers. Black is a massive interior presence, a true space-eater who clogs lanes and demands double teams. Development will determine ceiling.
Max Regular Season Games 17 | Games Played 17 | Starts 3
Round 6 (No. 185) – Will Howard, QB
Howard is an experienced college quarterback with size and toughness. He helped deliver the Buckeyes a National Championship during his final season at Ohio State. With the addition of Drew Allar and never attempting a pass in the preseason or regular season game, Howard’s upside is widely unknown. A Developmental QB with backup-to-spot situational starter upside.
Max Regular Season Games 17 | Games Played X | Starts X
Round 7 (No. 226) – Carson Bruener, LB
I got one name for you when describing Carson Bruener and that’s former Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane. Nearly identical in size and their athletic ability, I’m betting Bruener grows his game exactly along the same approach as Spillane. Special teams ace that has grown into one of the most productive linebackers in the NFL.
Max Regular Season Games 17 | Games Played 17 | Starts 0
Round 7 (No. 229) – Donte Kent, CB
No disrespect to Kent but I’m still not convinced the Steelers should have ever waived Beanie Bishop. However, Kent is a quick, undersized corner with return ability. Developmental nickel option with special team’s upside. His 4.3 speed and pure athleticism entices the mind into – What if!
Max Regular Season Games 17 | Games Played X | Starts X
2026 NFL Draft
Round 1 (No. 21) – Max Iheanachor, OL
The Steelers have used their No. 1 pick on offensive linemen in three out of the last four drafts. You can decide for yourself if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Iheanachor is a long, athletic offensive lineman with upside as a tackle. Raw technically but fits the mold of developmental edge protector with high ceiling.
Round 2 (No. 47) – Germie Bernard, WR
Incumbents, DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman are on the back end of their careers and Bernard will the future of the position for Pittsburgh. He is a smooth route runner with reliable hands. More technician than burner. Bernard is a chain-mover.
Round 3 (No. 76) – Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Watching his tape, you see a real competitor trying to do as much as he could to win. He is a big-framed (but skinny) quarterback with arm talent and mobility. Flashes high-end throws but struggles with consistency and touch placement. Development hinges on refining mechanics and decision-making, that’s where head coach Mike McCarthy comes into the equation.
Round 3 (No. 85) – Daylen Everette, CB
Three-year starter at Georgia, Everette is a physical corner with SEC experience. Plays aggressive in man coverage. Needs polish but brings competitive edge. Pittsburgh has a will find if he can carve out a starting job along side Joey Porter Jr..
Round 3 (No. 96) – Jennings Dunker, OL
Seldom is an offensive lineman drafted in the third round with such fanfare but that’s the reality with Dunker. If not already by the time he and the Steelers arrive in Latrobe, PA for training camp, Dunker should have a cult like following. The red haired mullet wearing no nonsense guard is a match made in Steelers heaven.
The red mallet Versatile offensive lineman with guard/tackle flexibility. Tough, durable, and reliable depth with starting upside.
Round 4 (No. 121) – Kaden Wetjen, WR
An Iowa Western Community College champion at the JUCO level, Wetjen exemplifies what it means to be a true gadget-type prospect. He is a lethal return specialist (2025 Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year) with the skillset to be used in a variety of ways on offense.
Round 5 (No. 159) – Riley Novakowski, TE
A former walk-on at Wisconsin, Novakowski is an all-around tight end with blocking capability and soft hands. Not dynamic, but dependable. I’d see him more as the guy to replace Connor Heyward who left via free agency to the Raiders.
Round 6 (No. 210) – Gabe Rubio, DL
Strong interior lineman with leverage and power. Rotational piece who can develop into early-down contributor.
Round 7 (No. 224) – Robert Spears-Jennings, S
Spent all four years of his college career in Oklahoma, Spears-Jennings has 4.3 speed and like Donte Kent whom they drafted a year before in round seven, provides Steelers secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. a ton to work with. He’s a physical safety with downhill mentality. Quickly could become a special teams contributor with developmental upside.
Round 7 (No. 230) – Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR
A most memorable moment when Heidenreich walked on stage in Pittsburgh after hearing his name called. To much fanfare he not he but the crowd embraced with this slot weapon out of the backfield.
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