We are now less than a month away from the NFL draft. Pro days are in full swing, and players are coming to Pittsburgh for official visits. Using all the clues from this offseason markers, it is time for our annual post of guessing the Steelers first round pick in five tries:
1. Vega Ioane G – PennSt.
This is the point where need meets best player available. If you have listened to the Steelers Sanctuary Podcast at all, you would know I believe this is one of the best players in the entire draft. https://youtube.com/@steelerssanctuary1072?si=hWsFleyBqOO0YU-9
The only reason Vega Ioane would be available at all to the Steelers at 21 is positional value at guard. This is where the Steelers are fortunate. Ioanne is far and away the best prospect at guard, and that just so happens to be the team’s biggest need. This is a 6’4″, 320 pound mauler who would fit perfectly into the Steelers offensive line. If Vega Ioane is available at pick 21, the Steelers should sprint the card up with his name on it!
2. Omar Cooper Jr. WR – Indiana
Omar Cooper Jr. has one question to answer, how athletic is he? Well he passed that test with flying colors at the combine. Cooper ran a 4.47/40 yard dash, with a 37″ vertical leading to a very respectable 8.84 RAS score. Cooper has elite ball skills, and is an ultra competitor who shows up in big moments. This is a player who would fit seamlessly into the Steelers wide receiver room. Cooper met with the Steelers at the combine, confirming interest from the team.
3. KC Concepcion WR – Texas A+M
What the Steelers offense really needs more than anything is more home run hitting type weapons. With that in mind, it would be hard to find a better candidate for that than KC Concepcion. Concepcion averaged 15 yards per reception with 9 touchdowns for the Aggies in 2026. Add that to the fact that he is also a dynamic punt returner with two touchdown returns in 2026. We await his Pro Day results on March 25th to get his testing numbers. Unfortunately if he tests the way most expect, it could take him out of the Steelers range at 21. Concepcion also met with the Steelers at the combine.
4. Jacob Rodriguez LB – Texas Tech
Linebacker may not seem a top need for the Steelers as of now, but there are signs the team isn’t crazy about their linebacker room. Rumors were hot and heavy that Patrick Queen was on his way to Dallas via trade before the deal apparently fell through. Cutting or trading Queen would save the team $11 million on the cap.
Jacob Rodriguez is the type of green dot star linebacker the Steelers have been chasing since the Ryan Shazier injury. He had a monster final season at Texas Tech amassing 128 tackles, 1 sack, 4 interceptions, and 7 forced fumbles. This a plug and play star at linebacker the Steelers may find too good to pass up.
5. Keionte Scott CB – Miami
Feel like I needed a secondary player here, but figuring out which type is a struggle. The biggest mystery in the Steelers secondary is where Jalen Ramsey fits. Is he the slot corner? The free safety? No one is really sure at this point. Keionte Scott is an elite slot corner prospect who would fill out the Steelers corner room quite nicely. His tape speaks for itself, and depending on who you believe he ran a sub 4.3/40 at his Pro Day. This is yet another player. who the Steelers met with at the combine as well.