Fit Report · AFC North
Pittsburgh
Steelers.
Priorities on the table and the names that fit best across all seven rounds of the 2027 Draft.
- 2027 Picks
- 9
- R1 pick
- #10
- Top need
- EDGE
- Division
- AFC North
Front office
Omar Khan
GM · since 2022
Defense, trenches, and character. Classic Steelers identity.
Cap situation
$13.2M
Effective space
- Dead
- $18.8M
- Contracts
- 76
Needs by priority
- 01EDGE★ top priority
- 02OT
- 03S
- 04RB
Why
Pittsburgh Steelers's current priorities begin at pass rusher (EDGE) and offensive tackle (OT). safety (S) and running back (RB) are the next groups that should be reinforced heading into the 2027 NFL Draft.
The Draft Bomb analysis · updated 1d ago · confidence 95%
The decision-maker
Omar KhanGM of the Pittsburgh Steelers · year 5
Defense, trenches, and character. Classic Steelers identity.
How he drafts
- Favored positions
- EDGEIOLDT
- Style
- balanced
- Reach
- moderate
- Trade-ups
- occasional
Track record read
Under Omar Khan, the Steelers consistently prioritize trench play, dedicating four of their last five first-round picks to the offensive line. They've shown a willingness to target LSU talent, with two early-round selections in 2025, suggesting a value placed on SEC production, yet also draft local with Kenny Pickett (Pitt) and Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State). While often drafting for need, they're not averse to a "reach" if they believe in the player.
The board · Rounds 1–7
Three names per every pick.
Only the rounds where the team owns a pick (per Tankathon). A blend of need plus best value on the board.
First round
3 names
KJ Bolden
Georgia
SHe brings that deep safety the secondary needs; the range and tackling volume are there, now let that "pop" explode in the NFL.
Carter Smith
Indiana
OTSmith is the starting LT the Steelers have been searching for, anchors a side instantly. Length will determine his ceiling, or he ends up an elite OG.
A.J. Holmes Jr.
Texas Tech
DLHe brings the interior versatility Pittsburgh's DL needs, an instant anchor with Pro Bowl upside if he improves his leverage.
Second round
3 names
Ty Benefield
LSU
SHe brings the range at safety the Steelers' secondary desperately needs. The big question, of course, is if his Mountain West pop translates to the SEC and then the NFL.
Anthonie Knapp
Notre Dame
OTGives them a swing tackle, but his home is inside. The OG tape is what the OL needs, that click-and-close is elite.
Will Echoles
Ole Miss
DLHe'd bring that 315-pound anchor the DL needs against the run. Pass rush ceiling is the big question, but the floor is already high.
Third round
3 names
Jelani McDonald
Texas
SHe brings that modern two-high safety they're looking for on the backend. His range is top-tier; if he refines tackling, he's an immediate starter.
Lance Heard
Kentucky
OTImmediate RT fix; his anchor and 24 SEC starts on tape mean high floor, he's an instant starter.
Jayden Jackson
Oklahoma
DLHe brings that pop to the interior the Steelers need for their DL rotation. Starter ceiling if he improves shedding blocks.
Roster · Ourlads starters
Projected starting lineup
Quarterback
- QBAaron Rodgers#8
Backfield
- FBRiley Nowakowski#37
- RBJaylen Warren#30
Receivers
- LWRDK Metcalf#4
- RWRMichael Pittman Jr.#11
- SWRRoman Wilson#14
Tight end
- TEPat Freiermuth#88
Offensive line
- CZach Frazier#54
- LGMason McCormick#66
- LTTroy Fautanu#76
- RGSpencer Anderson#74
- RTDylan Cook#60
Source: Ourlads · updated today
Five-year history
What the front office has drafted
2026
10 names
- R1#21M. IheanachorOT
- R2#47G. BernardWR
- R3#76D. AllarQB
- R3#85D. EveretteCB
- R3#96G. DunkerOT
- R4#121K. WetjenWR
- R5#169R. NowakowskiTE
- R6#210G. RubioDL
- R7#224R. Spears-JenningsS
- R7#230E. HeidenreichFB
2025
7 names
- R1#21D. HarmonDT
- R3#83K. JohnsonRB
- R4#123J. SawyerEDGE
- R5#164Y. BlackDT
- R6#185W. HowardQB
- R7#226C. BruenerLB
- R7#229D. KentCB
2024
7 names
- R1#20T. FautanuIOL
- R2#51Z. FrazierIOL
- R3#84R. WilsonWR
- R3#98P. WilsonLB
- R4#119M. McCormickIOL
- R6#178L. LeeDL
- R6#195R. WattsS
2023
7 names
- R1#14B. JonesIOL
- R2#32J. Porter Jr.CB
- R2#49K. BentonDT
- R3#93D. WashingtonTE
- R4#132N. HerbigLB
- R7#241C. TriceCB
- R7#251S. AndersonIOL
2022
7 names
- R1#20K. PickettQB
- R2#52G. PickensWR
- R3#84D. LealDT
- R4#138C. Austin IIIWR
- R6#208C. HeywardTE
- R7#225M. RobinsonLB
- R7#241C. OladokunQB
Keep hunting
