Steelers Now
A new mock draft from Field Yates of ESPN has the Pittsburgh Steelers passing on a quarterback and instead taking a wide receiver in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The latest ESPN mock draft, which has the Steelers picking at No. 20 with their current position in the NFL playoff picture, has the Steelers selecting USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with their first-round pick, despite one of the top quarterbacks remaining on the board.
Yates projected a trade up to No. 1 overall for the New York Jets, who took Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and had Oregon quarterback Dante Moore going at No. 2 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The early run on quarterbacks is not unexpected, but when the Steelers came to draft at No. 20, there was still one of the top prospects available: Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
Instead of taking Simpson, Yates has the Steelers going for a receiver instead, landing the highly touted Lemon, who Yates referred to as a “certified baller” despite only average size at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds.
Yates has Simpson going later in the first round, to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 31 overall. Simpson has been one of the big risers of the quarterback class, though his play down the stretch run of Alabama’s season has been lacking. Simpson will get at least one more opportunity to prove himself, with the Crimson Tide securing a berth in the 2026 College Football Playoff.
The Steelers have been heavily scouting quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft class, and that has included seeing Lemon and USC, with Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava currently a projected day two pick.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Latest ESPN Mock Draft Has Steelers Passing on QB for WR
