The 2026 NFL Draft arrives in Pittsburgh itself April 23-25, giving the Steelers the 21st overall pick after a 10-7 season. With the Scouting Combine freshly concluded in Indianapolis and free agency just days from officially opening, one question looms for general manager Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy: Will Pittsburgh use its first-rounder on the offensive line?
It’s mock draft season and there will be a lot of movement surrounding potential 1st Round targets the Steelers might zero-in on. Analysts and fans will be lining up their big boards and wagering on being correct; lining up their personal betting voucher to out-smart computer simulations and each other. So, let’s look at the question about Pittsburgh looking at the offensive line.
The current O-line situation
Pittsburgh has invested heavily in the trenches lately. First-round tackles Broderick Jones (2023) and Troy Fautanu (2024) bookend a young core that includes center Zach Frazier and right guard Mason McCormick. Yet the unit is not bulletproof. We graded the offensive line for 2025 and noticed some cracks in the veneer. Jones was replaced by Dylan Cook and the Steelers saw more success.
Veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo, a key piece of the 2025 line, enters free agency at age 32 and is widely expected to test the market. The interior free agent market (guards) thins quickly into borderline starters or high-end backups, leaving the Steelers potentially shopping for depth rather than a franchise cornerstone in free agency. NFL.com’s early offseason needs assessment still flagged offensive line as one of Pittsburgh’s top five priorities entering the draft cycle.
Combine analysis
The 2026 offensive-line class arrived in Indianapolis ready to impress, and several prospects boosted their stock on Day 4 workouts.
Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, listed at 321 pounds, clocked a 4.91 second 40-yard dash (1.73-second 10-yard split) and a 9-foot-7 broad jump while flashing fluid movement drills, a quick pass-pro kick-slide and a solid punch – enough for NFL.com analysts to project him as a first-round talent and potential Day 1 right-tackle starter.
Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis and Kentucky center Jager Burton both earned “stock up” grades for their athletic testing and on-field fluidity, with Burton now firmly in the top-100 conversation. Other risers included interior prospects such as Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) whose violent hands and hip fluidity translated well in drills.
On the tackle side, ESPN’s pre- and post-Combine big boards still rank Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Utah’s Spencer Fano, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor as the class’s cream. Freeling and Fano tested as elite athletes; Mauigoa’s film alone keeps him in the early-first-round mix even without workouts.
Former Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker drew significant attention. Scouts couldn’t seem to get enough of the 6‑foot‑5, 319‑pound lineman from Lena, Illinois. Fellow Hawkeyes Logan Jones – who ran 4.91u 40-yard dash (that tied the best mark for an OL this year) – and Beau Stephens also garnered a lot of looks.
ESPN analysts noted the tackle group could produce as many as six first-rounders, signaling rare depth at the position.
Why would the Steelers go OL?
Aaron Rodgers‘ future remains unresolved, D.K. Metcalf needs complementary weapons, and the Steelers defensive secondary requires reinforcements. Yet the board could dictate otherwise. If Mauigoa, Freeling or Fano slides into the mid-20s – a realistic scenario given the tackle depth and teams ahead prioritizing quarterbacks or edge rushers – the value would be hard for a franchise built on trench dominance to ignore. Especially when consideration of current contract amounts being given to offensive linemen around the league with experience.
Several factors make an offensive-line selection compelling.
First, the Steelers’ identity has long been defined by physical, run-first football; bolstering the line protects any quarterback (veteran or rookie) and sustains their ground attack.
Second, the free-agent guard market lacks blue-chip options, so drafting a versatile interior or swing tackle provides insurance against Seumalo’s departure and future injuries.
Third, the Combine elevated several scheme-fit prospects – athletic, long-armed technicians who mirror Pittsburgh’s preference for movement linemen.
Finally, with 12 total picks and a draft in their backyard, the Steelers can afford to reach for premium talent at a premium position without sacrificing later-round depth elsewhere.
Ultimately, recent history (two first-round offensive linemen in three years) and the current Combine-FA landscape point to a real possibility rather than a probability. Pittsburgh’s biggest needs sit at skill positions and the secondary, but if an elite lineman falls to 21, the Steelers’ front office -historically desiring aggressive play in the trenches – has every incentive to pounce.
In a draft heavy on offensive line talent and light on surefire interior free agents, selecting an offensive lineman in Round 1 would not be a surprise; it would be classic Steelers football.