Both things can be true. Iheanachor has a ton of unrealized potential and if he does, then this pick is a huge win. But if he fails to develop, this one could come back to haunt the Steelers.Grade: B-Second round) Germie Bernard WR - AlabamaThe Steelers traded up for Bernard based on his ability to do so many things on the field.

Of all the players in this draft class, Bernard might be the guy who gets on the field first and has the biggest rookie impact. The question will be how does head coach Mike McCarthy use Bernard and will they make an effort to get him the football?Grade: B+Third round) Drew Allar CB - Penn StateAllar will end up being the guy that makes or breaks this draft. You can rattle off all the things Allar does well but his sloppy footwork and struggles in big games could serious cap his ceiling.

If they can coach those things out of him, Pittsburgh has their new franchise quarterback. Overall, we will stay cautious and keep this one average.Grade: CThird round) Daylen Everett CB - GeorgiaIf you just saw Daylen Everett work out, you'd assume he was a first-round pick. But you put on his film and you might think he's a fifth-round pick.

The Steelers split the difference in the third. Everett's play against top competition isn't good and his ability to work back from bad reps isn't good either. Again, another very average pick.Grade: C+Third round) Gennings Dunker OL - IowaYou can nitpick that the Steelers technically drafted a second tackle in this draft but we all understand Dunker was selected to kick inside to left tackle.

A position we've said since the beginning of this draft process he can do. We will stick with that. Dunker could be the only Week One starter in this draft class.Grade: B+Fourth round) Kaden Wetjen WR/RETURNER - IowaWhile we appreciate the Steelers wanting to bring in a player who can dominate in the return game, doing it in the fourth round is a risky move.

Especially when you consider the wide receiver depth chart is already crowded and adding Wetjen means he's going to not only be called on to return punts and kicks but might actually have to play some wide receiver as well.Grade: CFifth round) Riley Nowakowski TE/FB -IndianaThe NFL Draft consensus board had Nowakowski as the 220th-ranked player. The Steelers needed a tight end but Nowakowski offers little beyond blocking as a sort of undersized hybrid player and feels like the team's attempt to replace Connor Heyward with another Connor Heyward.Grade: C-Sixth round) Gabriel Rubio DL - Notre DameThis pick made no sense.

Yes, the Steelers need depth along the defensive line. But Rubio was awful last year. In fact, he's never been very good.

And he missed the last half of the 2025 season with a back injury. He isn't even ranked on the consensus big board that lists over 600 players. We will be shocked if he makes the team.Grade: FSeventh round) Robert Spears-Jennings S - OklahomaSpears-Jennings is a somewhat limited player at safety but what he does, stuff the run, he does at a very high level.

His physicality and straight-line speed means he will at minimum be a star on special teams but we can see him as an early -down run stopper.Grade: B+Seventh round) Eli Heidenreich RB/WR - NavyThere was no better way for the Steelers to finish the draft than by picking Heidenreich. A Pittsburgh native, Heidenreich's addition is far more than ceremonial. He's a ridiculously good athlete and was highly productive given the scheme he played in. Even if he ends up on the practice squad at the start of the year, this pick is a win.Grade: AThis article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Full grades for all the Steelers picks in the 2026 NFL Draft