2026 NFL Draft: Steelers Look to Reload on Defense with Avieon Terrell, Add Speed with Zachariah Branch
The Pittsburgh Steelers head into a pivotal offseason with more questions than answers on offense - especially under center and at wide receiver. But in ESPN’s latest 2026 NFL mock draft, Mike McCarthy’s squad is projected to double down on defense first, selecting Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the 21st overall pick.
And it’s a move that makes a lot of sense.
Pittsburgh already has a budding star in Joey Porter Jr., but the other corner spot remains a revolving door. The team cycled through veterans like Darius Slay, who started the year but didn’t finish it in Pittsburgh, and leaned on James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr. down the stretch. Both filled in admirably, but the Steelers are clearly in the market for a long-term solution opposite Porter.
That’s where Terrell comes in.
The younger brother of Falcons corner A.J. Terrell, Avieon brings a polished, high-IQ game that fits Pittsburgh’s defensive DNA.
At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, he’s not the biggest corner in the draft, but he plays with elite short-area quickness, fluid hips, and a press-man skill set that jumps off the tape. He’s the kind of corner who thrives in a system that creates pressure up front - and the Steelers have long been known for doing just that.
Terrell earned a 6.43 prospect grade from NFL.com, which projects him as a player who will become a good starter within two years. That timeline could be even shorter in Pittsburgh, where the opportunity is wide open. He’s coming off a strong junior season at Clemson, racking up 46 tackles and 11 pass breakups, and was named a third-team AP All-American.
He was the fifth cornerback off the board in this mock, following LSU’s Mansoor Delane (No. 10 to the Bengals), Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy (No. 11 to the Dolphins), Colton Hood (No. 13 to the Rams), and South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse (No. 15 to the Buccaneers).
Of course, the quarterback question looms large in Pittsburgh. With the Kenny Pickett experiment still fresh in everyone’s mind, the Steelers appear to be taking a more measured approach this time around.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson was still on the board but ended up going to the Jets at No. 44.
That decision - to pass on a QB early - suggests Pittsburgh isn’t looking to reach just to fill a need. They’ve been down that road before.
Instead, they turned their attention to the offensive side of the ball in Round 2, landing Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch with the 53rd pick.
Branch brings something the Steelers have sorely lacked: explosive playmaking from the slot. He’s a burner with elite speed and the kind of open-field ability that can flip a game in a single play. Last season with the Bulldogs, Branch caught 73 passes for 744 yards and five touchdowns, showcasing his ability to create separation and make defenders miss after the catch.
With Roman Wilson (a 2024 third-rounder) struggling to find his footing and Calvin Austin III set to hit free agency, the Steelers had a clear need for a No. 2 wideout behind DK Metcalf. Branch checks that box and then some. He’s not just a complementary piece - he’s the kind of receiver who can reshape the dynamics of an offense.
Pittsburgh had other intriguing wideouts on the board at the time, including Washington’s Denzel Boston, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion, Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields, Alabama’s Germie Bernard, Clemson’s Antonio Williams, and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., all of whom were taken between picks 24 and 43. But Branch’s speed and versatility made him the right fit for what the Steelers need now - and what they’ll need moving forward.
So while quarterback remains a long-term question, Pittsburgh used this draft projection to shore up two critical areas: cornerback depth and offensive explosiveness. With Terrell and Branch, the Steelers are adding two high-upside players who can contribute right away - and help shape the next era of Steelers football.