The Steelers don’t need to wait until draft season gets serious to start tracking names. With the college schedule rolling and a Week 2 meeting with the New England Patriots on deck, Pittsburgh has a handful of 2027 NFL Draft prospects worth watching right now.
One of the biggest names on that list is Ole Miss quarterback Chambliss, who has not quite reached the top shelf of this class but has plenty of time to climb. He gets a big test this weekend against his former head coach, Lane Kiffin, and No.
7 LSU. Chambliss opened the season by throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns against No.
24 Louisville while also adding 60 rushing yards and a score on the ground. He followed that up with 225 passing yards and two more touchdowns in a 41-9 win over Charlotte.
After helping Ole Miss reach the College Football Playoff semifinals last year, he’s shown the kind of playmaking ability that makes scouts take notice. He’s slippery with the ball in his hands, dangerous as a runner and has real arm talent, but his mechanics and accuracy were uneven at times in 2025.
If he keeps stacking clean outings, first-round talk is on the table.
Clemson wide receiver Wesco Jr. is another player Pittsburgh should have on the radar, even if the production hasn’t popped yet. Clemson has once again stumbled out of the gate, and Wesco Jr. has only 64 yards on eight catches through two games this season.
That’s a step back from the 1,245 yards and 11 touchdowns he put up over 19 games the last two years. Still, at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, he brings a downfield element that matters.
He has the speed to threaten defenses deep, has flashed route-running and separation ability, and could rise if he starts putting it all together. The concerns are there too - he’s not overly physical and the drops have shown up - but the tools are worth monitoring when Clemson faces North Carolina.
On the offensive line, Notre Dame’s Knapp deserves a close look. The Fighting Irish have a strong track record at the position, with Quinton Nelson, Joe Alt and Mike McGlinchey among the most prominent names to come through the program and succeed in the NFL.
Knapp could join that conversation if his stock keeps moving. He played left tackle in 2024 and 2025 before sliding inside to left guard this season because of a lack of size, and he’s allowed just one pressure through two games, according to Pro Football Focus.
He’s also continued to show he can move people in the run game. For Pittsburgh, the fit is obvious enough: right guard could be an issue in the offseason depending on how Gennings Dunker develops, and Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman are both set to hit free agency.
Knapp gets Michigan State this weekend, a chance to strengthen his case.
Georgia linebacker Cole is another name tied directly to a Steelers need. Off-ball linebacker stands out as a position Pittsburgh may need to address, especially with Patrick Queen’s contract set to expire after this season.
That could leave the team looking for Payton Wilson’s next running mate, and Cole has the kind of traits that can put him in that mix. He’s athletic, fluid in coverage and carries the kind of raw upside that has made Georgia linebackers such a reliable pipeline.
His run defense still needs work, and his play strength is a question, but the ceiling is real. He’s already posted six tackles and 0.5 sacks this season, and he’ll be on the field against Arkansas in a road matchup.
At safety, Cal’s Lopa has quickly become one of the more intriguing names to watch. Pittsburgh could have an opening there in 2027 depending on whether it decides to re-sign Jaquan Brisker next offseason, and Lopa is making a loud early case.
The Oregon transfer earned Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honors after intercepting Syracuse three times on September 12, and he leads the country with four total interceptions. At 6-foot-5, he brings rare size for the position, along with the athleticism to make plays in coverage and the ability to contribute against the run.
That kind of start gets attention fast, and it should have the Steelers - and plenty of other teams - paying close attention.
In Other News...
Steelers Hit With Two Costly Absences Ahead Of Patriots Trip
The Steelers head into their trip to New England dealing with a pair of absences that change both sides of the ball. Joey Porter Jr. is out while contract negotiations continue, and Michael Pittman Jr. will miss the game because of a foot injury, leaving Pittsburgh thinner at cornerback and taking away one of its receiving options before facing the Patriots.
Germie Bernard now looks set for a bigger role with Pittman Jr. sidelined, which gives the rookie a chance to make himself part of the conversation a little earlier than expected. For a Steelers team trying to stay steady on the road, the timing of these absences only adds to the challenge of getting through a tricky AFC test. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Wont Like What Joey Porter Jr. Might Be Worth
The contract picture around Joey Porter Jr. has become one of the more uncomfortable talking points in Pittsburgh, because the Steelers and the young corner still have not reached an extension agreement. For a team that has invested in developing Porter into a key part of its secondary, the lack of a deal has naturally led to trade speculation, even if nothing has been publicly finalized.
What may sting most for Steelers fans is the sense that the return would not match the talent or the expectations surrounding him. Early talk suggests Pittsburgh might only be looking at a second- or third-round pick if it ever got serious about moving him, which is a far cry from the kind of haul some around the league may have once imagined. For now, the situation is still unresolved, and the longer it drags on, the more it invites questions about where Porter fits in the Steelers' future. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Secondary Faces A Different Kind Of Test This Week
A.J. Brown landing on injured reserve changes the shape of Pittsburghs Week 2 assignment, but it does not make the Patriots passing game any easier to sort out. Mike Vrabel said Brown worked from multiple receiver spots, and with him out, New England is expected to spread those looks around, using players such as Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Romeo Doubs in different ways.
For the Steelers secondary, the challenge becomes less about tracking one featured target and more about adjusting to a receiver rotation that can shift from snap to snap. Browns absence removes a familiar centerpiece, but it also leaves Pittsburgh preparing for a more varied New England attack, which can be its own kind of test for a defensive backfield. [Read more 🡒]