The Steelers have work to do this offseason-plain and simple. With free agency looming and the 2026 NFL Draft just 80 days out, the front office is staring down a long to-do list if Pittsburgh wants to stay competitive in a loaded AFC.
The good news? Most of the core is under contract.
The challenge? Filling key gaps on an aging roster that’s losing some notable names.
Among the most impactful free agents are Aaron Rodgers, Isaac Seumalo, and team MVP Kenneth Gainwell. That’s a trio of experience, leadership, and production potentially walking out the door. And while the team has some young talent to build around, there’s no sugarcoating the fact that Pittsburgh needs help at several premium positions-quarterback, wide receiver, left guard, cornerback, and safety, just to name a few.
In his latest two-round mock draft, ESPN’s Matt Miller has the Steelers addressing one of those needs early, projecting Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell as their first-round pick. It’s a move that would double down on a position they’ve already invested in-Joey Porter Jr. is quickly becoming a star-but also one that makes sense given the current depth chart.
“Terrell is a savvy cover man with fantastic short-area quickness and fast eyes,” Miller said. And that tracks.
At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Terrell might not jump off the page physically, but he’s got the traits that translate-fluid hips, elite burst, and a knack for staying glued to receivers in man coverage. He didn’t tally an interception this past season, but he made his presence felt in other ways: 48 tackles, five forced fumbles (a career high), three sacks, and a fumble recovery across 12 games.
He also comes with bloodlines. Terrell is the younger brother of A.J.
Terrell Jr., and he’s shown the same kind of instincts and toughness that run in the family. While he sat out Clemson’s Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Penn State, his body of work over three seasons under Dabo Swinney speaks for itself-three career interceptions and a reputation as a technician in the secondary.
Miller acknowledged that quarterback will be a hot topic at pick No. 21, and rightfully so. But he cautioned against forcing the issue, referencing the 2022 selection of Kenny Pickett as a lesson in what happens when need outweighs value. If the right guy isn’t there, the Steelers are better off bolstering the defense.
In the second round, Miller has Pittsburgh turning its attention to the offensive side of the ball with Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch. And if that name sounds familiar, it should-Branch made noise early in his college career and capped it off with a breakout season in Athens.
After transferring from USC, Branch posted 81 receptions-good for 10th in the country-while racking up 811 yards and six touchdowns in his lone season with the Bulldogs. At 5-foot-10, he’s not a physically imposing receiver, but his speed is the difference-maker.
He’s electric with the ball in his hands and can stretch defenses both vertically and horizontally. That kind of dynamic playmaking is exactly what Pittsburgh’s offense has been missing.
Over three seasons between USC and Georgia, Branch totaled 159 catches, 1,634 yards, and nine touchdowns. He also flashed his special teams value with a punt return touchdown as a freshman-another layer to his game that could help him carve out a role early in the NFL.
If Miller’s projection holds, the Steelers would walk away from the first two rounds with a high-upside corner and a game-breaking receiver-two foundational pieces who could contribute right away. Of course, there’s still plenty of offseason left, and Pittsburgh’s approach in free agency will shape how they attack the draft. But for now, the blueprint is starting to take shape.