Steelers Plot Day 2 Upgrades: QB, OL and a WR in Latest Mock Drafts
Philly snagged Makai Lemon in the first round, prompting the Steelers to take Max Iheanachor, and now ESPN's Matt Miller and The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner lay out four Day 2 targets for Pittsburgh (Nos. 53, 76, 85, 99). Miller projects LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier at 53, Iowa OL Gennings Dunker at 76, South Carolina S Jalon Kilgore at 85, and Georgia WR Zachariah Branch at 99, creating a QB-OL-S, and WR mix with Branch considered a game-breaker but with off-field questions. Baumgardner's mock has LSU S A.J. Haulcy at 53, Texas A&M DL Tyler Onyedim at 76, Kentucky OL Jalen Farmer at 85, and North Dakota State QB Cole Payton at 99, which critics say neglects WR depth. The piece notes Branch’s arrest risk and Steelers’ ongoing need for a playmaking receiver, as Pittsburgh prepares for a four-pick Friday.