Pittsburgh a winner with NFL Draft production
How well the host team Steelers did in the 2026 NFL Draft, like any draft, won无毛视频檛 be determined until years down the road.
One grade you can give right now, though, is on the production itself.
The NFL Draft in Pittsburgh gets a rousing 无毛视频淎无毛视频� for that.
As for the picks themselves, here无毛视频檚 a wrap up of who the Steelers took each round and my initial reaction to each, admittedly after some quick research on the later-round selections.
Round 1, 21st overall, Max Iheanachor, offensive tackle, Arizona State: 无毛视频淲ait 无毛视频� what? Are you kidding? Yeah, the Eagles stole Lemon the pick before but what about all those other talented wide receivers available?无毛视频�
Round 2, 47th overall, Germie Bernard, wide receiver, Alabama: 无毛视频淭here we go. Nice trade up. That无毛视频檚 what I无毛视频檓 talking about. Fits great with Metcalf and Pittman.无毛视频�
Round 3, 76th overall, Drew Allar, quarterback, Penn State: 无毛视频淎aaaaaaaaugh. Nooooooooo.无毛视频� (Banging head against wall).
Round 3, 85th overall, Daylen Everette, cornerback, Georgia: 无毛视频淥K, good rebound after Allar pick, needed another good corner.无毛视频�
Round 3, 96th overall, Gennings Dunker, offensive tackle, Iowa: 无毛视频淢ullet man, love it, tough guy, run blocker, move him to guard.无毛视频�
Round 4, 121st overall, Kaden Wetjen, wide receiver, Iowa: 无毛视频淩each. Yes, best return specialist in the draft which Steelers need, but wouldn无毛视频檛 this guy still be there like two rounds later?无毛视频�
Round 5, 169th overall, Riley Nowakowski, tight end, Indiana: 无毛视频淭humbs up, from winning team, moves into the departed Connor Heyward无毛视频檚 role, actually a fullback.无毛视频�
Round 6, 210th overall: Gabriel Rubio, defensive tackle, Notre Dame: 无毛视频淲ho? Fighting Irish guy, fine, didn无毛视频檛 even get invited to the NFL combine? Couldn无毛视频檛 you have signed him as a free agent afterwards?无毛视频�
Round 7, 224th overall: Robert Spears-Jennings, safety, Oklahoma: 无毛视频淒epth in the secondary never a bad thing.无毛视频�
Round 7, 230th overall: Eli Heidenreich, running back, Navy: 无毛视频淥utstanding final selection, versatile local guy from Mt. Lebanon, great moment, how can you not like this pick?无毛视频�
There were a few entertaining moments during the draft announcements on stage and here are two that stood out.
The Ravens sent out one of the many 无毛视频渋nternational fan of the year无毛视频� nominees who read off picks and she delivered a real zinger to Steelers fans who were, not surprisingly, booing the representative of their biggest rival.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檒l keep this short, like your postseason,无毛视频� she said slyly.无毛视频�
Ouch. A clever line that had me chuckling along with a few Steelers fans, although most others just booed even louder.
I guess the obvious response from a Steeler fan would be, 无毛视频淗ey, better to have a short postseason than none at all.无毛视频� The Steelers beat the Ravens in the final game of the regular season to snatch the last playoff spot from Baltimore.
A highlight for Steelers fans as far as draft selection announcements was actor Michael Keaton, a Pittsburgh native and huge fan of the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins, who came on stage for his team无毛视频檚 fifth-round pick and delivered it in entertaining fashion.
Walking out wearing a Steelers hat and twirling a Terrible Towel, Keaton said, 无毛视频淲ith the 169th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft 无毛视频� I hope it无毛视频檚 me, I hope it无毛视频檚 me, I hope 无毛视频� the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers select Riley Nowakowski, tight end from Indiana. Go Steelers. Beat 无毛视频檈m Bucs.无毛视频�
The crowd roared its approval.
Outside of the draft, there was much more to do in the vicinity of Acrisure Stadium if you wanted to entertain yourself in between your team无毛视频檚 picks.
If you like tasty food, there was a wide variety available at the many stands, from traditional American fare such as hot dogs and hamburgers to more extravagant international options. The lobster sliders found at one such place were outstanding.
You could actually wander inside Acrisure Stadium onto the field where one could try their hand at kicking field goals or visit the massive card shop that had sections for each NFL team.
Inside the NFL Museum were various Hall of Fame busts, a replicant locker for a top player from each team among other items with the biggest draw being a display showing a Super Bowl ring from each year无毛视频檚 champion.
I couldn无毛视频檛 help but torment my Chargers fan brother-in-law with a photo along with a text that read 无毛视频淒o the Chargers ever put their Super Bowl rings on displ- 无毛视频� oh, sorry, never mind.无毛视频�
The Bolts have never won a Super Bowl. The Steelers, of course, have a record-tying six Lombardi Trophies.
There was much more, too much to take in in one day. Fans from all over the country and world seemed to be having a positive experience wherever you went.
Overall the event, which drew an incredible record crowd of over 320,000 people for Thursday night无毛视频檚 first round, clearly was a rousing success.
So now the next question is, when is Pittsburgh going to host the Super Bowl?
Hey, unlikely as that may seem, the odds just got much better thanks to the success of this production.
Rob Burchianti is sports editor of the 无毛视频-Standard and can be reached at rburchianti@heraldstandard.com.