Steelers Might Double Dip at Surprising Position

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are keeping their plans and priorities under wraps ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. It doesn't take intense detective work to understand what positions the organization still must improve before the regular season, but aligning that with the organization's own draft board is nearly impossible.

Even in the first round, the Steelers might go in several directions. Positions like wide receiver and the offensive line stand out as the likeliest options, but defensive positions like middle linebacker and defensive line might force the team's hand at pick No. 21.

What people can all mostly agree on, however, is that the Steelers will likely double-dip at the wide receiver position. Needing more depth to fill out their roster, it's a great bet that the team adds two pass-catchers, but what if there's another position the team might be looking to invest heavily in? It's not being discussed, but tight end might be a position the Steelers are looking to reinforce, which could result in the team double-dipping at the upcoming NFL Draft.

Why TE Makes More Sense Than You Think

Let's look at the numbers. The Steelers have just two tight ends under NFL contracts for the 2026 season in Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. Aside from that duo, the only other tight end in the organization is second-year player J.J. Galbreath, who signed a reserve/futures contract and will compete for a roster spot.

At the very least, the Steelers need one more tight end to fill out their roster. In all likelihood, they need several more players at the position to bring into camp.

Let's talk about another number, the number twelve. The Steelers own 12 draft picks in the upcoming draft, seven of which come over the final four rounds and 157 picks. In that range, there are plenty of tight ends who have a few traits worth taking a risk on during day three of the draft.

That's why the draft makes a ton of sense for the Steelers to address the position. They can add much-needed depth and find some surprising talent deep in this class.

Sep 6, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Khalil Dinkins (16) celebrates in the end zone after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Florida International Panthers at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The TE Options That Stand Out for Steelers

A recent name linked to the Steelers in the early part of the draft is Oregon Ducks star Kenyon Sadiq. The 6'3" TE is expected to be a top-10 pick, but should he fall to the 21st, it will give the Steelers lots to consider with their first-round pick.

Day two and day three stand out as the time to add at tight end, however. The main question the Steelers have to ask is whether they want to add a pass-catching threat, stout run blocker, or both?

If they want a receiving option, there's plenty. Cincinnati Bearcats standout Joe Royer was a constant threat during his NCAA tenure, and he might not go until the third round at the earliest. Go further down the draft board, and there are players like Dae'Quan Wright from Mississippi, John Michael Gyllenborg from Wyoming and Shamar Easter from North Carolina.

If they prefer players who are more in the mold of Darnell Washington, there are two late-round targets that might end up in Pittsburgh. One is Penn State product, Khalil Dinkins. The Steelers have already shown interest in the 6'4", 250-pound player. Another option is Tennessee's Miles Kitselman, another massive tight end who showed some pop at the line of scrimmage.

The Steelers have tons of options heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. They are going to be aggressive, drafting the best players available to address their remaining roster needs. Don't count out tight end as being a major need for this team, so much so that it could be the position the Steelers double-dip in.

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