Pre-draft visitors often offer clues about which players or positions the Pittsburgh Steelers will be targeting.

In 2023, for example, the team’s top four draft picks (Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton and Darnell Washington) all visited before the draft. Last year, Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Payton Wilson, Mason McCormick, Logan Lee and Beanie Bishop visited.

In the weeks leading up to the draft, we’ll be tracking all of the visitors here. At the end of the process, we’ll break down what we learned.

As a reminder, every NFL team is permitted to host 30 players at their practice facility during the pre-draft process. Local athletes can also visit without counting against that total. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, that would include prospects from Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia, along with any who grew up in the Pittsburgh area.

Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

A five-star recruit out of high school and the sixth-ranked quarterback in the 2021 class, McCord started his college career at Ohio State. After three seasons (one as the starter), he entered the transfer portal and joined Syracuse for his final season. With the Orange, McCord led the FBS in completions per game (30.1) and passing yards (4,779) in 2024. Overall, he went 22-4 as a starter with a 12-1 record at Ohio State and 10-3 at Syracuse.

Draft guru Dane Brugler notes that McCord operates with “timing, touch and poise.” He also shows the toughness to stand in the pocket and an aggressive mentality to try to fit the ball into tight windows. However, those same attributes can be weaknesses, as he’s an average athlete who struggles to escape pressure, sails passes when he’s on the move and sometimes locks onto his first read.

Part of the reason McCord transferred in the first place was that Ohio State coach Ryan Day was looking for a more mobile QB. His experience in Acrisure Stadium showed his warts, as he threw five interceptions (including three pick sixes) there in a 41-13 loss to Pitt. Overall, McCord completed 66 percent of his passes for 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Graded a third-to-fourth round prospect, he is expected to be drafted at the end of Day 2 or early on Day 3.

Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas

A four-star recruit from Houston, Blue chose to stay in-state for college. Early in his career, he was part of a committee in talented running back rooms that also featured Bijan Robison and Jonathon Brooks. In 2024, the 5-foot-9, 195-pound back tallied 730 yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 134 carries (a 5.5 average). A dynamic weapon in the receiving game, he also led FBS with six receiving touchdowns to go with 42 receptions for 368 yards.

Blue brings experience in a wide-zone offense with 4.38 speed that shows on film, as he recorded three plays of 45-plus yards. However, he’s a bit undersized to carry the load in the NFL and has some ball security concerns after fumbling seven times over the last two seasons. Brugler rated Blue as the 21st back in a deep class and gave him a fifth-round grade.

Justin Walley, DB, Minnesota

A three-star recruit, Walley began to prove his worth early, as he started six games in his first season to earn freshman All-America honors. He went on to start four years at Minnesota, recording 34 passes defended and seven interceptions. Most of his experience came as an outside corner. However, at 5-10 and 190 pounds, if he can prove himself as a slot corner, he might have a longer NFL career. He twice earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. He played with a partially torn MCL in 2024, which might be why the Steelers wanted to get a closer look in person. Brugler gave Walley a sixth-round grade.

Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

As the ninth player on Brugler’s big board, Stewart is the highest-rated player the Steelers have hosted. He’s been a coveted prospect for some time, dating back to high school when he was a five-star recruit and the third-ranked defensive lineman in the 2022 class (behind only Walter Nolen and Mykel Williams, a pair of early round prospects this year).

Nicknamed “The Menace” for his tenacious playing style, the 6-foot-5, 267-pound Stewart’s athletic potential jumps off the page. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 10.0 makes him the most athletic defensive end among the 2,029 tested since 1987. Though he tallied just 4.5 sacks on 680 career pass rush snaps, he’s a much more productive player than those raw stats would suggest.

It will be very interesting to see how the Steelers view Stewart. Most consider him an edge defender, but he also played the three-technique, 4i, five- and seven-technique in the Aggies’ four-man front. Should he slide into the Steelers’ range in the first round, the next question would be whether they see him one day filling Cam Heyward’s shoes or T.J. Watt’s. He’s good enough that if he drops, the Steelers would find a way to make it work.

DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State

Coming out of high school, Giddens was a zero-star recruit that many schools thought would have to go the junior college route because of his poor grades. He earned an opportunity at Kansas State. Over the past two seasons (25 starts), he averaged 102.8 rushing yards per game and recorded 6.0 yards per carry over his career. At 6 foot and 212 pounds, he’s shifty in the open field but isn’t the most physical ball carrier between the tackles. Rated the 13th running back in a deep class, he could be an option for the Steelers in Round 3 or 4. They’ve hosted several backs in this range.

Jared Harrison-Hunte, DT, SMU

Though the Steelers have spent a lot of time evaluating top-end defensive linemen, they’re also exploring possibilities on Day 3. Harrison-Hunte falls into the latter category as the 27th defensive tackle on Brugler’s board and a likely fifth- or sixth-round pick. He was late to the game of football but eventually earned a scholarship at Miami. After five years in a rotational role, he transferred to SMU for his sixth season and proved himself a draftable player.

The 6-3, 290-pound interior defensive lineman, who played primarily the two/three-technique, recorded 6.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in his final year, showing the lateral agility of a former basketball player. His narrow build might give some teams pause, and he might need to play a rotational role in pass rush situations initially. But at this point in the draft, the Steelers would be looking for a bit of a developmental player. Perhaps they’d be sold on his upside.

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

As the Steelers wait for an answer from Aaron Rodgers, the organization is doing its homework on the incoming quarterback class. That process will continue this week, as the Steelers are hosting Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.

Brugler, rates Sanders as the second-best quarterback and his 34th overall prospect. Cam Ward appears to be locked in as the No. 1 pick.

The son of a Hall of Fame defensive back and mentored by Tom Brady, Sanders’ strongest attributes are his football IQ, ability to process the game and accuracy. One sign of that strength is that he was excellent against the blitz, with a QB rating of 137.2 against five or more rushers. Overall, he threw for 4,137 yards, 37 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in his final collegiate season. Sanders, who played behind a poor offensive line, has adequate mobility but is not considered a high-end athlete or a true dual threat. Though he is willing to target the middle of the field and shows good anticipation, his lack of arm strength is the biggest concern, especially on deep balls.

The Steelers’ top decision makers did not attend Sanders’ pro day. (Coincidentally, that was the same day they hosted Jaxson Dart.) However, scout Kelvin Fisher was in attendance.

In addition to Sanders and Dart, the Steelers have hosted Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough and Dart. Coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan also attended numerous pro days, where they visited with Ohio State QB Will Howard, Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, Texas QB Quinn Ewers and Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard.

The Steelers are searching for stability at the most important position after turning over the entire QB room in consecutive seasons. Whether the Steelers land Rodgers or not, the team knows its best path out of QB purgatory is to find a reliable, young passer.

“It’s not ideal,” Khan said when asked about turning over the QB room at the NFL’s annual meeting in March. “I’ll put it that way. We addressed it last year. We’re addressing it this year. At some point, we have to find the long-term solution, I’ll say. That might happen this year. It could happen next year. But in the meantime, we’re going to keep doing whatever we can to win a championship this year.”

Donovan McMillon, DB, Pitt (local)

At 6-2 and 205 pounds, McMillon led the Panthers in tackles in each of the past two seasons. He performed well at his pro day, running a 4.44 40, which would have been the fifth-best among safeties at the combine. He also did 21 bench press reps and jumped 35 inches in the vert. A Peters Township graduate from McMurray, Pa., he’s a local prospect who doesn’t count against the Steelers’ 30-player limit.

Brugler graded McMillon as an undrafted free agent, so if he plays for the hometown team, it would likely be as someone trying to compete for a spot on the practice squad or the back half of the roster. The body type and athletic profile could give him a shot in a special teams capacity.

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Harmon arrived at Michigan State as a 350-pound freshman. As he refined his game and his body, he transferred to Oregon for his final season, where he became one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in college football, leading all interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures.

At 6-5 and 313 pounds with an 83 3/4-inch wingspan, he’s a big, athletic defensive lineman with excellent lateral agility. Though he played primarily over the B-gap, he’s a scheme-diverse starter who can play anywhere from the one- to the five-technique, meaning he can play between Keeanu Benton and Cam Heyward or beside them. Ranked by Brugler as the second-best defensive tackle in this class and 16th player, he’s a likely first-round pick.

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

If the Steelers want to make a big splash at running back, Hampton is likely the best candidate in the first round. Behind Ashton Jeanty, who is expected to go early in the first round, Hampton is rated by Brugler as the second-best back in a deep class and the 29th player overall.

Hampton led the ACC in rushing in 2023 and 2024 (even after Drake Maye’s departure). Last season, he rushed for 1,660 yards with 15 touchdowns on the ground and added 319 receiving yards and two touchdowns out of the backfield to set a UNC record for all-purpose yards. At 6-0 and 221 pounds, Hampton has the build to carry the load as the feature back and the versatility to do it all. In eight of his 12 games in 2024, he racked up 25 touches or more. If the Steelers are interested, they’ll likely need to use their first-round pick.

Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State

Gordon burst onto NFL radars in 2023 when he racked up an FBS-best 1,732 rushing yards to earn unanimous All-America honors as a sophomore. However, his production dipped considerably in 2024, as he tallied 880 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. A productive pass catcher with reliable hands, Gordon also made 29 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown as a receiver out of the backfield last season.

Though he brings a solid 6-1, 226-pound frame and long legs, he does not possess breakaway speed, as shown by his 4.61 40-yard dash. He’s rated by Brugler as the 14th back in a deep class and projected to be selected in the fourth round.

Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

Amos began his college career as a two-star prospect but has consistently improved as he’s changed from school to school. After three seasons at Louisiana, he transferred to Alabama for the 2023 season before finishing his career with Ole Miss in 2024. In his final season, Amos made 50 tackles (four for loss), defended 13 passes and intercepted three passes to earn All-SEC honors.

At 6 foot 1 and 195 pounds and with 31 1/4-inch arms, he has prototypical length to play the position at the NFL level. While he played in several different schemes, his ability to play man coverage and Cover 3 should interest the Steelers. He’s also a willing tackler and has good ball skills. Brugler ranked Amos as his No. 93 player.

Elijah Roberts, DT, SMU

Roberts began his college career at Miami before transferring to SMU for his final two seasons. He immediately stepped into a starting role in 2023, where he led the Mustangs with 12.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in addition to 37 tackles, two PBUs and two forced fumbles. Elected a team captain in 2024, he tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles while starting all 13 games.

Roberts has played several positions across the defensive front but has been primarily an edge defender. However, it appears the Steelers are imagining him as a 3-4 defensive end in their base defense. His strength and power are considered his best attributes, which makes the move logical. He’s projected to be selected around the end of Day 2 or early on Day 3.

Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State

A native of Port St. Joe, Fla., Farmer stayed in-state to play with the Seminoles, where he became a two-year starter in 2023 and 2024. At a position where stats don’t always tell the story, he tallied 44 tackles and nine sacks over the last two seasons. At 6-2 and 314 pounds, he brings impressively long 35-inch arms and shows off his power in the run game. He also has some pass rush ability, as shown with those nine sacks.

Rated 88th on Brugler’s most recent big board, Farmer would appear to be a candidate for the Steelers on Day 2 or early on Day 3.

Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech

The Steelers have been doing their homework on a range of running backs and continued that process Monday. At 5-8 and 211 pounds, Tuten is a home run hitter with 4.32 speed, good contact balance and the ability to get to the edge on wide zone runs.

It’s fitting that he’s ranked outside of Brugler’s Top 100, because Tuten has been an overlooked prospect throughout his career. He was unranked by recruiting services coming out of Paulsboro (N.J.) High and initially enrolled at North Carolina A&T. After posting 1,363 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, he transferred to Virginia Tech. In 2023, he tallied 863 yards and 10 touchdowns on 173 carries. He followed that up in 2024 with 1,159 rushing yards on 183 carries (6.3 average) with 15 rushing touchdowns and two receiving TDs.

His eight fumbles in two seasons might concern teams, but his elite speed is enticing, he’s a scheme fit after running a lot of wide zone in college and has good pass protection skills. He would likely be an option at the end of Day 2 or maybe early on Day 3.

Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss

The Steelers have been searching for years for their long-term franchise quarterback, but rarely have they been in a position to find one in the draft. This year, the top two quarterbacks — Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders — will likely be off the board well before the Steelers are on the clock with pick No. 21.

Dart, rated by Brugler as the third-best available quarterback, might be the first passer the Steelers could realistically consider. Projecting when he will be drafted is a challenge. Some talent evaluators think Dart could be selected within the first half of the first round, while others believe he’ll still be available in the middle rounds. But what will the Steelers think?

At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, Dart brings good size and college production. He completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions during his senior season. He’s shown a willingness to push the ball downfield and the arm strength to make accurate second- and third-level throws, which helped him lead FBS with 10.8 yards per attempt.

In an Ole Miss offense with plenty of RPOs and designed QB runs, Dart displayed good straight-line speed and toughness to take hits to create. He also has been willing to stand in the pocket to make throws or scramble to create outside of structure.

Though Lane Kiffin’s offense was a perfect fit for Dart in college, it also has created some question marks for Dart in the evaluation process. Kiffin often schemed open the first read, and Dart operated almost entirely out of the shotgun. That has led many to believe Dart would be best served taking time to work on his footwork and adapt to full-field NFL progressions.

From a personality standpoint, many have praised Dart for his competitive mindset and character, something that coach Mike Tomlin often values. The quarterback will have the opportunity to show that to the Steelers soon.

Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State

Over the years, the Steelers have been successful when targeting mid-round receivers with high-end route-running ability and special teams talent. Noel is another candidate in this mold. At 5-9 and 196 pounds, he’s a sturdy slot receiver with reliable hands and suddenness at the line of scrimmage. With his extensive return experience, he can also be a threat with the ball in his hands, as he made eight catches of 50-plus yards over the last two years, third-most in FBS.

Rated 72nd by Brugler, Noel made 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. He’s likely to be drafted on Day 2.

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Though the Steelers seem most likely to use their first-round pick to target a defensive tackle, if they are looking to make an early splash elsewhere on defense, Emmanwori would be an interesting candidate.

At 6-3 and 220 pounds, he brings elite size, speed and length. That impressive frame shows up often for a physical, in-the-box strong safety who plays with the tenacity of a former high school linebacker. Emmanwori stepped into a starting role as a true freshman, led the team in tackles with 85 and has been a fixture in the secondary ever since. He again led his team in tackles in 2024 with 88 to go with four interceptions (including two for touchdowns).

Though he’s been a ball hawk at times, he’s more suited for a strong safety role. He played more than 1,600 snaps in the box or at nickel, which would give him the versatility to play both roles in the Steelers’ big nickel (three safety) packages.

Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Golden was already considered one of the best receivers in his class when he turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.29 40-yard dash. The number supports the tape, as the 6-foot, 195-pound receiver often created separation. Beyond just foot speed, Golden is quick in and out of breaks. After transferring to Texas for the 2024 season, he recorded 58 catches for 987 yards and nine touchdowns. He also brings extensive special teams experience and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2023 with Houston.

Landing Golden would take a big swing, as he’s expected to go in the first round, possibly as the top pure receiver off the board after the dual-threat Travis Hunter.

Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

In a deep and talented running back class, Johnson does many hings well that the Steelers should value. Playing in Iowa’s scheme, which relied heavily on outside zone concepts, he racked up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s also dynamic out of the backfield with 22 receptions for 188 yards and two more touchdowns. At 6 foot and 225 pounds, he also has the necessary bulk to carry the load as a lead back. One knock on Johnson is he doesn’t have the same home run hitting ability as others in his class, as he ran a 4.57 40-yard dash.

Still, ranked 35th by Brugler, Johnson is likely to be drafted in the second round and has starter potential early. Currently without a second-round pick, the Steelers might need to maneuver around the board if they want to target Johnson.

Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

The Steelers have recently valued what they call “Avatar” corners. At 6-2 and 198 pounds, Thomas is another lengthy corner in that mold. He uses that length to challenge receivers at the catch point and disrupt releases at the line of scrimmage. He’s also a willing tackler, something the Steelers say is important at that position. He’s also the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas, and we know the Steelers love NFL bloodlines.

From a schematic standpoint, Thomas played a lot of man coverage and quarters at Florida State. He has the right to frame to be a disruptive press-man corner. However, some question whether his speed will cap his potential in that area. He’s rated 42nd by Brugler and is expected to be drafted on Day 2.

Gavin Bartholomew, TE, Pitt (local)

At 6-5 and 250 pounds, Bartholomew projects as an inline tight end in the NFL. A Pitt captain in 2024, he recorded 38 catches for 322 yards and four touchdowns. He was selected to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, where the Steelers often like to find talent. He projects as a late Day 3 pick.

Ben Sauls, K, Pitt (local)

Acrisure Stadium is widely considered one of the toughest environments for a kicker. On Tuesday, the Steelers hosted one who is quite familiar with the environment, when they welcomed Pitt’s left-footed specialist Ben Sauls.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound place kicker was one of college football’s best last season. He was perfect on extra points (44 of 44) and connected on 21 of 24 field goals. His performance was better than those stats suggest, as he made six of seven field goals from 50-plus yards (85.7 percent). That included a 58-yard field goal against California to tie the school record. All three of his misses were from long range — a 59-yarder, a 47-yarder and a blocked 45-yarder.

Because this is a local visit, it doesn’t count against the Steelers’ 30-player allotment. Considering Chris Boswell is signed through 2026 and is one of the best kickers in the NFL, it would be surprising to see the Steelers spend a draft pick on a kicker. But maybe if Sauls goes undrafted, Pittsburgh would give him an opportunity in camp. Odds are, another team with a greater need at the position will be enticed by Sauls and could offer him a better opportunity.

Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

A bit of a late bloomer, Higgins was a two-star prospect when he enrolled at Eastern Kentucky. The Florida native played two seasons there before transferring to Iowa State. After earning All-Big 12 honorable mention honors as a junior, he enjoyed a breakout senior season, posting 87 catches for 1,183 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, the second-best single season for an ISU receiver in all three categories.

Measuring 6-foot-4 and 217 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, Higgins played inside and outside in college. Many evaluators see his highest ceiling as a big slot. He’s a willing blocker, which would fit the Steelers’ identity, has a large catch radius and good hands. One of the question marks about his game is his explosiveness (which is part of why he might fit better inside). He might have answered that question, to a degree, by running a 4.47 40-yard dash at the combine.

Higgins also participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, where the Steelers often like to find prospects.

Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

The Steelers’ running back room began to transform on the opening week of free agency, as 2021 first-round pick Najee Harris bolted for the Chargers, Jaylen Warren received a second-round restricted free agent tender and former Eagle Kenneth Gainwell signed a one-year deal.

Still, expect the Steelers to continue to evaluate many options in a deep and talented running back class that features something for everyone. In my mock draft 1.0, I projected Sampson to the Steelers in the third round.

A track star in high school, he was reportedly clocked at 22-23 mph on the Catapult in college. While it was disappointing that he chose not to run at the combine, he reportedly clocked a 4.42 40-yard dash at his pro day this week.

While he’s somewhat on the smaller side at 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, he was plenty physical and durable in the SEC, leading all ball carriers with 258 carries, 1,491 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns in 2024.

“I take a lot of pride in it because people didn’t think I could do it,” Sampson said at the combine. “A lot of people thought we should have went out and got another back.”

Sampson, who never fumbled in three years, doesn’t turn 21 until September. The Steelers often like to draft younger players who have more room for growth in the middle rounds. Sampson also seems like a high-character individual, as his high school football coach joked he had a higher GPA (4.4) than 40-yard dash time (reportedly 4.32 in high school). He also stepped into a leadership role early at Tennessee.

“Leadership doesn’t start with a position or a role on the depth chart,” Sampson said at the combine. “Coach (Josh Heupel) put me on the leadership council when I was a sophomore, the third running back coming off the bench. Guys like Joe Milton and the rest of the seniors trusted me to give the pregame speech my sophomore year even though I knew the very first place I would be (when the game started) was the sideline.”

Sampson would be a scheme fit, as he excelled in outside zone, but the question is whether the Steelers would prefer a bigger, more bruising back instead of another back with a similar stature to Warren and Gainwell.

Savion Williams, WR, TCU

If Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith likes Cordarrelle Patterson (which, we know he does), he’ll surely be intrigued by Williams, a 6-4, 222-pound joker who lined up at receiver, running back and wildcat QB. During his fifth and final season in 2024, he racked up 60 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 51 carries for 322 yards and six more TDs. He also returned 14 kicks for 312 yards (22.3 average) during his freshman season.

Though Williams is an explosive athlete for his size, running a 4.48 40-yard dash at the combine, the knocks on him are that he’s not a polished route runner and his drop rate exceeded 10 percent for his career. Even with these drawbacks, he’d give the Steelers an interesting wild card late on Day 2 or early on Day 3. Many Steelers receivers, from Antonio Brown to Calvin Austin III, began as returners before carving out a larger niche for themselves. Given his body type and potential, maybe the same could be true for Williams.

Yahya Black, NT, Iowa

The Steelers have stated their goal is to build a big, physical football team. Black, at 6-5 and 336 pounds, fits that mold. He also has 35-inch arms and a wingspan greater than seven feet.

A two-year starter at Iowa, where he played alongside Steelers 2024 draft pick Logan Lee, Black tallied 85 tackles (12 for loss) during the 2023 and 2024 seasons combined. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in each of those years and participated in the Senior Bowl, where the Steelers love to find prospects.

The projection is easy for Black, as he would fit as a nose tackle in the Steelers’ base 3-4 defense, which could afford Keeanu Benton the opportunity to bump over to the 3-4 end position. However, it might take time for that evolution, as Black is expected to be a Day 3 pick. He also would likely only factor into the base defense, as he offers little from a pass-rush perspective.

Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

A four-star prospect out of Chandler, Ariz., the 6-foot-5, 224-pound Shough began a long and winding college football journey at Oregon in 2018. After backing up Justin Herbert for two years, Shough ascended into the starting role in 2020. He completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 1,559 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions to lead the Ducks to the PAC-12 championship game.

He transferred to Texas Tech in 2021, where injury concerns emerged. First, Shough broke his collarbone in 2021. Then in 2022, he sustained another shoulder injury in the season opener. The bad luck continued in Shough’s sixth year of eligibility in 2023, when the QB broke his fibula four games into the season.

For the second time in his career, Shough transferred ahead of the 2024. He landed at Louisville, where he worked alongside QB whisperer/head coach Jeff Brohm. The marriage was a perfect fit, as Shough led the Cardinals to an 8-4 record in a pass-happy offense, racking up 3,195 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Shough is already 25, but he has several high-end physical traits. He has a prototypical frame, good mobility and one of the strongest arms in this year’s class. In many of his highlights, his ball placement and anticipation stand out, especially against zone coverages.

Brugler ranked Shough 59th in his most recent top 100. It will be fascinating to see where Shough is picked. He’s been rising up draft boards after strong showings at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine. He would make the most sense for the Steelers as a late Day 2, early Day 3 gamble.

JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss

Dating back to his high school days in Oxford, Miss., Pegues has been a freakish athlete, including when he posted a 4.79 40-yard dash and 34-inch vertical at 280 pounds at The Opening, a premier high school scouting event. However, tapping into that athleticism has been a process. Pegues began his college career as a tight end at Auburn. After his true freshman season in 2020, he transitioned to the defensive line in 2021.

That process continued at Ole Miss, where Pegues ascended into a starting role in 2023 and 2024, filling out his frame to 320 pounds. He’d likely fit the mold in Pittsburgh as a 3-4 defensive end or a rotational rusher in sub packages.

As you’d expect with a player who made a late position change, Pegues is not a finished product. That’s reflected in Brugler’s evaluation, as he did not land in the top 100. However, given his frame and athletic makeup, Pegues would be an interesting developmental piece if he’s available at the end of Day 2 or early on Day 3.

Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia (local)

The Steelers already went into their backyard to address their offensive line once, when they took Zach Frazier in the second round of the 2024 draft. Perhaps they will target his teammate this year. Milum, a 6-6, 315-pound athlete, began his collegiate career at right tackle before transitioning to the left side. He was part of a steady offensive line that led the way for the nation’s fifth-ranked rushing attack in 2023 (222.7 yards per game) and 27th-ranked rushing attack in 2024 (185.9).

Though most of Milum’s experience in college was at tackle, many believe he’d benefit from a move inside to guard. He’d be a possibility on Day 3 as a developmental piece with some positional flexibility in case of emergency.