The pre-draft visits are all done in this year's draft cycle. And based on years past under Omar Khan, there's a good chance the team's first-round pick might have already visited the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
In each draft under Khan, the player chosen by the Steelers in the first round made a pre-draft visit to the South Side (Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Derrick Harmon). Of this year's crop of pre-draft visits, projected first-round players include Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano, Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
However, it's not just the first-round guys that should grab your attention. Looking back at each year, the Steelers have hosted several players that wound up either being drafted or signed immediately as undrafted free agents. In 2025, Kaleb Johnson and Yahya Black were part of the visits. In 2024, Zach Frazier (local), Payton Wilson, Logan Lee and Beanie Bishop (local, undrafted) were all brought in. In Khan's first draft in 2023, Joey Porter Jr. (local), Keeanu Benton and Darnell Washington all visited, as well.
So, take in this list of players. Based on precedent, there's a good chance you're already looking at three or four players in this year's Steelers draft class.
2026 PRE-DRAFT VISITS
• Markel Bell, OT, Miami (FL) (March 6) • Ephesians Prysock, DB, Washington (March 5) • Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati (March 16) • Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky (March 16) • Carson Beck, QB, Miami (FL) (March 17) • Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (March 17) • James Thompson, DT, Illinois (March 19) • Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State (March 20) • Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (March 20) • Tacario Davis, CB, Washington (March 20) • Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech (March 20) • Denzel Boston, WR, Washington (April 7) • Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State (April 7) • Skyler Bell, WR, UConn (April 8) • Jakobe Thomas, DB, Miami (FL) (April 8) • Jack Kelly, LB, BYU (April 8) • Makai Lemon, WR, USC (April 9) • Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo (April 9) • Martin Klein, TE, Michigan (April 9) • Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas (April 10) • Travis Burke, OT, Memphis (April 10) • Harold Perkins, LB, LSU (April 10) • Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (April 13) • Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas (April 13) • Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama (April 13) • Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State (April 14) • Beau Stephens, G, Iowa (April 14) • Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State (Arpil 14) • Drew Allar, QB, Penn State (April 15) • Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona (April 15)
LOCAL PRE-DRAFT VISITS (Do not count toward 30 pre-draft visits)
THE ASYLUM
Breaking down this year's pre-draft visits
The pre-draft visits are all done in this year's draft cycle. And based on years past under Omar Khan, there's a good chance the team's first-round pick might have already visited the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
In each draft under Khan, the player chosen by the Steelers in the first round made a pre-draft visit to the South Side (Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Derrick Harmon). Of this year's crop of pre-draft visits, projected first-round players include Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano, Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
However, it's not just the first-round guys that should grab your attention. Looking back at each year, the Steelers have hosted several players that wound up either being drafted or signed immediately as undrafted free agents. In 2025, Kaleb Johnson and Yahya Black were part of the visits. In 2024, Zach Frazier (local), Payton Wilson, Logan Lee and Beanie Bishop (local, undrafted) were all brought in. In Khan's first draft in 2023, Joey Porter Jr. (local), Keeanu Benton and Darnell Washington all visited, as well.
So, take in this list of players. Based on precedent, there's a good chance you're already looking at three or four players in this year's Steelers draft class.
2026 PRE-DRAFT VISITS
• Markel Bell, OT, Miami (FL) (March 6)
• Ephesians Prysock, DB, Washington (March 5)
• Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati (March 16)
• Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky (March 16)
• Carson Beck, QB, Miami (FL) (March 17)
• Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (March 17)
• James Thompson, DT, Illinois (March 19)
• Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State (March 20)
• Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (March 20)
• Tacario Davis, CB, Washington (March 20)
• Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech (March 20)
• Denzel Boston, WR, Washington (April 7)
• Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State (April 7)
• Skyler Bell, WR, UConn (April 8)
• Jakobe Thomas, DB, Miami (FL) (April 8)
• Jack Kelly, LB, BYU (April 8)
• Makai Lemon, WR, USC (April 9)
• Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo (April 9)
• Martin Klein, TE, Michigan (April 9)
• Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas (April 10)
• Travis Burke, OT, Memphis (April 10)
• Harold Perkins, LB, LSU (April 10)
• Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (April 13)
• Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas (April 13)
• Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama (April 13)
• Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State (April 14)
• Beau Stephens, G, Iowa (April 14)
• Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State (Arpil 14)
• Drew Allar, QB, Penn State (April 15)
• Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona (April 15)
LOCAL PRE-DRAFT VISITS
(Do not count toward 30 pre-draft visits)
• Khalil Dinkins, TE, Penn State (March 5)
• Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh (March 19)
• Jaden Dugger, LB, Louisiana-Lafayette (April 7)
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!