One of the bigger questions heading into the 2026 NFL Draft is who the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the league’s most successful franchises, will choose as their next franchise quarterback. They’re already putting in the work.
This week’s NFL Draft Notebook highlights the quarterback Pittsburgh is tracking, a wide receiver who could be a great fit for Washington, and a few other names to watch.
2026 NFL Draft news and notes
Next Steelers franchise QB already on the radar?
With Aaron Rodgers confirming that this will almost certainly be his final NFL season, the Steelers are already looking ahead. One name to watch is Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, who the team has already scouted up close. Leavitt enters the season as the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was the only Power Four QB in 2024 to earn 80.0+ PFF grades as both a passer and runner. He’s an athletic pocket passer with polished mechanics, and his calm pocket presence has even drawn comparisons to a young Joe Montana. If he delivers this fall, he could be the future face of the franchise.
Commanders draft target
One of the top priorities for the Washington Commanders next offseason is wide receiver, especially if they can’t work out a deal with Terry McLaurin. Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown are both set to hit free agency, and there’s little proven depth behind them. A possible third-round target is Florida State’s Duce Robinson, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound weapon who would instantly become the biggest receiver on the roster. He’d give Jayden Daniels a much-needed red zone threat.
Impressive leg strength
Earlier this year I wrote that Michigan’s Dominic Zvada is the top kicker in the 2026 NFL Draft, and a big reason why is his elite leg strength. Last season, he set a Michigan career record in just one year with seven field goals of over 50 yards, including a long of 60. He’s continued to show that range this offseason, posting clips on Instagram of himself drilling 60-yarders with ease. On top of his distance, he’s also been ridiculously accurate, converting 96% of his attempts last season, another Michigan record. One potential landing spot for Zvada is the New York Jets, who are currently expected to roll into the season with 40-year-old Nick Foles as their starting kicker.
Expect a big year from Burks
Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks is poised for a breakout season. He was limited to just five games last year due to injury, but still managed to average 6.2 catches per game when on the field. If he stays healthy, which has only been an issue once in his college career, Burks should thrive in a much-improved passing attack led by quarterback John Mateer. As a pro prospect, he projects as a slot receiver due to his smaller frame at 5-foot-9, but he makes up for it with elite strength, including a 380-pound bench press and a 490-pound squat.
"Deion (Burks) is explosive. He’s a big play waiting to happen."Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuc
Top pass-catching tight end likely out for season
Ole Miss tight end Luke Hasz, a high-profile transfer from Arkansas, is expected to miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing ankle surgery on July 18. This is his second major injury in the past two years as he also broke his collarbone during the 2023 season. It’s a tough break for one of the most reliable receiving tight ends in college football. When healthy, Hasz has some of the best hands in the 2026 NFL Draft class and has yet to drop a pass in his college career.
High praise for Jaydn Ott
One of the most talked-about transfers this offseason is Oklahoma running back Jayden Ott. Sooners general manager Jim Nagy compared him to four-time Pro Bowler Jamaal Charles, saying, “He can get us out of some really bad spots, and he’s one of those guys we don’t have to block it for—he can create a lot of unblocked yards.” After leading the Pac-12 in rushing and all-purpose yards in 2023, Ott enters the year with a seventh-round grade on my board. If he stays healthy and returns to his 2023 form, that grade could rise quickly.
SEC sleeper
A sleeper to watch in the SEC this season is Missouri defensive end Zion Young. He isn’t even listed among the top 854 prospects in the NFL Draft by NFL Mock Draft Database, but I’ve got him with a fifth-round grade. What stands out is his combination of traits: elite size at 6-foot-5, 262 pounds, the strength to consistently set the edge in the run game (earning a 77.5 run defense grade from PFF), and surprising quickness for his frame. While he only recorded 2.5 sacks last season, the physical tools are there for Young to develop into a high-level NFL defensive end.
Maturity is a concern with this Kentucky prospect
One of the most explosive running backs in the SEC last season was Kentucky’s Jamarion Wilcox, who averaged 6.5 yards per carry and broke off 14 runs of 15 yards or more on just 92 attempts. But despite the on-field talent, Wilcox will need to convince NFL scouts that he’s grown off the field. He was late to multiple meetings last year and was publicly called out by head coach Mark Stoops for not handling the details.
The good news is Wilcox seems to be turning a corner. He had a strong spring and has added close to 10 pounds of muscle, now weighing around 200 pounds. He’ll open the year behind Dante Dowdell on the depth chart, but if he keeps producing and stays focused, it wouldn’t be a shock if he’s starting by midseason and earns a spot in the NFL Draft conversation.