Steelers' Omar Khan is working the phones to jump the tackle run

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a prime candidate to draft an offensive tackle with the No. 21 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, and for multiple reasons.

Left tackle Broderick Jones recently suffered a setback in his recovery from a neck injury, which puts his status for Week 1 up in the air. Adding to that, Jones was already on shaky ground after three disappointing seasons.

But if the Steelers want to land one of the better offensive tackles in this year's class, general manager Omar Khan might have to be aggressive.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer believes that there could be a serious run of picks at the position after the top 10, with teams like the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears all having a need.

"Behind (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), you have the Lions at 17, Panthers at 19, Steelers at 21, Eagles at 23, Browns at 24 and Bears at 25 as teams that might need tackle help," Breer stated. "And with a run on the position potentially looming over that alley of picks, the Bucs could give someone the opportunity to jump the line. Which, I think, is something to keep an eye on as we draw closer."

Steelers calling about a trade up

It appears that Khan is fully aware of the situation at tackle in the middle of the first round because he's working the phones ahead of the NFL draft.

According to FOX Sports' Jay Glazer, the Steelers are one of the teams making calls to inquire about a trade up for an offensive lineman.

"I know there are a couple of teams trying to move up right now for some offensive linemen," Glazer said on Wake Up Barstool. "Pittsburgh, they've called around."

Steelers' possible first-round targets

ESPN's Peter Schrager suggested a possible option for the Steelers with a stick and pick and it was Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling.

Some other options potentially available to Pittsburgh with a trade up or a stick and pick include Clemson's Blake Miller, Arizona State's Max Iheanachor and Utah's Caleb Lomu.

Of course, we can't really know who Pittsburgh has in its sights with the No. 21 pick, but we can say a trade up would add an interesting wrinkle to the Steelers' draft.

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