The Steelers are entering their third straight offseason with a desperate need for additional wide receiver help. Last year, Pittsburgh traded for DK Metcalf, but also sent away George Pickens in a later deal. While the relationship between Pickens and the organization had clearly become untenable, it did little to fix the depth issue at wide receiver.
It’s been a bizarre turn for an organization that had gained a reputation for unearthing hidden receiver talent. Since taking over as general manager, Omar Khan has drafted just one receiver: Roman Wilson in the third round of the 2024 draft. After injuries caused Wilson to miss much of his rookie season, he still struggled to carve out a meaningful role in a talent-replete receiver room.
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Whether that’s more of an indictment on Wilson or the Steelers’ overall offensive ecosystem, it might still be too early to tell. The Steelers’ front office rarely leaks behind-the-scenes gossip to the media about how the sausage gets made. You could make a case against each of the following for the state of the Steelers’ receiving talent:
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Mike Tomlin, who functioned as a CEO coach and controlled much of the roster and how they gameplanned.
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Omar Khan, the general manager who executes the trades, contracts, and drafts.
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Andy Weidl, the assistant general manager, is more responsible for the personnel evaluations. Khan specializes in salary cap management.
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Arthur Smith, who favored multi-tight end sets and bigger players, despite the Steelers having many diminutive receivers.
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Aaron Rodgers, who more and more prefers running screens, quick hitches, and checking down to running backs and tight ends.
Whomever you assign the most blame, the fact remains that the Steelers can ill afford to keep neglecting the position. The offense has been ineffective for more than half a decade now, and the defensive core that highlighted the final years of the Tomlin era is aging out of their primes. The offense is going to need to carry more weight for the team to remain competitive. The Steelers seemingly acknowledged this by hiring an offensive-minded head coach in Mike McCarthy.
The 2026 free agent class isn’t particularly deep at the receiver position, meaning the draft will be the best resource the Steelers have to add to the room. There are several young pass catchers worthy of a first or second round pick in this year’s draft class, and the Steelers might benefit from double-dipping on draft weekend. That’s where this list comes in.
If you’re new to my Gem series, each year I try to identify “hidden” talent in the draft. That comes with some ground rules:
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Any player selected for this list cannot be commonly mocked as a 1st round pick
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I am avoiding players who will have a profile written on BTSC. This year, that means Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Chris Brazzell, Germie Bernard, and Ja’Kobi Lane are barred from this list.
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I try my best to include a variety of Day 2 and Day 3 guys. Some players will end up as Round 2 picks, but I try not to take all Round 2 projections, as that doesn’t feel in spirit with the spirit of this exercise. Louisville’s Chris Bell is an example of a player who gets crunched that way this year, as he was garnering fringe first-round buzz before a knee injury that has likely relegated him to a Round 2 or Round 3 pick.
When selecting receivers for this list, I, of course, have my biases. I like players who are strong after the catch and who win contested catch opportunities. I prefer them to be at minimum 5’10 — though 6’ and higher is better — and while I’ll accept players who are as low as 180 pounds, I would ideally look for players that are 200-220 pounds. Longer arms and big hands are also a plus, but I’ll be adding that data after the Combine for these players. And the more versatility they have in where they line up, and what route concepts they can run, the better.
But with no further ado, let’s get into this year’s list. These are my 2026 WR Draft Gems.
*Editor’s Note: Measurements and even DOB for some prospects have yet to be released. We will update this article as that information becomes available. The first update should come from testing at the Combine.*
Omar Cooper Jr, Indiana
Age: 22 (12-14-2003)
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Height/weight: 6’0, 204 lbs
Arm Length: *Update coming after the Combine*
RAS:*Update coming after the Combine*
Of all the receivers on my gems list this year, Omar Cooper Jr. is the player most likely to sneak into the second round. On NFL Mock Draft Database’s Consensus Big Board, Cooper is currently listed as WR6, but he might be my favorite prospect at the position. Much like the Indiana program as a whole, Cooper was flying under the radar entering the season. He had a respectable stat line in 2024 (28-594-7, 21.2 YPC), but was primarily a field-stretching vertical threat for quarterback Kurtis Rourke. Roughly a third of Cooper’s targets (31.3%) and four of his touchdowns came on throws that were 20-plus yards downfield.
But with the arrival of Fernando Mendoza, things began to change for the Hoosier program. That included a new role for Cooper. In his previous two seasons, Cooper lined up out wide on 88.0% of his routes. In 2025, not only did he play nearly 150 more snaps, but the Hoosiers also kicked Cooper into the slot for 83.3% of his routes.
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And this is what makes Cooper such an intriguing prospect to me. He had already proved that he had the size and speed to win outside as a deep threat, but this season, he became a cheat code for Indiana from the slot. Cooper finished the season third in the nation in touchdowns (13), and was eighth in yards after the catch, compiling more YAC (494) than every receiver currently projected to be drafted before him except Lemon (502), and doing it all with fewer targets and receptions than his peers.
What really shoots Cooper to the top of my list, though, is that while many of the receivers on this list were able to rack up a ton of yards after the catch thanks to their roles and the offensive schemes they were a part of, Cooper isa player who is genuinely slippery and can create missed tackles on his own at a high rate.
And because Cooper is so good after the catch, he can force cornerbacks to respect that threat, setting them up for double moves. Here, Cooper has a silky smooth route that annihilates this poor Maryland corner.
But perhaps most importantly, Cooper has some of the best hands in the class. In three seasons of action, Cooper is credited with only five drops. The combination of his stellar mitts and his background in basketball growing up has translated to Cooper thriving in the red zone and in contested catch situations. For his college career, Cooper has won 54.3% of contested opportunities. He’s also shown excellent body control, showing the ability to contort his body to make a catch, break defenders’ ankles with his change-of-direction skills, and get both feet in on throws along the sidelines or back of the end zone. He put the latter on display in a clutch moment against Penn State that should be considered for catch of the year.
And if that isn’t enough of a sell job, Cooper is also a good teammate when the ball isn’t coming his way. Indiana still ran the ball a ton, as you’d expect in an offense that used play action and RPOs frequently. And Cooper bought into his role.
Eric McAlister, TCU
Age: 23 (11-22-2002)
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Height/weight: 6’3, 205 lbs
Arm Length: *Update coming after the Combine*
RAS:*Update coming after the Combine*
If you’re looking for the most electric receiver in this draft, look no further than the TCU senior. Watching McAlister on tape, his acceleration and top-end speed jump off the screen. It’s no coincidence that he follows Cooper on this list, because his tape is probably the most fun I had watching a prospect after the catch in the entire draft class. In the 2026 class, only Skyler Bell (835) and Zachariah Branch (634) had more YAC than McAlister’s 560. And unlike Bell (8.3 ADoT) and Branch (3.6 ADot), McAlister isn’t a screen merchant with an average depth of target of 12.0 yards. McAlister can attack all three levels of the field, and he’s a danger to take it to the house from anywhere on the field, averaging 7.9 YAC per reception. To top it off, McAlister is tied with Cooper in this receiver class for most missed tackles forced (27).
McAlister is also an elite chain mover. In 2024, 92% of his receptions led to a first down. For his career, his converted 78.0% of his receptions into first downs. McAlister is lethal off of slant rants, and he also runs excellent dig routes, able to win in the middle of the field and on the boundaries. And despite having a slender frame, the number of times he bounced off a single defender and refused to go down without multiple tacklers also had me intrigued. McAlister’s first three seasons — two with Boise State before transferring to TCU in 2024 — were productive, but he put it all together in 2025. This season, he set career highs in targets (119), receptions (71), yards (1,173), and touchdowns (10). McAlister played 82.0% of his snaps out wide, but his fluid movement, change of direction, and competitiveness over the middle of the field would play well in the slot a few times a game as well.
If that all sounds too good to be true for a Day 3 prospect, that’s because McAlister isn’t without his warts. On the field, he can be a body catcher at times, even though he’s displayed the ability to catch the ball away from his frame. His 7.8% drop rate this season (8.7%) isn’t prohibitive by any means — KC Concepcion, a popular mock draft selection for Pittsburgh in the first round, had 10.3% drop rate (9.3% career), for example — but it’s worth flagging.
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More noteworthy, however, is the legal trouble he faced shortly after transferring to TCU in 2024. In March of that year, McAlister got into an altercation with a man at a Fort Worth Whataburger, where he allegedly threatened a man with a gun. He pled guility and was placed on probation. He managed to steer clear of any further legal troubles in 2025, and we can hope this was one momentary lapse in judgment. The incident has likely moved him off of some team’s boards, understandably. But if the Steelers feel confident that this won’t be a recurring issue, it’s hard not to see the value McAlister could present as a Day 3 selection. The risk is greatly mitigated with a selection that late, should he falter again.
De’Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi
Age: 23 (12-18-2002)
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Height/weight: 6’2, 210 lbs
Arm Length: *Update coming after the Combine*
RAS:*Update coming after the Combine*
If you like big, fast receivers who are strong at the catch point and can create yards after the catch, Stribling needs to be on your radar. Stribling started his career at Washington State, catching passes from 2025’s top overall pick Cam Ward during his two years in Pullman. He then transferred to Oklahoma State for another two seasons before finishing his college career at Ole Miss.
He broke out in a big way during the Rebels’ improbable playoff run to the CFB Playoff semi-finals.
Stribling’s contested catch rate in his college career is only 45.7%, but when you see him make grabs like the one below, it’s easy to see the potential for growth. Especially when you factor in his career 4.0% drop rate, which included three seasons of one drop or less.
But what takes Stribling’s potential to an even higher level is his YAC ability. His 400 yards are the fifth-most on this seven-man list, and he had to do it the old-fashioned way, with just 14.9% of his 2025 targets coming behind the line of scrimmage. He mostly lined up wide in college, but with his speed, size, and YAC ability (7.3 avg YAC in 2025), there’s a real opportunity for him to thrive as a power slot in the NFL.
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And, for what it’s worth, Stribling’s PFF run blocking grade in 2025 (76.6) is easily the best among this list of receivers.
Ted Hurst, Georgia State
Age: N/A
Height/weight: 6’3, 207 lbs
Arm Length: *Update coming after the Combine*
RAS:*Update coming after the Combine*
If the Steelers are looking for a contested catch winner with size to pair with DK Metcalf, then the big wideout from a small program offers an intriguing combination of traits and value. Hurst was unranked coming out of Johnson High School, a small school in Savannah, Georgia. Hurst played two seasons at Division II Valdosta State before transferring to Georgia State and the Sun Belt Conference for his final two years.
At Senior Bowl practices, Hurst’s speed held up against players from the major conferences, but it was clear that he isn’t a fully polished prospect. He ran a limited route tree at Georgia State, and he could use some coaching up to increase the consistency with which he can stack corners and create separation. Hurst, 6’3 and 207 pounds, had a 61.1% contested catch win rate in his two years at Georgia State, but he also had 13 drops in two seasons, and on tape, he doesn’t always physically dominate in those contested situations, as the high success rate might have you believe.
But with that caveat out of the way, it’s also easy to see the appeal in Hurst. You can’t coach his size — he reportedly has 33 1/4″ arms and 10″ hands at the Senior Bowl — and he has flashed enough as a deep threat and as a threat after the catch to warrant some team betting on his raw traits, likely in the third or fourth round. Over the past two seasons, Hurst has led the FBS in catches of 20+ yards (34), and he’s forced 26 missed tackles.
Watching that highlight reel from Hurst, it’s easy to see an off-brand version of George Pickens in his playstyle. For those who lamented never getting to see a Pickens and Metcalf duo in Pittsburgh, Hurst might be the next closest thing.
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Kevin Coleman Jr, Missouri
Age: 22 (09-10-2003)
Height/weight: 5’11, 180 lbs
Arm Length: *Update coming after the Combine*
RAS:*Update coming after the Combine*
Now we’ll shift our attention to some of the smaller, slot-centric options in this draft. We’ll start with a former five-star recruit in Coleman Jr. Coleman Jr. is emblematic of the Transfer Portal era, as he played for a new team in each of his four college seasons. Highly recruited out of high school, he surprised the college football ranks when he committed to Jackson State, a HBCU that was coached by Deion Sanders at the time. He had 33 receptions, 475 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman. He followed that up with seasons at Louisville, Mississippi State, and finally at Missouri. His time in Mississippi State (2024) was his most productive, where he had highs in targets (104), receptions (74), yards (932) and touchdowns (6).
Coleman’s smaller stature likely limits him to a slot role, as it did in college, where he took 91.8% of his snaps from the slot. He has reliable hands with just a 3.4% career drop rate, and he’s another producer after the catch with a career average of 6.1 YAC per reception. He also is surprisingly better in contested catch situations than you’d expect, hauling in nine of his 11 opportunities (81.8%) this season. That success rate only trails Carnell Tate in this draft class.
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Coleman was one of the standouts at Senior Bowl practices this year, displaying his reliable hands and ability to get open quickly.
And as an extra bonus, if the Steelers move on from Calvin Austin this offseason, Coleman has the ability to step into the return game.
Lewis Bond, Boston College
Age: 22
Height/weight: 5’11, 190 lbs
Arm Length: *Update coming after the Combine*
RAS:*Update coming after the Combine*
If you’re looking for a similar player to Coleman Jr., who will likely come at an even cheaper cost, look no further than Boston College’s Lewis Bond. Unlike Coleman Jr, though, Bond spent all five of his college years at Boston College. After biding his time during his first two seasons on campus, he recorded 646 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season of major playing time. Bond then bested his yardage total each of the following two years, including 993 yards in 2025.
Bond also proved more versatile than Coleman Jr., playing just 55.8% of his career snaps from the slot, though I think slot will be his primary position in the pros. His 5.6 average YAC and 68.6% contested catch rate are also intriguing for a receiver who should be available in the fifth round or later, barring an over-the-top performance at the Combine. Bond’s 80.0% contested catch rate in 2025 is third-best in the class.
Skyler Bell, UConn
Age: 23 (07-05-2002)
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Height/weight: 5’11, 187 lbs
Arm Length: *Update coming after the Combine*
RAS:*Update coming after the Combine*
For the second straight year, I’m including a receiver who transferred away from Wisconsin. The Badgers are not exactly a program synonymous with a high-flying passing attack, so it’s funny that Pro Bowler Chimere Dike and Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist Skyler Bell were teammates for three years there.
Bell isn’t tall, and he lacks long arms, but I wouldn’t write him off just because of his physical dimensions.
What he lacks in bulk and length, he makes up for with speed and agility. His size might push him towards more of a slot role in the NFL, but I’d be more worried about his limitations if he had been pigeonholed that way in college. That just wasn’t the case, as Bell only ran 38% of his routes from the slot in his collegiate career.
Bell has also worked to improve his hands, but I think that’s still a work in progress. He had 24 drops in his career, but with four drops in 2025, he halved his 2024 total while adding 48 more targets to his workload. Because of his short arms, I’m not certain that he will ever be a consistent contested catch winner against tougher competition, but he still managed to reel in 13 of 20 opportunities in 2025 (65.0%).
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But where Bell really excels is in yards after the catch. I don’t think he’s the type that will force many missed tackles, but his acceleration allows him to break off huge gains when given enough space.
What do you think of these WR prospects? Would you like the Steelers to draft any of them? Who was your favorite? Did I leave one of your favorite sleepers out? Let us know in the comments!
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