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Four days into the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the first reports of the Steelers meeting with prospects are being announced. So far, the reported list of formal and informal visits includes one safety, one cornerback, two edge rushers, four defensive linemen, and four linebackers:
- Safety Caleb Downs, Ohio State (via Nick Farabaugh)
- Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana (via Nick Farabaugh)
- Edge rusher LT Overton, Alabama (via Chris Adamski)
- Edge rusher Anthony Lucas, USC (via Ross McCorkle)
- Defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny, Michigan (via Travis May)
- Defensive lineman Darrell Jackson, Florida State (via Chris Carter)
- Defensive lineman Kayden McDonald, Ohio State (via Derrick Bell)
- Defensive lineman Lee Hunter, Texas Tech (via Chris Carter)
- Linebacker CJ Allen, Georgia (via Nick Farabaugh)
- Linebacker Jake Golday, Cincinnati (via Ross McCorkle)
- Linebacker Anthony Hill, Texas (via Jack Sperry)
- Linebacker Bryce Boettcher, Oregon (via Ross McCorkle)
Especially this early in the process — interviews with offensive players have barely started — Combine interviews aren’t the greatest indicators of team interest. Teams will meet with around 50 players formally at the event and many more informally.
Still, considering that 319 players were invited to Indianapolis this year, meetings narrow it down somewhat. Last year, four of the Steelers’ seven draft picks had Combine meetings; of the other three, Donte Kent was not invited to the Combine, and the Steelers still met with teammates of Iowa’s Yahya Black (Kaleb Johnson) and Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer (Will Howard).
Ultimately, Combine meetings are just one data point of many when it comes to gauging Steelers draft interest (pre-drat “top 30” visits have been especially weighty in the Omar Khan era). Keep in mind the Steelers had formal Combine meetings with names such as Ashton Jeanty and Tyler Warren last year, but never seemed to have much draft interest there otherwise.