In golf, it's called "moving day."
In a 72-hole tournament format, moving day typically falls on a Saturday — the day after the cut is made and the day before the final 18 holes — and it's when players try to make a significant move up the leaderboard to get into contention. It often is characterized by more aggressive play to get within striking distance of the 36-hole leaders and therefore get into position to take home the trophy and a sizable chunk of prize money.
When it comes to an NFL Draft, what's analogous to "moving day" is Day 2 when Rounds 2-3 are conducted. It follows the glitz and hype and pressure associated with making the first-round picks, while still offering opportunities to add quality players for the teams that are aggressive enough to capitalize.
In a historical context, some of the players the Steelers have added via Rounds 2-3 are Mel Blount, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, and Dermontti Dawson, all of whom are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the context of Omar Khan's tenure as General Manager, players who have come to the Steelers on Day 2 include Zach Frazier, Payton Wilson, Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, and Darnell Washington.
In the context of yesterday and today, what the Steelers needed from Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft was to come away with some quality additions to spots on their roster to capitalize on the momentum of the pick of OT Max Iheanachor in the first round. And they had 4 total selections – 1 in the second round and 3 in the third round – to make something happen if they were aggressive enough to take advantage.
When it was over, the Steelers added a wide receiver to strengthen the top of the depth chart there, a second developmental quarterback who figures to be one of the four the team takes to training camp, a tall (6-foot-1), fast (4.38 in the 40) cornerback who has played outside and in the slot, and an aggressive, tough-guy offensive lineman who started 38 games for Iowa and will be tried at guard where there is a hole created by Isaac Seumalo's departure in free agency.
Putting names to those descriptions – Alabama WR Germie Bernard, Penn State QB Drew Allar, Georgia CB Daylen Everette, and Iowa G Gennings Dunker. When the Steelers 2026 Draft Class comes to be judged in 3-to-5 years, how Bernard, Allar, Everette, and Dunker have developed and contributed will be a significant factor.
If there was a single need that topped most fans' draft wish list, it would be the addition of a weapon at the wide receiver position to add to what the team already has there in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. And there was considerable angst among that fan base when the Steelers missed on adding WR Makai Lemon.
As it is now, the Steelers used their first-round pick on Iheanachor, a 22-year-old, ascending offensive tackle whose footwork and coordination come from the basketball and soccer he played through high school before being introduced to football in junior college. Iheanachor is an athlete with size who is willing to be coached, and that's the kind of player Bill Nunn loved.
Then in the second round, the Steelers got around to their need for a receiver, and they were aggressive in making sure they got him. When the Day 2 picking began at 7 p.m., the two best WRs remaining were Washington's Denzel Boston and Bernard. The Browns used the 39th overall pick on Boston, and while the next 7 picks were being made on defensive players, Khan was working on a move up in the round to get Bernard.
After the Buccaneers picked LB Josiah Trotter from Missouri, the Steelers found a trading partner in the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers sent their 53rd overall pick, plus a No. 4 (135th) and a No. 7 (237th) to the Colts in exchange for the 47th overall pick, plus a No. 7 (249th). That was good enough to land Bernard, and they got a good player.
Bernard led the Tide in receiving in each of the last two seasons, and Steelers.com's Matt Williamson pointed out he forced a missed tackle on 26.6 percent of his receptions; that he had 5 drops in 232 career targets and 1 drop in 102 targets in 2025. Alabama used Bernard in some Wildcat, and he adds good run-after on his receptions.
"Just his passion, his faith, his commitment, those really stood out to me," said Offensive Coordinator Brian Angelichio about what impressed him about Bernard's top-30 visit a couple of weeks ago. "I mean, he's a strong willed individual who has tremendous faith in what he wants and what he looks for. So, I was really, really impressed with the maturity of how he looked at things."
Even though Steelers President Art Rooney II had said the team wasn't going to be in the first-round QB business in this draft, it was generally believed the team would add one at some point on Friday or Saturday, because you gotta take 4 to training camp.
Friday's third round began with Arizona making Carson Beck the 65th overall pick and the third QB to come off the board. The Steelers had the 76th overall pick as part of the George Pickens trade to Dallas, and they used it on Allar, whose college career at Penn State included 35 starts.
"He has an effortless arm," said quarterbacks coach Tom Arth. "He can make every single throw on the field. And he's a better athlete than, I think, given credit for. In a few games, this past year and the year previous, when the game was on the line, and he had to take off and go, he was able to do that. So, I think that's exciting."
At 6-foot-5, 228 pounds, Allar certainly looks the part, and his arm strength is NFL caliber. He will join veteran Mason Rudolph and last year's No. 6 pick Will Howard on the depth chart for now. Under Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin, the Steelers typically kept 3 QBs on the active roster and none on the practice squad, which sets up a very interesting training camp and maybe some drama during the preseason.
Everette and Dunker were the other third-round picks (85th overall, and 96th overall after Khan moved up from 99th overall just to make sure), and they both were determined to be the best player at a position of need as the picking concluded on Day 2.
"The size. When you meet (Everette), he's well put together in terms of build," said Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham. "I love the seriousness on his face … his demeanor is what we're looking for. I think it's going to fit the mold of what we're trying to shape here with the Pittsburgh defense and what it has been in the past. He has all the attributes to be a real physical presence out there on the perimeter."
As the second offensive lineman the Steelers picked in this draft, Dunker will begin as a guard because there currently is an opening at the spot opposite Mason McCormick, a third-year pro with 31 regular season starts on his resume.
"He's an aggressive kid," said offensive line coach James Campen. "His focus and intent is really capturing. It projects onto the field as well. Just a very serious person. I think also the fact that he so seamlessly went into guard at the Senior Bowl really made it very appealing. There's not a lot of big people like him who can pull and match the strength he has."
On Saturday, the Steelers begin Day 3 with 6 picks – 1 each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds, and then 3 in the seventh. If they use them all, their 2026 Draft Class will number 10 players, the most since they also picked 10 in 2010.
But how this year's class is ultimately judged will come down to the guys they got on moving day.
