Steelers' Top 10 Pre-Draft Visit Prospects | Trade Up Plan for Makai Lemon or Olaivavega Ioane?

In this episode of the Locked On Steelers podcast, host Chris Carter breaks down the Pittsburgh Steelers' full list of pre-draft visitors ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. He ranks the top 10 prospects the Steelers brought in, highlighting Makai Lemon, Venga Ioane, and Denzel Boston as top first-round targets, suggesting the team may be signaling interest in a wide receiver or guard in the first round. Carter analyzes the strategic implications of the visits, noting that while the Steelers didn’t bring in every top prospect—like Caleb Downs or Omar Cooper Jr.—this doesn’t rule out future interest, especially given the new coaching staff’s evolving approach. He also discusses the growing influence of NIL money on college players’ decisions, with some athletes choosing to stay in college for financial reasons. The episode includes listener calls on quarterback classes, draft strategy, and the importance of pre-draft visits, with Carter emphasizing that while visits are informative, they don’t guarantee a pick. He concludes that the Steelers are likely prioritizing offensive talent, particularly at receiver and guard, with a potential trade-up for Makai Lemon or Venga Ioane. Key takeaways include: the Steelers' pre-draft visit list reveals strong interest in wide receivers and guards; trade-ups for top-tier talent like Makai Lemon or Venga Ioane are likely if they fall within a favorable range; NIL compensation is now influencing college players’ decisions to stay in school; and while pre-draft visits are valuable, they aren’t the sole determinant in drafting decisions. The overall sentiment is cautiously optimistic, with a focus on strategic planning and long-term team building.