Pittsburgh Expects Record-Breaking Crowd for 2026 NFL Draft
Pittsburgh expects the 2026 NFL Draft to be the biggest event in the city's history.
As the rest of the NFL prepares for the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, the city of Pittsburgh is focused on hosting the 2026 NFL Draft, which is expected to have a record-breaking crowd.
VisitPittsburgh expects the 2026 NFL Draft to be the biggest event in the city of Pittsburgh’s history.
“In just 13 short months, we will welcome between 500,000 to 700,000 visitors to the shores of Downtown Pittsburgh,” Jerad Bachar of VisitPittsburgh said.
Pittsburgh is doing whatever it takes to make the event a success, which includes sending a team of about 20 people to Green Bay, Wisconsin, next month. That will give them the oppportunity to see what works and what doesn’t.
“This is a game-changer for our region and a defining moment for Pittsburgh,” Michele Meloy Burchfield of VisitPittsburgh said.
While the Steelers are fully focused on this year’s draft, they’ve done a lot of work to make sure next year’s draft will be successful for them as well.
The team has been very strategic in its moves this offseason. The Steelers let several free agents walk out the door that are expected to be countable for a compensatory draft pick slot.
According to Over the Cap, the Steelers are estimated to be eligible to receive a third-round pick for left tackle Dan Moore Jr., a fourth rounder for quarterback Justin Fields, a fifth or a sixth for running back Najee Harris, a sixth for guard James Daniels, a sixth for cornerback Donte Jackson and a seventh for linebacker Elandon Roberts.
Quarterback Russell Wilson, who just signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants, is also expected to net anywhere from a fifth- to third-round pick.
The Steelers won’t get all of those since they’ve signed other players and can’t have more than four, anyway. But it seems like they’re loading up to give themselves the ammo it’ll take to land their next franchise quarterback in front of their home crowd.
The 2026 quarterback class looks strong, led by Texas scion Arch Manning, Penn State’s Drew Allar, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava.