It took a miracle, going as far as sprinkling holy water, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are headed to the playoffs after their Week 18 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
After a missed extra-point attempt put the game in a precarious spot for Pittsburgh, a missed field goal by Ravens kicker Tyler Loop ultimately sealed the victory and the AFC North division title for the Steelers.
The Steelers’ offense did them no favors early. That included a failed fourth-down attempt at the goal line just before halftime, which allowed Baltimore to carry a 10-3 lead into the break.
A few trademark Aaron Rodgers throws helped bring Pittsburgh back in the second-half, but it didn’t go unnoticed that the offense was operating without wide receiver DK Metcalf, who was serving a two-game suspension. Even so, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this team will need more offensive firepower moving forward — something that could be addressed as soon as the 2026 NFL Draft.
Latest Mock Draft Has Steelers Selecting SEC Wide Receiver
It looked as if the same offensive issues that plagued the Steelers in their Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns were resurfacing in the regular-season finale. Without Metcalf, the passing game struggled to find any rhythm.
Although Metcalf will return for the wild-card round against the Houston Texans, the Steelers still face a pressing need to strengthen their wide receiver room this offseason.
In ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid’s latest mock draft, Pittsburgh addresses that issue by selecting Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion at No. 21 overall.
“Pittsburgh has its No. 1 receiver in DK Metcalf, but the depth chart is pretty rough after that, with Calvin Austin III and Marquez Valdes-Scantling set to become free agents and veteran Adam Thielen potentially retiring,” Reid wrote.
“Concepcion would have the opportunity to make an instant impact as a No. 2 option for the Steelers, especially because he can play in the slot and outside. He is a gearshift route runner who can accelerate and decelerate to create separation in route stems. But Concepcion needs to be more consistent with his hands, as he dropped seven passes this season.”
KC Concepcion Draft Projections
After spending two seasons at NC State, the former three-star prospect transferred to Texas A&M for the 2025 season, where he caught 61 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. Over his college career, Concepcion totaled 185 receptions for 2,218 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Concepcion is ranked as the No. 17 overall prospect and the No. 3 wide receiver in the 2026 draft class, according to Bleacher Report’s scouting department.
“His role at the next level lands somewhere between a complementary piece and an offensive chess piece,” NFL Draft Buzz wrote. “You can’t stick him in there as an every-down option early on — he’ll get bodied in blocking situations on the boundary. But give him opportunities to find soft spots against zone? That’s where his film really pops. He’s got a natural feel for space that some receivers never develop.”
A complementary piece alongside Metcalf is exactly what the Steelers need right now. While concerns about Concepcion and his drops this season are valid, that’s something that can hopefully be addressed with development. Of course, how quickly that happens may also depend on who’s throwing him the football — and that quarterback may not be Aaron Rodgers in 2026.
Steelers Predicted to Draft 25-TD Texas A&M WR With Major Flaw