Uncovering Parish’s Hidden 2026 NFL Draft Treasures: The Interior Offensive Linemen Poised to Dominate

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Each year since joining BTSC in 2024, Ryan Parish has put together a draft gems list. This series is not meant to predict who the Steelers will pick, but rather highlight players Ryan thinks will be viable NFL players, and should be available in Rounds 2-7. Looking for more? Check out Ryan’s picks this year at:

Outside of quarterback, and possibly receiver, there is no more glaring need in the Steelers’ starting lineup than at guard. With Isaac Seumalo’s departure in free agency, Pittsburgh will need somebody to step into the starter’s role. Whether that’s on the left or right side is flexible in my estimation. Third-year guard Mason McCormick has played on the right side as a pro, but had far more reps on the left side during his college career. The Steelers also have fourth-year swingman Spencer Anderson and added fellow swingman Brock Hoffman on a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Both of those men could theoretically compete for the starting role, but neither has been that thus far in their careers, and with their relatively small salaries and lack of team control beyond 2026, their presence on the roster shouldn’t preclude the Steelers from drafting another player to compete to start.

Should the Steelers end up missing out on or electing to pass on some of the top guard prospects expected to go in the first round and early second round, there are still several intriguing options later in the draft.

As always:

• Any player selected for this list cannot be commonly mocked as a 1st round pick

• I also avoid players who will have a profile written on BTSC. Paired with the previous rule, this year that disqualifies: Vega Ioane, Emmanuel Pregnon, Chase Bisontis, Kadyn Proctor, and Keylan Rutledge.

Jalen Farmer, Kentucky

Age: 21 (07-27-2004)

Height/weight: 6’5, 312 pounds

Arm Length: 34^1/4” arms, 82^5/8” wingspan

Should the Steelers pass on the NFL’s top-four guard prospects (Ioane, Pregnon, Bisontis, and Rutledge), Farmer is my favorite option for a potential Day 2 pick. Unlike a lot of the other options on this list, Farmer is an experienced guard as opposed to a projected convert.

Farmer checks a lot of boxes for me:

• He’s a bully ball style brawler, a road grader, generally just a butt-kicker. He’s never met a defender he doesn’t want to put in the dirt.

• He’s got great size and length.

• He’s a younger prospect than a lot of the other alternatives. A lot of these prospects are 23, 24, 25… he’ll turn 22 in July, which still leaves room for physical and mental development.

• He spent four years in the SEC (2024-25 at Kentucky, 2022-2023 at Florida), meaning he has experience (1,639 snaps) against top competition.