The ‘Steel Curtain’ Pittsburgh Steelers (’74-’79) is a gold standard to strive for in regards a team that was recognized for extreme physicality and toughness, coupled with a high-speed offense and an unrelenting work ethic. They included a spread-out mix of draft round picks and had a top five offense coupled with the best defense. Hard-hitting toughness was their calling card. In that regard we look to construct a ‘Titanium Sheer’
Here is a full team of 2026 NFL draft prospects that have been chosen for their excelling in the intangibles of toughness, physicallity, aggressiveness, and work ethic. Also added is the quality of speed. Not all prospects listed contain all of these but they do exemplify most at a high level. The prospects were chosen across the full range of likely draft round selection, which is shown. The grade shown is for the aforementioned qualities. This would be a team full of coach and fan favorites.
Update: I added in Mel Kiper’s positional ranking.
OFFENSE
QB Haynes King Georgia Tech
His NFL quarterback rating of 133.8 on deep balls tied for first in the Power Four among players with at least 25 attempts
Round 7, Grade B, Kiper Positional Rank 11
RB Nicholas Singleton Penn State
He is one of only 25 running backs since 1956 to have three seasons of 14 total touchdowns each.
Round 4, Grade B+, Kiper Positional Rank 6
FB Max Bredeson Michigan
Set the tone as Michigan’s most dependable blocker, leading the Wolverines’ 2025 offense in both pass (78.0) and run blocking (84.3).
Round 7 Grade A, Kiper Positional Rank 9
WR1 Deion Burks Oklahoma
There is something special about a player that can run a 4.30 forty and bench press 26 reps.
Round 4, Grade B+, Kiper Positional Rank 20
WR2 Eli Heidenreich Navy
He ranked at 13th in yards/reception with 18.45 yards.
Round 6, Grade B, Kiper Positional Rank 19 (RB)
TE Dae’Quan Wright Ole Miss
Led all FBS tight ends in yards after catch (10.1 per reception) and was one of eight semi-finalists for the Mackey Award.
Round 7, Grade B+, Kiper Positional Rank 14
LT Isaiah World Oregon
It took until a penalty to get him off the field in the Peach Bowl after tearing his ACL.
Round 5, Grade B, Kiper Positional Rank 17
LG Joshua Braun Kentucky
Allowed 15 total pressures, 3 sacks, 1 hit and 3 penalties on 820 offensive snaps in 2025, finishing with a 77.4 pass-blocking grade.
Round 7, Grade B, Kiper Positional Rank 25
C Jaren Kump Utah
In addition to the two seasons he spent as starting center, Kump’s got 12 combined starts at right tackle (seven), left tackle (three), right guard (one) and left guard (one) and allowed 0 sacks in over 350 pass blocking opportunities
Round 7, Grade B, Kiper Positional Rank 30 (OG)
RG Anez Cooper Miami FL
Although he did commit eight penalties in 2025, he only allowed twelve pressures and one sack.
Round 6, Grade B, Kiper Positional Rank 11
RT Ryan Schernecke Kutztown
Named one of eight national finalists for the 2025 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award
Round 7, Grde C+, Kiper Positional Rank NR
DEFENSE
DE1 Nadame Tucker Western Michigan
Tucker generated a 93.3 PFF pass-rush grade to go along with 14 sacks, six quarterback hits and 41 hurries on 316 pass-rushing snaps in 2025. He also posted a 40.8% win rate when rushing against true pass sets, which ranks first in the class among edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing snaps.
Round 6, Grade B+, Kiper Positional Rank 35
DT1 Kayden McDonald Ohio State
Has 65 total tackles in 2025 as a defensive tackle. Of those 65 tackles Kayden had 30 stops.
Round 2, Grade A, Kiper Positional Rank 2
DT2 Lee Hunter Texas Tech
Anchored the Red Raiders’ front with 26 pressures and earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2025.
Round 2, Grade B+, Kiper Positional Rank 4
DE2 TJ Parker Clemson
In 2023 his 12.5 tackles for loss were a school record for a true freshman. He finished 2024 as the only player in the nation to rank in the top 10 for forced fumbles, tackles for loss (19.5), and sacks (14).
Round 2, Grade A, Kiper Positional Rank 9
2 88 OLB1 Josiah Trotter Missouri
According to Pro Football Focus, Trotter was the No. 15-best player in the country when it came to defending the run.
Round 2, Grade B+, Kiper Positional Rank 5
MLB Sonny Styles Ohio State
He was the only linebacker with 85+ PFF Grades in every Category – Tackling, Run defense, Coverage.
Round 1, Grade A, Kiper Positional Rank 1
OLB2 Jacob Rodriguez Texas Tech
The only FBS player since 2005 to record at least 5 forced fumbles and 4 interceptions in a single season. He finished that year with 7 forced fumbles, tying the NCAA single-season record. In addition he had 2 Fumble recoveries with one for a touchdown.
Round 2, Grade A, Kiper Positional Rank 3
CB1 TJ Hall Iowa
His run-defense grade of 84.4 ranked 55th out of 897 qualified cornerbacks in the nation. 10 pass break-ups was tie at 2nd in the Big Ten.
Round 6, Grade B, Kiper Positional Rank 21
CB2 Thaddeus Dixon North Carolina
In 2024 was tied at third in the Big East in pass breakups (10) and allowed a completion percentage of 47% when targeted which is considered good.
Round 6, Grade C+, Kiper Positional Rank 24
SS Bud Clark TCU
Bud Clark has the most seasons (4) in the Big 12 of at least 3 interceptions.
Round 3, Grade B+, Kiper Positional Rank 6
FS Caleb Downs Ohio State
The only Safety in the PFF Era to have 85+ Grades in Three or More Seasons.
Round 1, Grade A+, Kiper Positional Rank 1
SPECIAL TEAM
K Trey Smack Florida
Increased 50+ yd field goals each year and percentage (2, 3, 5) for (66.6%, 75%, 83.33%).
Round 7, Grade B+, Kiper Positional Rank 1
K/P R Kaden Wetjen Iowa
Wetjen set an NCAA Division I record in 2025 with a 26.8-yard punt return average (minimum 1.2 returns per game) and ties for most punt return touchdowns with 3. He was 2nd in kickoff return avg.
Round 6, Grade B+, Kiper Positional Rank 30 (WR)
Like the Steel Curtain, this roster wasn’t built solely on top-five picks, but on finding the right “junkyard dogs” across every round who share an unrelenting work ethic, toughness and speed.
Enjoy the draft!
Feature image: Maize & Blue Nation, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Deion Burks – a combination of speed and strength