Pittsburgh sent Kansas City picks No. 161 and No. 249 in the…
Pittsburgh sent Kansas City picks No. 161 and No. 249 in the 2026 draft and received No. 169 plus No. 210. The Steelers used those incoming selections on Riley Nowakowski and Gabriel Rubio. Pittsburgh moved down eight spots in the fifth round to add a sixth-round choice, a reasonable two-for-two reshaping of late capital. With no regular-season results yet, the prior Steelers-win label is too early and an Even Trade fits better.
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 2026 5th round pick (169th overall, Riley Nowakowski )
- pick 2026 6th round pick (210th overall, Gabriel Rubio )
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 2026 5th round pick (161st overall, Emmett Johnson)
- pick 2026 7th round pick (249th overall, Garrett Nussmeier )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Pittsburgh and Kansas City completed a two-pick-for-two-pick exchange on the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Steelers sent No. 161 in the fifth round and No. 249 in the seventh. Kansas City sent No. 169 in the fifth and No. 210 in the sixth. Pittsburgh selected Riley Nowakowski at 169 and Gabriel Rubio at 210, while Kansas City used 161 on Emmett Johnson and 249 on Garrett Nussmeier.
Why the Value Moved
The trade was less about accumulating more selections than reshaping where each team picked. Kansas City moved eight spots up in the fifth round to secure Johnson and accepted a move from the sixth round to the seventh as the cost. Pittsburgh moved back those eight spots but upgraded its second selection from No. 249 to No. 210. Both clubs still came away with two prospects, and each could point to a clear reason for preferring the new distribution.
How the Outcome Looks
Because all four players were 2026 rookies, there is no responsible basis yet for awarding a decisive hindsight win. Pittsburgh may benefit if Rubio's earlier sixth-round slot or Nowakowski's role creates more NFL value. Kansas City may benefit if moving up for Johnson proves worthwhile or if Nussmeier develops beyond his seventh-round position. The raw pick movement slightly changes the shape of each club's opportunities, but it does not create a large enough structural advantage to settle the verdict before the players perform.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Pittsburgh receives a C+ for moving down only eight fifth-round spots while improving its second pick from the seventh to the sixth round. Kansas City also receives a C+ for moving up to secure its preferred fifth-round target while retaining a later second selection. The previous Pittsburgh-win call is removed because it treated an unplayed rookie class as if the outcome were already known. These grades should separate only when the four players provide meaningful NFL evidence.