The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have hit a home run throughout the first two days of the 2024 NFL Draft. None of the four players selected have played a professional down of football yet, but the potential for the group is through the roof. General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin had a tough act to follow after a haul in 2023 that seems to have worked out for the better, with plenty of possible star power. While the duo deserves a ton of credit, another individual was brought in when Khan was promoted in May of 2022 and a clear approach in draft strategy has been evident since.
The man behind the scenes that isn't getting enough kudos is assistant general manager Andy Weidl. Coming over from the Philadelphia Eagles, he was known for having a keen eye for talent. The Eagles won a Super Bowl with him as a part of their front office, and now he is set on helping the Steelers do the same thing. He got some well-deserved recognition from former NFL player Ross Tucker on Saturday morning.
It almost seems as if Weidl was meant to work for the Steelers. He has a reputation for building up the trenches and Philadelphia still has one of the better offensive lines in the entire league. Two seasons ago, Pittsburgh's offensive line looked as such: Dan Moore Jr., Kevin Dotson, Mason Cole, James Daniels and Chukwuma Okorafor.
The new-look group is expected to be Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, James Daniels and Troy Fautanu. No one is claiming the newcomers in Frazier and Fautanu will be Hall of Famers, but the potential they both have can't go unnoticed. If all clicks well, the Steelers could have one of the best offensive lines in the league in 2024 just two seasons after being an utter disaster.
For those keeping count at home, the Steelers last two first-round picks came at offensive tackle, but went even a step further in 2024, making franchise history with the first two selections.
Khan is the wheel-and-deal type with an incredible niche in the financial realm. Pittsburgh paired with him Weidl, a talent-seeking expert, and the marriage is working out wonderfully after just two years. The Steelers are getting back to their roots of running the ball and utilizing the play-action. Weidl is behind the scenes making sure Khan and Tomlin know exactly which players they need in order to accomplish that.
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The Matt Canada days are finally over for Pittsburgh's fan base. It's easy to argue that he was kept much longer than anyone expected, and that ended up hurting the development of Kenny Pickett. The first two days of the 2024 NFL Draft signal that the Weidl effect is at the forefront of a significant roster transformation. The head of the front office has his nickname as the "Khan Artist", and Steeler Nation might want to start thinking of one for Weidl, a silent assassin who is quietly pulling strings in the background.
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