Five best deals made by Steelers GM Omar Khan

Fans and media have tagged Steelers general manager Omar Khan with the nickname "Khan Artist" for his stellar free-agent signings and trades over the past two years. His aggressiveness has given new life to Pittsburgh's roster, but which moves are his best?

Here are the five best deals by the "Khan Artist," who became Pittsburgh's GM in 2022.

5) Kendrick Green trade

Green was a third-round pick by the Steelers in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he never found success at center as a rookie. In 2022, the team moved Green to guard after signing veteran center Mason Cole, but Kevin Dotson beat out Green.

In the 2023 preseason, Green's struggles continued. He even experimented with a position change to fullback during training camp, but then it became evident he may not even make the 53-man roster.

Khan, however, turned a likely cut candidate into a draft pick, trading Green to the Texans for a 2025 sixth-rounder. It wasn't much in return, but that pick later became another one of Khan's best deals.

4) Isaac Seumalo signing

Last offseason, Pittsburgh needed to continue overhauling its offensive line, one of the league's worst. Khan smartly added a former Super Bowl champion in Seumalo at a cheap price, signing the former Eagle to a three-year, $24 million deal ($8M per year).

In 2023, the 30-year-old did not allow a sack, per Pro Football Focus. Seumalo has plenty of good football left in him and will be an important pillar on Pittsburgh's offensive line for at least the next few seasons.

3) Patrick Queen signing

The Steelers have been trying to replace linebacker Ryan Shazier since he suffered a career-ending spinal injury in 2017. They have mixed and matched several veterans since, but Khan finally said it was enough and signed a product of AFC North rival Baltimore this offseason to fill the void.

Queen, a first-round pick by Baltimore in 2020, has been one of the most productive inside linebackers in the NFL over the past two years, posting 250 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 12 defensed passes. 

Some believed Queen could have received a deal that reached $18 million a year. Khan landed the 24-year-old for about $13.6 million per year (three-year, $41M contract).

2) Justin Fields trade

Do you remember that sixth-round pick Pittsburgh received in the Green trade? Well, that comes into play here.

The Steelers had major quarterback questions heading into 2024 after starter Kenny Pickett threw just 13 touchdown passes (and 13 interceptions) in 25 games. Pittsburgh added Russell Wilson in free agency, but Pickett wasn't interested in competing with him and requested a trade.

Khan granted his request, trading him to the Eagles. However, with Wilson as the lone quarterback on the roster, the "Khan Artist" worked his magic again, trading a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Bears for Fields. That pick will be a 2025 fourth-round pick if Fields plays 51 percent of the snaps, but that seems unlikely because signs point toward the team giving Wilson the inside track to start.

Wilson turns 36 this season and is on the back nine of his career. Fields, who just turned 25, could be their future franchise quarterback and all he cost was a sixth-round pick.

1) Chase Claypool trade

There is no deal more impressive by Khan than his trade of Claypool. 

A second-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2020, Claypool showed flashes of greatness, totaling 121 receptions for 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two seasons. The Notre Dame product, however, never put it all together.

After an underwhelming start to his 2022 season and enduring criticism for his lack of effort at times, Claypool was dealt to the Bears for their 2023 second-round pick (No. 32). It turned out to be the first pick in the second round because the Bears had the worst record in the league (3-14).

That pick became cornerback Joey Porter Jr., the son of former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter. Porter Jr. quickly established himself as Pittsburgh's best corner, and it looks like he'll be a key player on defense for years.

As for Claypool, he had 18 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown in 10 games with Chicago before the Bears sent him to the Dolphins for a 2025 sixth-round pick. He is now a free agent.