Steelers' Insider Suggests That 1st Round Trade Is A Real Possibility

The Pittsburgh Steelers promoted noted cap manager Omar Khan to take over for Kevin Colbert as general manager in 2022. Colbert had a successful 23-year run as the general manager for the black and gold and Khan has no small task replacing him. In one of his first moves, he convinced his competitor for the position Andy Weidl to come to work for the Steelers under the perceived presumption he would set the draft board.

The NFL combine has come and gone in Indianapolis and the Steelers and Khan are demonstrating that they learned from decades of Pittsburgh draft strategy. They are picking someone up at 17, probably. Mark Kaboly, the reporter who covers the Steelers for the Athletic published his thoughts on the combine and the new general manager’s performance. Kaboly’s number one takeaway is that the Steelers might be open to a day-one trade. The thought of a draft day trade in round one might make fans cringe after the Devin Bush Jr debacle, but he isn’t deterred in his assessment.

“The Steelers have been more open to trades lately,” Kaboly observes. “At least more than in the past, but the fact remains when it comes to the draft, they pretty much stay put on the first day. They moved up to get Troy Polamalu, Santonio Holmes and Devin Bush in Colbert’s 23 years as general manager. One is a Hall of Famer, another is a Super Bowl MVP and the other one a colossal bust.”

Bush is a very fresh wound for the fan base. Even the most fervent apologist for the first-round round pick has to admit that any NFL success he may have won’t be in Pittsburgh. He desperately needs a change of scenery, but he is a bust. The fastest way to heal might be to try again. Khan isn’t opposed to the possibility, as he stated at the combine. 

“I’d say all options are on the table,” Khan said. “If there’s a good football player and we have the opportunity to go get him if we can get him, we’re going to go get him.”

Kaboly pointed out that Colbert often said similar things, but Khan has already demonstrated a willingness to trade. He pulled off getting the 33rd pick for Chase Claypool so the idea of moving up is possible but it has to hit big. Khan’s tenure could get off to a rocky start if he pulls off a trade and picks a player who is not a foundational piece for the next decade in Pittsburgh. 

Steelers General Manager Omar Khan is Determined To Maximize Kenny Pickett's Contract

The veteran writer from the Athletic did chime in on the rampant Jordan Addison speculation and his proposed reunion with Kenny Pickett. Kaboly didn't burst with enthusiasm at the idea of reuniting the Pitt Panthers 2021 tandem. 

“Addison ran a 4.49 in the 40 that solidified his mid-round selection,” Kaboly wrote. “Addison wants to play with Pickett, and Pickett wants to play with Addison. But a receiver is somebody you don’t trade up to get. Not these days. The Steelers have been much more comfortable selecting receivers in the second round because there is more value there.”

The Steelers have very specific priorities they must address, and the third wide receiver does not seem like it is the right move in the first round. Weidl is known for building from the inside out and a draft-day trade for a top player in the trenches seems like a better fit. However, Khan is in charge and if he feels like being aggressive for another position, he could establish his own unique identity on his first draft night.