Steelers' Omar Khan Is Orchestrating An Amazing Offseason With A Hidden Agenda

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has operated in new fashion since he took over. Khan has come in and hasn’t been afraid to make bold trades or aggressive signings. While not every move has been a clear win, his willingness to take calculated risks has injected new energy into the franchise during some challenging years. His approach has been both fearless and forward-thinking, aimed at building a sustainable contender.

What makes the 2025 offseason stand out is Khan’s ability to balance winning now with preparing for the future. Most teams tend to pick one path, either chasing immediate success or focusing strictly on long-term development. Khan has managed to do both. Despite significantly improving the roster, the Steelers still hold a projected 12 draft picks next year, have a strong cap position, and feature a roster with many starters still on rookie deals.

Steelers insider Mark Kaboly has been vocal about how impressive this offseason has been under Khan’s leadership. He praised the GM for navigating what most see as an impossible task, building a team that can compete today without mortgaging the future. As the 2025 season approaches, it is becoming increasingly clear that Khan’s methodical yet aggressive strategy is giving the Steelers a real shot at sustained success.

"Steelers are trying to do the impossible," Kaboly said. "Win now and build for the future. It's not easy to pull off but they are doing it well, IMO, so far. They've upgraded their roster with better talent than last year, but still have 11 picks next year, a bunch of cap space next year and all with at least half their starters still playing on their rookie contracts."

Despite Kaboly's claim that the Steelers still have 11 picks, outside of their own picks in each round for 2026 (7), they should be awarded with additional compensatory picks in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds, along with an additional third-rounder they received from the Dallas Cowboys for George Pickens.

Regardless, the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and that drought has begun to create serious pressure on Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Even though Tomlin has never had a losing season in nearly two decades, many fans believe it’s time for a change. The frustration has grown with each early playoff exit, and the team’s string of slightly above-average seasons has left much of the fan base wanting more.

That’s why entering the 2025 season, many Steelers fans were hoping for a complete rebuild. Instead, Khan took a more complex and ambitious route. He improved the roster with experienced talent while maintaining flexibility for the future. It was not a total reset, but it also wasn’t just a push for short-term success. Khan managed to strike a difficult balance that few teams can manage.

Now, the Steelers find themselves in a unique position. They have a veteran team capable of competing right away, a group of young players who can contribute immediately and develop over time, and the draft capital to pursue a true franchise quarterback in 2026. Khan has given the team a real chance to win now without sacrificing the long-term vision, and that approach is quickly changing the outlook in Pittsburgh.

Steelers' 2025 Roster Is Absolutely Built To Contend

The jury is still out on how far this Steelers roster can go in the 2025 season, but one thing is clear: they have the talent to make a legitimate playoff run and potentially contend for a Super Bowl. That does not guarantee they will, but the pieces are in place. The opportunity is real, and for the first time in years, Pittsburgh looks built to do more than just sneak into the postseason.

This offseason, the Steelers made bold, franchise-shaping moves. They brought in star wide receiver DK Metcalf and moved on from Pickens in a stunning shake-up. They addressed multiple weaknesses on defense by trading Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith. Oh, and they added a four-time league MVP at quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.

Despite how the 2025 season plays out, Khan deserves credit for pulling off a difficult balancing act. He did not simply go all-in or hit reset. He crafted a roster that can compete immediately while still preserving flexibility for what comes next. It is a rare approach and one that gives the Steelers a real shot at both short-term success and long-term stability.