Steelers president hints at draft strategy

Steelers owner Art Rooney II. Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

Steelers president hints at new draft strategy

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 1/27/23

The Steelers hired a new regime following last year's draft. Owner Art Rooney II said there could be a change in draft strategy with the new faces in charge.

General manager Omar Khan and assistant general manager Andy Weidl have already put their stamp on the team and will look to continue doing so in late April.

"I think we're seeing changes already in the way Omar and Andy are preparing for the draft," Rooney II said on Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan. "I think those guys have their own way of doing things. They're a little different from Kevin [Colbert] ... certainly, we'll see some changes in approach to the draft."

Colbert was an old-school scout who loved traveling to watch players in person. Khan and Weidl seem to be numbers guys driven by analytics.

Maybe the Steelers will make more draft-day deals. Colbert typically stuck to their assigned spots, only trading down five times in his entire time with Pittsburgh.

The Steelers know they need to make a couple of splash moves this offseason to compete in their division.

Art Rooney II on the Bengals: “They’re going to be hard to compete with in the future.” #Steelers #NFL
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) January 26, 2023

And year two for QB Kenny Pickett is very important in his continued growth.

The Bengals added Ja’Mar Chase, Trey Hendrickson, Mike Hilton, Chidobe Awuziefor Joe Burrow in year two

What will the Steelers do for Pickett?
— Michael Beck (@MichaelBeck56) January 22, 2023

Khan and Weidl already made quite the deal to acquire pick No. 32 from the Bearsfor WR Chase Claypool earlier this season. And it's surely just the first of many trades the two intend to make.

A new era of surprises could be under way in Pittsburgh.

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