Steelers Warned Omar Khan’s Massive OL Gamble Could Backfire

After Kevin Colbert's final draft in 2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers named Omar Khan as the team's next general manager. Since then, Khan has been committed to rebuilding the team through the trenches, spending all of his first-round picks on either an offensive or defensive lineman. In 2023, he took Broderick Jones, whose career hasn't panned out the way the team has hoped. Then, in 2025, he took Troy Fautanu, who looks like the next up-and-coming NFL tackle. Along the way in that same draft came Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick, two high-quality starters. 

The offensive line was solid in 2024, with Frazier and McCormick having exceptional rookie seasons. In 2025, they were even better. Fautanu got to play a full season after a knee injury that sidelined him for all but one game in his rookie season. While they are improving, the unit is still waiting to take the next step into the elite status Steeler Nation expects of them. Given the amount of talent the group possesses, there's no reason why they can't be among the league's best units. 

To add to the talent, Khan shocked fans when he took another offensive tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Max Iheanachor with the 21st overall pick. With Jones' injury concerns and Dylan Cook having such a small sample size, Khan felt it was appropriate to solidify the offensive tackle spot. That's certainly a lot of investment into one position group, especially with first-round picks. 

Team insider Christopher Carter of the Post-Gazette recently appeared on an episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, where he discussed Khan's overcompensation of the offensive line. Carter says the investments made in the offensive line must pay off, and the group must become what it's expected to be. If not, he believes Khan's stint as the GM will be short-lived. 

"You want to see more of your investments actually panning out, and that's what Steelers fans have to hope this offensive line is a first start of that in the Khan era," Carter stated. "If they do not mature and they do not become a group this team highly invests in, the Omar Khan era is going to be short-lived." 

The Steelers are notoriously known for not firing coaches or GMs. Colbert was with the organization for 22 seasons, and Mike Tomlin was the head coach for 19. Neither necessarily deserved to be fired at any point in their tenures, but both arguably overextended their stay. Though Colbert was the GM and had some very poor draft classes toward the end of his tenure, he never made as strong of a commitment to one position group as Khan has to the offensive line. 

The offensive line shows flashes of greatness, but lacks consistency. Sometimes, it's simply poor play, and other times, it's scheme. They will need to address these issues quickly if they want to take the next step. They have an offensive-minded head coach now in Mike McCarthy, who made one of the most underrated changes on the team. 

Steelers' James Campen Could Be The Team's X-Factor

One of McCarthy's hires was his old offensive line coach with the Green Bay Packers, James Campen. Campen had great success in Green Bay, having one of the league's best units up front. He now joins Pittsburgh, which has perhaps overinvested in the trenches, giving him more than enough talent to work with.

Campen can be the coach who helps the Steelers' young offensive line take the next step into elite status. If he can manage that task, Khan will look like a genius for years to come, and will be way more likely to keep his job.

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