Steelers' Mike Tomlin Fully Embraces His Opportunity To Interact With Top Prospects At Senior Bowl

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin is spending time at the Senior Bowl practices this week in Mobile, Alabama. Tomlin has become a fixture at the game recently and maximizes his ability to talk to potential draft picks and future free agent targets. The Steelers head coach lamented spending another week at the Senior Bowl at his end-of-the-year press conference, but he seems to enjoy and thrive in the environment.

One of the virtues repeatedly espoused by talking heads like Skip Bayless and Mike Greenberg, for example, is that if they could play for any coach, it would be Tomlin. There is no debating Tomlin's presence and his ability to command respect. It is one of his greatest strengths and an underutilized aspect that the Steelers could exploit in free agency.

On Tuesday, Tomlin was spotted by Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette getting up close and personal with one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fittipaldo took to social media to share a picture of an interaction between Tomlin and Tyler Guyton from the Oklahoma Sooners.

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Guyton is currently projected as a second-round draft pick, but that could change after a solid performance at the Senior Bowl, followed by a strong turn at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. The Steelers have been associated with Amarius Mims from the University of Georgia in several mock drafts in the first round. If Pittsburgh goes in another direction, like Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid Mckinstry, Guyton would be a solid alternative in the second round. 

Guyton was one of several prospects that Tomlin took time to meet and greet. After the Senior Bowl practices wrapped up for the day, Fittipaldo captured Tomlin introducing himself to Jackson Powers-Johnson. Powers-Johnson, from the Oregon Ducks, is considered one of the country's best center prospects. 

It is encouraging to see Tomlin interacting with a Pac-12 prospect. The Steelers have only drafted 13 players from the conference since Tomlin became the head coach in Pittsburgh. Powers-Johnson could come off the board before Omar Khan uses his second-round draft pick in April. If he is available however, the Steelers should seriously consider ending the mysterious Pac-12 freeze-out that has been going on since Pittsburgh took JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2017.

During Tuesday's practice, Tomlin did not limit his attention to the offensive line. He was also spotted congratulating Ladd McConkey, a star wide receiver for the Georgia Bulldogs. His father, Phil McConkey, spent six seasons with the New York Giants after fulfilling his military service requirements after starring for the Navy Midshipmen. 

The Steelers' 2023 draft was outstanding. Khan and Andy Weidl get a lot of the credit when it is discussed. Tomlin is a big part of the process and deserves recognition. He was part of the destruction of the roster by Kevin Colbert over his last seven drafts, but for whatever reason, the dynamic has changed. It could be as simple as Khan and Weidl pointing Tomlin at different prospects to fall in love with. Whatever has changed, it is working.

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you happy to see Tomlin focusing on two of the top offensive line prospects? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq. 

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