Steelers' Omar Khan Made 1 Grave Mistake In Free Agency That Could Haunt Team In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had anything but an ordinary offseason in 2024. It began quiet, but then reports of Russell Wilson coming to town began a domino of events. General Manager Omar Khan signed Patrick Queen, stealing him from the Baltimore Ravens, and also went on to trade both Kenny Pickett and Diontae Johnson. The offseason spree continued when the "Khan Artist" acquired Chicago Bears' 2021 first-round pick Justin Fields for a conditional sixth-round pick. The plethora of moves have been entertaining, but the team failed to address a significant area of need and it begs he question: who will snap the football to Wilson?

The Steelers released Mason Cole after two mediocre seasons in Pittsburgh. He signed a free-agent contract in 2022 after the team quickly decided that 2021 third-round pick Kendrick Green wasn't the future at the position. Cole was notably terrible in 2023. He was far from consistent in all areas, but also struggled with the number one thing he was paid to do: snap the football.

The Steelers set up a meeting with former Buffalo Bills' center Mitch Morse not too long after the Bills parted ways with the veteran. He ended up leaving the Steel City without a deal and traveled south to meet with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Letting Morse leave Pittsburgh resulted in him joining the Jaguars, which left the Steelers' center search stagnant.

It all comes full circle when one takes a look at Pittsburgh's biggest needs after the main wave of free agency. The team decided to trade Johnson, but failed to sign a center. George Pickens is the only wide receiver on the roster that one can consider as a legitimate threat while Wilson and Fields currently have no real clue who the center at the top of the depth chart will be. The team technically doubled up on problematic depth issues on the offensive side of the ball.

The recent moves during the offseason have been exciting, but the glaring holes at the wide receiver and center positions can't go unnoticed. Khan may be cooking up a big trade for a guy like Brandon Aiyuk, but as great as the stretch in March has been, it would be a heck of a lot better if Morse never left Pittsburgh and signed the dotted line.

It's pretty clear that the organization had some sort of plan to shop Johnson as he entered the final year of his contract. There's nothing wrong with moving on from someone who may have been a locker room distraction, but the franchise is now left with a monumental decision when the 20th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around.

Jackson Powers-Johnson out of the University of Oregon is a popular pick. Pittsburgh has only selected a center in the first round once in franchise history. Maurkice Pouncey ended up being a staple on the offensive line for a decade. The glaring need for a play-maker alongside Pickens may now have taken the front seat, however. Signing Morse and going on to trade Johnson would have set the team up perfectly. Instead, they have two huge needs and no answers just yet.

Steelers Will Address More Needs Before 2024 NFL Draft

It's possible that Head Coach Mike Tomlin is comfortable with Nate Herbig, Spencer Anderson, and maybe even James Daniels stepping in at center in 2024. It's unlikely that they don't add to the room, though. Based on the available options in free agency, the draft is becoming more and more of a possibility. That could lead the front office to make a big move via trade for a top wide receiver. Signing Morse for a measly two years and $10.5 million could have solved a lot of present issues.

Do you think the Steelers made a mistake by not signing Morse? Let us know in the comments below!

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