Steelers' Omar Khan Reveals Motivation For Aggressive 2024 Roster Moves: "I Owe It To Steeler Nation"

The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Omar Khan to replace Kevin Colbert after the 2022 NFL Draft. The general manager title did not exist in the organization before the team created it for Colbert in 2010. Before that, Colbert was the director of football operations. Different title, same job. At least, it was before Khan started doing it. 

The new general manager hit the ground running during the 2023 offseason and sent a clear signal that it was not business as usual in Pittsburgh. He and Andy Weidl put together the Steelers' best draft class in years and supplemented them with mixed results from the 2023 free agent market and some key trades. Mike Tomlin returned to the playoffs in 2023, but lost in the first round again.

Khan was aggressive with roster upgrades, but no one could have predicted what was coming in the 2024 offseason. On Monday, Khan met with members of the Pittsburgh media after the NFL's Annual League Meeting in Orlando, FL. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers general manager addressed his flurry of activity during the 2024 offseason and hinted that he was not done wheeling and dealing. 

“I’m just trying to do everything I can to help,” Khan said. “I owe it to Steeler Nation to do everything I can to try to get to the Super Bowl. Every decision we make that we talk about is based on that. We’re gonna keep plugging away."

Pittsburgh is in the midst of the second-longest playoff win drought in the organization's history. Tomlin has received the lion's share of the blame from the fan base, but the roster construction before Khan took over was terrible. The Steelers have averaged retaining just one member of each draft class since 2016. The lack of talent is at least equally to blame for the now five-game playoff losing streak. 

One of Khan's moves during the 2024 offseason was to trade one of only four Pittsburgh wide receivers who had signed a second contract with the organization during the free agency era. Calling Diontae Johnson a hostage is a stretch, but he certainly was not first in line to volunteer. This move has created a hole in the 2024 roster he shared with reporters is still in the process of being filled.

“I think we’re always going to add to every room, including that one,” Khan continued. “We have some players we feel good about. I can't speak for the coaches, but I think they will do things and adjust things based on who the receivers are at the position. It’s safe to assume we will continue to add to that room.” 

Pittsburgh has added depth pieces that members of the organization are familiar with. They've signed Van Jefferson, who played for Arthur Smith with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, and Quez Watkins, who was with the Philadelphia Eagles during Weidl's tenure with the team. Based on their current career trajectories, it would be a stretch to consider either the likely number two receiver option in Smith's offense for 2024. 

Khan and the Steelers will likely look to add a member of a very deep wide receiver class. Under Colbert, the Steelers were very adept at identifying talent at the position. They found players like Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and the current projected number-one receiver in Pittsburgh, George Pickens, in the later rounds of the NFL Draft. Khan and Weidl will likely get their first opportunity to match their evaluations of the position against those of their predecessor. 

The most popular topic of the Steelers offseason revolves around the quarterback position. When asked about the total makeover of the quarterback room, Khan answered, and if you listen closely, you can almost hear the wink and nod in his response.

“Obviously, some things transpired,” Khan concluded. “We feel good where the room is. We feel good about 2024 with the quarterbacks we have. Things changed from when we were in Indy [for the 2024 NFL Combine] to here, some things happened and probably didn’t anticipate the way things would go. But we’re excited about where we are.”

Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson under bizarre contract circumstances. He will earn about $39 million to play quarterback in 2024. The Denver Broncos will pay nearly $38 million to a 35-year-old quarterback entering the twilight of his career. It was judicious to capitalize on the situation and resist locking Wilson up beyond 2024.

Khan did not stop with Wilson's acquisition. He added one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in NFL history. The Steelers traded a conditional sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for Justin Fields. Despite his three years of experience, Fields is nearly a year younger than the now-departed Kenny Pickett. On Monday, Khan signed Kyle Allen as the organization's third quarterback to complete the quarterback room makeover. 

Steelers General Manager Omar Khan Implemented Important Lessons From 2023 Offseason

Khan had to fill various holes before the 2023 offseason and took some calculated risks with older free agents. He is still aggressive, giving Patrick Queen the biggest free agent contract in team history. The 2024 additions of Wilson, Fields, Queen, and DeShon Elliott feel more deliberate and, on paper, are better fits than the 2023 class. The good news for fans is if one offseason produced this much improvement in his free agency evaluations, the April draft may be historic. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you excited to see what trick Khan has up his sleeve next? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.

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