The Pittsburgh Steelers and General Manager Omar Khan continue to plan to improve the roster ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The needs for the team are not a secret with the main focuses expected to be on the offensive line, wide receiver and cornerback positions. Luckily for the franchise, those are three of the best positional groups in the 2024 draft class. The team could elect to stay put and see how the board falls, or in the event that Khan is feeling aggressive, Pittsburgh could be calling a familiar trade partner that is in dire need of more draft capital.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan sits in front of the media to answer questions during his first NFL Scouting Combine as the head of the team's front office in 2023.
Many might believe that if Khan decides to move up or down on Thursday evening, it will be relatively modest. In 2023, he jumped up three spots to use the New England Patriots' original selection for offensive tackle Broderick Jones. A similar deal could be struck to leap the Cincinnati Bengals at 18 in order to draft a franchise-altering right tackle, but what if Khan is feeling more aggressive than ever?
Look no further than to Ryan Poles, general manager of the Chicago Bears. While the team out of the Windy City is expected to draft generational prospect Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, Chicago also holds another pick within the top 10. The ninth spot could be extremely attractive for a team like Pittsburgh, especially if one of the top three wide receivers is trickling down the board.
There is precedent for a Steelers and Bears trade. It began when Khan swindled Poles, dealing the disgruntled Chase Claypool to Chicago for a second-round pick that resulted in the selection of Joey Porter Jr. Most recently, Pittsburgh acquired high-upside quarterback Justin Fields for just a sixth-round conditional selection in 2025. Even if it doesn't work out, it's already being looked at as worth the risk.
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Former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) runs away from former Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton during a 2021 regular season game at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA..
The key to a potential move up to number nine will be using the Bears' draft capital against them. Despite having two picks in the top 10, Chicago only has two picks for the remainder of the 2024 NFL Draft afterwards. Not enough outlets are discussing the possibility of Poles picking up extra picks in order to bolster the roster around a young signal-caller like Williams.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is set to pick twice in round three, while also having a total of four selections in the top 100 alone. If the Bears' target is a wide receiver, it is an extremely deep class, and they may not be fully sold on taking either Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze. That could open the window for a team like the Steelers to catapult up 11 spots.
Khan and co. didn't host any of the wideouts expecting to go in the first round for a top 30 visit, unless somehow Ladd McConkey slips into round one. Khan has swindled Poles and the Bears before. This isn't insinuating it will happen again, but given recent history and Khan's aggressive nature, nothing can be ruled out, especially when it comes to moving up the board on draft day.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stands on the field in Pittsburgh, PA while the team warms up before a contest.
Steelers Won't Force Issue When It Comes To Wide Receiver In 2024 NFL Draft
Pittsburgh would have to absolutely love a prospect to move into the top 10. There are too many needs and holes throughout the roster that would suggest a trade back makes much more sense. With that said, if a guy like Nabers is passed on due to a quick rush on quarterbacks, Khan could be picking up the phone and calling his old buddy in Poles.
Are you on board with the Steelers aggressively moving up for one of the top three wide receivers? Let us know in the comments below!
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