Steelers' Omar Khan Suddenly Finds Himself In A Perfect Spot To Force Bidding War

The Pittsburgh Steelers have 12 draft picks in their pocket for the 2026 NFL Draft. Many pundits do not expect them to use all 12 of those picks. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has never been shy about moving up or even moving back on the board if he finds a way to gain an edge. In this case, Khan has been holding onto significant draft capital, and it has become widely expected that the Steelers will not remain stationary once April 23rd arrives.

New information from NFL insider Jordan Schultz has revealed that this 2026 NFL Draft is largely expected to be trade heavy. The bigger news is that it is expected to be trade heavy because several key positions are considered scarce in this class. The deepest position group is wide receiver, which creates an imbalance across the board.

Because of that imbalance, Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy are now in a prime position to put other teams in this draft into a bidding war for their surplus draft capital. With so many teams looking to address thinner position groups, Pittsburgh’s flexibility and abundance of picks could allow them to maximize value by trading up for premium talent or trading down to accumulate even more assets.

"The expectation among many NFL teams is that the 2026 draft will be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory, according to multiple league sources," Schultz said. "Specifically, on the defensive side of the ball — EDGE, CB and LB are all strong/deep — while WR is typically considered to be the most talented offensive position."

The other part of what Schultz had to report that favors Khan is the fact that teams are expected to be eager to acquire an abundance of Day 2 and Day 3 picks. The Steelers have five picks within the top 100, and they also hold seven additional selections in the later rounds. 

That presents a significant amount of opportunity, and Khan is the one holding all the power as the Steelers kick off the draft in the Steel City of Pittsburgh for the first time in NFL history.

"Several executives I’ve spoken with believe we’re likely to see a flurry of activity in the first half of Round 1," Schultz further explained. "Additionally, because this specific draft lacks depth in the later rounds, many teams plan to pursue extra Day 2 and early Day 3 picks, per league sources."

With so many teams searching for immediate impact players and depth across a thinner-than-usual class, the Steelers enter the 2026 NFL Draft in a uniquely advantageous position. Khan’s willingness to maneuver up, down, or completely out of certain selections gives Pittsburgh the kind of flexibility that can reshape a draft board in real time. 

Steelers Hold All Of The Power As The 2026 NFL Draft Quickly Approaches

Whether the goal is to target a premium prospect or to capitalize on multiple trade opportunities, the abundance of picks allows the Steelers to dictate conversations rather than react to them. As the demand for Day 2 and Day 3 assets continues to rise league-wide, Pittsburgh’s stockpile becomes even more valuable. 

If Khan plays his hand correctly, the Steelers will not only add talent to their roster, but also potentially turn draft-day chaos into a strategic advantage that sets the foundation for sustained success moving forward. The other news that Steeler Nation is set to find out about is Aaron Rodgers' decision before the draft.

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