Steelers May Already Be Shopping Picks With Insider Predicting Significant Drop In Draft Capital

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan is going to be having a lot of fun once the 2026 NFL Draft occurs. Any front office would love to have 12 total picks because it can present so many different opportunities as each day and the weekend progresses. Multiple trades could end up happening because it is not often that a dozen rookies end up making a roster that only consists of 53 players. This is where creativity comes in. It will be fascinating to see how the decision-makers in the Steel City value each selection, because there is bound to be some serious wheeling and dealing going on.

The Steelers could simply elect to trade some picks for 2027 capital, but it is the worst-kept secret in the league that many other franchises may have this goal as well. The class coming out a year from now is expected to be much more formidable, which could make it difficult for Khan and co. to somehow trade selections in 2026 for some in 2027.

There also could be the opportunity for Pittsburgh to skyrocket up the board in any given round, especially the early ones. With so many mid-round picks to work with, an aggressive trade up is not out of the realm of possibility. Leaks and reports haven't been plentiful coming out of the Steelers' camp, so fans could possibly be surprised about what happens.

During a fan chat hosted on Tuesday by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat writer Ray Fittipaldo, there was a lot of attention on the NFL Draft. It will be the next big step in revamping the roster, and will essentially mark the end of serious depth chart reconstruction. Due to the projected 12 overall selections, someone asked the insider what his expectations are when it comes to what Khan truly wants to end up using altogether.

"That's a question for Khan, but I think their sweet spot is probably 7 or 8 picks," Fittipaldo wrote.

Having a dozen selections, only to potentially part ways with four or five of them is not a simple task. It would take a lot of moving around and plenty of willing partners to maneuver something such as that. However, there truly is no reason to hold onto draft capital if it is going to be wasted. Khan might be looking to get rid of almost half in order to move up for the right player(s), or push out some to 2027.

Khan is known for being very aware of the market and what he can and can't get away with when it comes to trades. The 12 picks that the Steelers possess is not likely to hold — it's just a matter of how Pittsburgh uses some of them to its advantage. There are plenty of outcomes that are being seen as possible, but only the brass in the Steel City truly knows how it wants to approach this rare opportunity.

Additionally, the NFL Draft is being hosted in the Steel City. This shouldn't change how the front office operates in any way, but if a specific trade offer comes in and the team has the chance to move way up the board to create some excitement, it would be pretty fun for fans in attendance. The bottom line is that Khan has options, and he knows it. The organization will do whatever it can to maximize the 12 picks at its disposal.

Steelers Are Likely Envied By Good Portion Of The NFL

Pittsburgh played the compensatory pick game back in the 2025 offseason, and it truly worked out to the advantage of the franchise. While the team probably wishes that the same could have been accomplished for 2027, something is better than nothing. No one can rule out Khan when it comes to the trade market, and if he does shrink the total selections from 12 to eight, it shouldn't come off as a surprise if some kind of 2027 capital is coming the Steelers' way.

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