Steelers Draft 2024: Key Takeaways from Pre-Draft Press Conferences with Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan had their pre-draft press conference ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, which begins this Thursday night. These were the most notable nuggets from what was said. The Steelers aren’t keen on trading up or down in the draft. Pittsburgh has been identified as a potential trade candidate in the first round. If the Buffalo Bills or Arizona Cardinals, for example, want to move up, the Steelers are almost guaranteed to get a call at No. 20. However, Khan stated that the Steelers will not be in a hurry to trade down, noting that if a solid player they like is on the board when they
This does not rule anything out, but it does provide an insight into the Steelers’ contentment with sitting at No. 20. They want to ‘find Steelers’ Both Tomlin and Khan have stated that they hope to “Find Steelers” in the future. Khan explained that this applies not only to athletes and what they can bring to the field, but also to who they are as individuals. Khan used Isaac Seumalo as an example of a player they were very interested in last offseason, and after they brought him in and got to know him, they decided they wanted to sign him.
Patrick Queen claimed something similar during his debut press conference, claiming that Mike Tomlin informed him that he was a Steeler and wanted to come to Pittsburgh. They want both high-quality footballers and high-quality men. The Steelers ‘aren’t thirsty’ for any one position. Both Tomlin and Khan acknowledged the effort done in free agency and trades to fill need positions this offseason. “We’ve addressed a lot of needs,” Tomlin added. “[We] don’t feel overly thirsty in any particular area.”
Most notably, the Steelers signed two receivers in free agency: Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins. Even at center, probably the most pressing position, Khan stated that the Steelers “have guys on the roster who have flexibility [to play center.]”
Having saying that, the Steelers openly stated their confidence in Kenny Pickett before signing Russell Wilson. They are not going to entirely reveal their hand ahead of the draft. Do they like the folks in the building? I am sure they do. However, I’m sure they understand that Nate Herbig cannot be the starting center in Week 1. Similarly, they understand that Jefferson and Watkins cannot and will not be their only receiver options.