Omar Khan’s NFL Draft magic and Steelers UDFAs
The sports media world has been abuzz with noise about Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan and his mystical skills since the 2023 NFL Draft opened and then closed with an audible sigh. Yes, the “Khan Artist” had already been viewed by many as a bit of a talent and salary cap wizard, including his actions with assistant general manager Andy Weidl during free agency. The majority of sporting news outlets have given the Steelers organization as high of a draft grade as an “A.”
Handing out draft grades can be highly speculative as every team feels the players they selected were guys that could make an impact for their club. If you asked around, fans of all 32 teams would likely feel optimistic about who their team added. There are fans who aren’t happy with particular “picks” or positions that were addressed, and that’s all part of getting caught up in the anticipation the NFL Draft brings.
Instead of a grade, let’s talk about what Khan and the Steelers organization was able to accomplish, the free agents they’ve brought in, and how the post-draft energy carries into the next few months.
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Reviewing the draft
There were positions of need and depth that Pittsburgh would target per most analysts. Those positions were: cornerback, offensive tackle, defensive line. How the team would prioritize finding “their” player at those positions was the part that had fans on the edges of their seats.
Khan and company saw the run on offensive linemen ramp up in the opening round and pulled the trigger to move up without busting their entire draft board. The addition of Broderick Jones is an immediate upgrade to an offensive line nearly everyone – fans and analysts – felt improved in 2022 but needed a bigger boost. Mission accomplished.
Khan admitted to the press that he didn’t consider himself to be aggressive, to which head coach Mike Tomlin said, “He’s aggressive.” Khan said his motivation is a Super Bowl.
With their next two picks, the Steelers addressed cornerback and defensive line with Joey Porter, Jr. and Keeanu Benton. Pittsburgh made those picks without a misstep. No hesitation.
Although it was not a position many felt was a draft “priority,” the Steelers grabbed tight end Darnell Washington – who blocks like an offensive lineman and has soft hands. The Steelers didn’t think he’d fall, but there he was and Khan said it’s the team’s gain that others questioned Washington’s health.
To get Washington, Khan traded the 80th overall pick to the Carolina Panthers for the 93rd and 132nd pick and got right back into the fourth round where they’d exited to go up to get Jones, earlier.
Magic, right?
The Steelers then turned that move into a selection for linebacker Nick Herbig. Whether they utilize him as an EDGE or as an interior linebacker has yet to be determined. But linebacker was in the second tier of many “draft needs” lists for Pittsburgh.
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After a period of evaluation on the players they’d already picked, Khan and the Steelers staff reevaluated their board and, when their time came in the seventh round, rounded out their draft with cornerback Cory Trice and interior offensive lineman Spencer Anderson.
Both Trice and Anderson had decent pre-draft ratings, so was it pure luck that they fell to the Steelers? Some think so. Others think that Pittsburgh was already hot and just remained on-course and focused.
“I have a great group of people that I did this with, and they worked really hard for this organization… It’s just exciting. I don’t know if it’s hit me completely yet.” – Omar Khan on his first official draft as general manager
Undrafted free agents
Every year there are players that don’t get selected in the draft. Nature of the beast and all that. There has always been talent to be found in UDFAs, though. Rare rough stones that get polished into gems.
Look at rusher Jaylen Warren. Warren shined like a diamond last year in training camp and became the primary back behind Najee Harris
The Steelers have listed the following players as UDFAs they’ve agreed to terms with:
- WR/RS Jordan Byrd (San Diego State)
- FB Monte Pottebaum (Iowa)
- QB Tanner Morgan (Minnesota)
- K B.T. Potter (Clemson)
- LB David Perales (Fresno State)
- DE James Nyamwaya (Merrimack)
- C Trevor Downing (Iowa State)
This list will change. The Steelers – like all NFL teams – will bring players in and evaluate them on a more in-depth level and either send them on or invite them to camp. Likewise, other teams may cut ties with players that the Steelers then bring in.
The beauty of this evaluation process is that it allows the Steelers to essentially utilize “selection” beyond their limited number of “draft picks” without risk. It also gives them opportunities to test strengths and weaknesses in members of their current roster by allowing UDFAs to do workouts with them and see where progress from injuries or new skill acquisition stands.
Before fans realize, minicamps, training sessions, and more transactions will be underway as official training camp sneaks up on us all.
In summary, Khan had an excellent first draft as the general manager of the Steelers. Now, we all get to see how those selected players – and any UDFAs who have something special to offer – fit into the big picture that is schemes, units, and the near-future of the franchise.
