PHOENIX -- Just as Mike Tomlin already said this week, the Steelers aren't done adding to the roster just yet.
Omar Khan sat down with local reporters Tuesday afternoon -- in the same setting Tomlin did on Sunday -- to discuss what the team has done already through free agency, along with what's in store for the Steelers over the next few weeks.
Needless to say, all the work that's going into the draft has Khan excited for April 27.
"I wish the draft was today," Khan said. "I'm ready. I wish it was today."
Khan's first full offseason as general manager has started with a very busy and productive free agency period. The main emphasis has been revamping inside linebacker by signing Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, along with a strong reinforcement the interior of the offensive line by adding Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig.
But, with the initial wave of signings in the rearview mirror, more focus in recent days is geared toward the draft.
"I'm super excited," Khan said. "You know, we had meetings in February, and we've been going through the pro days the last couple of weeks. We started with 30 visits last week. That's going to continue, and then our meetings are coming up with the coaches in a couple of weeks. I'm fired up. I'm feeling really good about where we're at."
As Khan laid it out during the Combine, the draft process relies on the construction of the big board. Assistant GM Andy Weidl has been tasked with putting that together, along with input from director of player scouting Mark Sadowksi and director of college scouting Dan Colbert. Of course, Khan, Tomlin and Art Rooney II will have their say in constructing the big board as well, and those three will ultimately make the decisions during the draft.
However, Weidl's influence has already been evident throughout free agency. It was difficult to foresee just how much of a tangible influence he would have, especially when considering how much pull the trio of Khan, Tomlin and Rooney have in ultimate decision-making. But, the Steelers have brought in multiple players, including Seumalo and Herbig, that have previous ties to Weidl when he served in the Eagles' front office.
Khan hasn't hesitated in utilizing Weidl's expertise and experience in free agency. It's helped them land a couple of impactful signings that make the offensive line better.
"The benefit of having new people in the building is that they've had access and gotten to know players and other places," Khan said. "I put a value on that. Andy obviously knew those players and was able to vouch for them not only as players -- you know, we can evaluate them on film and come up with a grade and decide whether it would work or not -- but just having it's an advantage to have extra people in your building. Now I can kind of tell you about the person and how they are off the field and in the locker room."
In turn, Khan will continue to lean on his group in the front office -- Weidl included -- as they pivot more toward draft preparation. Even with the Senior Bowl, Combine and a lot of pro day visits behind them, there's still a month to go until the draft. There's still a lot of work to be done so the Steelers can take full advantage of having three picks in the top 50 and four in the top 80. It's a position the team isn't in very often, especially coming off yet another season over .500.
While Weidl, Sadowski and other newcomers bring their own flavor to the draft process, Khan was clear that there hasn't been some sort of monumental shift or complete overhaul in what the Steelers value heading into the draft.
"I'd say for the most part, the process is very similar to the way we did it before," Khan said. "Just having fresh ideas from Andy, Mark Sadowski, Sheldon White, just hearing how they did certain things, we've incorporated some of those ideas. ... When we went to the Senior Bowl, we added some different things to how we looked at things. We've had some great, fresh ideas from those guys. But for the most part, I'd say it's very similar."
In addition to the fresh ideas that Khan's group has provided, Khan himself could be the difference maker if there's any noticeable change in how to attack the draft. Khan, who describes himself as an aggressive dealmaker, once again reinforced what he said at the Combine -- that the Steelers will be open to any possible way of improving the roster.
"This is a really good draft and I'm very fortunate that my first draft is really good," Khan said. "So I love the idea of having a lot of picks, but you know, all options are on the table. Obviously there's an opportunity to trade up to get a player that we think that's an impact player and can help us right away, or be a good long-time Steeler, we're going to evaluate it, but all options are on the table."
The Steelers could trade down and acquire more draft capital. They could trade up if there's a particular player they really want still available at a certain spot. They could stand pat with an already good standing in the draft order. Khan's more than ready to embrace the challenge.
Putting three or four different minds together to make decisions isn't easy. There's always a possibility that Khan, Tomlin, Rooney and even Weidl could feel four different ways about whether to draft a certain player, trade up, trade down, etc. But, they've been on the same page throughout free agency, and it's produced impactful signings. As the Steelers prepare for an important draft, Khan expects that consistency to continue.
"I really feel good about the process," Khan said. "In our meetings, in my opinion, the discussions are good. It helps you make the right decision. We're going through that right now. It's almost a daily conversation."
MORE FROM THE OWNERS' MEETINGS
• The Steelers are kicking things more and more into draft preparation. But, that doesn't mean they are done looking to add to the roster in free agency.
"No, I'd say we keep evaluating what's out there," Khan said. "There's still a lot of good players out there. As much as we're interested in them, they gotta be interested in us. We're still going through that process. That's a nonstop. We're still evaluating everything."
• Khan reinforced what Tomlin said about the Seumalo signing, that he was a target from the outset of free agency. It may not have seemed like that on the surface, given the time it took for the deal to come together -- and when it came together (late on a Saturday night). Regardless, there was no question the Steelers were zeroed in on upgrading the interior of the offensive line with Seumalo.
"In preparation for free agency, we had some detailed meetings. He was he was a player that we were excited about," Khan said. "Free agency is a little tricky. Sometimes you're able to sign players, you sign players that you want to sign, other times you don't sign players that you thought you were going to be able to sign. Other times, you end up signing a player that you didn't think you were gonna be able to sign."
• Khan confirmed Tuesday that the Steelers wanted to re-sign Edmunds and made him an offer. However, it was clear that Edmunds was ready to face a new challenge elsewhere.
"We have a lot of respect for Terrell," Khan said. "He’d been here for five years, and we were interested. We had conversations with him, and obviously he decided that the best thing for him was to pursue an opportunity elsewhere. A lot of respect for him. He'll always be a Steeler. He knows that."
• The various rule changes have been announced by the NFL. Unsurprisingly, making roughing the passer penalties reviewable was not approved by NFL ownership. I've got a separate piece on that.
