NFL Draft: Steelers unlikely to trade up in first round
We're just two days away from the start of the NFL Draft. Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and the rest of the decision makers on the South Side are finalizing their plans before trying to add as many quality players to the roster.
One way that doesn't appear to be in their plans is getting overly aggressive and trading up.
"I don't know how realistic it is that we'll move up," Khan said this morning at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "You never know, but staying put or moving back are probably a better, bigger option for us. There are good players that can help us. We're really excited. A lot of work has gone into this."
Trading back would certainly be a change from what the organization has done over the previous two and a half decades. They've traded up for the likes of Troy Polamalu, Santonio Holmes and Devin Bush. Even in Khan's first draft, they traded up three spots to snag Broderick Jones before the Jets had a chance to get him.
This year, Tomlin, Khan and Andy Weidl, who's in charge of building the team's big board, are putting the finishing touches on their own Top 21 board -- the top players specifically fit for the Steelers. With the team not actively looking to trade up for anyone, as Khan said, the plan will be either to stand pat at 21st overall or trade back. With the way this class is structured, that portion of the first round could give the Steelers a number of pathways to choose, specifically at defensive tackle and running back -- two positions that took up 17 of the 30 allotted pre-draft visits.
"I think that's a credit to how deep maybe those positions are," Khan said. "And for us, it's important to get to get to know those guys as much as possible and really sort out how we would stack those guys and take those guys. But I think that's a reflection of how deep those positions are.
"It gives you options, knowing that there's good players at those positions. There's options at different points in the draft where you can acquire those guys."
On the big board, there will be a list will be "several" players that, no matter what, they won't trade away from. The Steelers will be fielding calls between now and all the way up until they are on the clock, but there will be some players that are not worth the risk of missing out on by trading back just to acquire an additional Day 2 pick.
"I think the key, the way I look at it, is you never really want to trade away from a really good player that can help you and the right guy for us," Khan said. "By the time we get to Thursday, we will have identified certain guys that we will not trade away from."
"We're always open, but because we do our due diligence, oftentimes there's somebody available that we're really excited about. I think that it remains the same this year," Tomlin said. "We're open to moving up. We're open to moving back. We've done our mocks beyond 21 for such scenarios. But, particularly in recent years, if my memory serves me correctly, there's been people that we're really excited about when we're on the clock. It's easy to get excited about prospects when you’ve done the work. I imagine I'll be in the same state this year."
Of course, there is intrigue in how the Steelers feel about the quarterback class this year. Khan said this is a good quarterback class, but wouldn't really give a response or indication that there was a franchise type in the group. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, who's the consensus No. 2 quarterback in this class, has been tied more and more to the Steelers in recent days, pretty much ever since the team hosted him for a pre-draft visit. However, it remains uncertain that the Steelers would select him if he were to fall all the way to No. 21.
If they do, then they firmly believe he's their franchise quarterback. Regardless, the team has done a ton of legwork on Sanders and the rest of the class, making sure that if a quarterback is taken early, it's the right guy.
"I'm really comfortable with the amount of research we've done on this class and our preparedness in that area," Tomlin said.
Trading back is truly a viable option for the Steelers, depending on how the draft falls to them. The team would love to get another Day 2 pick. It's truly the sweet spot of this particular draft. And with only having six picks this year, the most likely pathway to getting another pick on Friday night is to trade back in the first round.
Trading George Pickens does not appear to be one way the team wants to do it. And there's no buyer's remorse about using a second-round pick to acquire DK Metcalf. They love the duo they have atop the depth chart.
"We're glad we have George and DK here," Khan said. "I think they're gonna be exciting for everyone to watch."
This year's edition of the NFL Draft is different than what Khan dealt with in his first two from the general manager's chair. Given the strength and depth of a couple positions of need and the intrigue of some skill positions, this particular class lends itself to being patient and then shrewdly aggressive when the right guy comes along.
"We went through our scenarios this morning," Khan said. "There's some really good players out there. I don't think we're saying we're taking this position in this round or that round. We'll just let it come to us."
____________________
ARE YOU SEEING ADS HERE? Support our groundbreaking journalism venture by subscribing to our premium level! That gets rid of all ads, in addition to offering access to our global commenting community, our daily live Q&As with reporters and much more: JOIN US NOW!
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
THE ASYLUM
Chris Halicke
5:19 pm - 04.22.2025South SideNFL Draft: Steelers unlikely to trade up in first round
We're just two days away from the start of the NFL Draft. Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and the rest of the decision makers on the South Side are finalizing their plans before trying to add as many quality players to the roster.
One way that doesn't appear to be in their plans is getting overly aggressive and trading up.
"I don't know how realistic it is that we'll move up," Khan said this morning at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "You never know, but staying put or moving back are probably a better, bigger option for us. There are good players that can help us. We're really excited. A lot of work has gone into this."
Trading back would certainly be a change from what the organization has done over the previous two and a half decades. They've traded up for the likes of Troy Polamalu, Santonio Holmes and Devin Bush. Even in Khan's first draft, they traded up three spots to snag Broderick Jones before the Jets had a chance to get him.
This year, Tomlin, Khan and Andy Weidl, who's in charge of building the team's big board, are putting the finishing touches on their own Top 21 board -- the top players specifically fit for the Steelers. With the team not actively looking to trade up for anyone, as Khan said, the plan will be either to stand pat at 21st overall or trade back. With the way this class is structured, that portion of the first round could give the Steelers a number of pathways to choose, specifically at defensive tackle and running back -- two positions that took up 17 of the 30 allotted pre-draft visits.
"I think that's a credit to how deep maybe those positions are," Khan said. "And for us, it's important to get to get to know those guys as much as possible and really sort out how we would stack those guys and take those guys. But I think that's a reflection of how deep those positions are.
"It gives you options, knowing that there's good players at those positions. There's options at different points in the draft where you can acquire those guys."
On the big board, there will be a list will be "several" players that, no matter what, they won't trade away from. The Steelers will be fielding calls between now and all the way up until they are on the clock, but there will be some players that are not worth the risk of missing out on by trading back just to acquire an additional Day 2 pick.
"I think the key, the way I look at it, is you never really want to trade away from a really good player that can help you and the right guy for us," Khan said. "By the time we get to Thursday, we will have identified certain guys that we will not trade away from."
"We're always open, but because we do our due diligence, oftentimes there's somebody available that we're really excited about. I think that it remains the same this year," Tomlin said. "We're open to moving up. We're open to moving back. We've done our mocks beyond 21 for such scenarios. But, particularly in recent years, if my memory serves me correctly, there's been people that we're really excited about when we're on the clock. It's easy to get excited about prospects when you’ve done the work. I imagine I'll be in the same state this year."
Of course, there is intrigue in how the Steelers feel about the quarterback class this year. Khan said this is a good quarterback class, but wouldn't really give a response or indication that there was a franchise type in the group. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, who's the consensus No. 2 quarterback in this class, has been tied more and more to the Steelers in recent days, pretty much ever since the team hosted him for a pre-draft visit. However, it remains uncertain that the Steelers would select him if he were to fall all the way to No. 21.
If they do, then they firmly believe he's their franchise quarterback. Regardless, the team has done a ton of legwork on Sanders and the rest of the class, making sure that if a quarterback is taken early, it's the right guy.
"I'm really comfortable with the amount of research we've done on this class and our preparedness in that area," Tomlin said.
Trading back is truly a viable option for the Steelers, depending on how the draft falls to them. The team would love to get another Day 2 pick. It's truly the sweet spot of this particular draft. And with only having six picks this year, the most likely pathway to getting another pick on Friday night is to trade back in the first round.
Trading George Pickens does not appear to be one way the team wants to do it. And there's no buyer's remorse about using a second-round pick to acquire DK Metcalf. They love the duo they have atop the depth chart.
"We're glad we have George and DK here," Khan said. "I think they're gonna be exciting for everyone to watch."
This year's edition of the NFL Draft is different than what Khan dealt with in his first two from the general manager's chair. Given the strength and depth of a couple positions of need and the intrigue of some skill positions, this particular class lends itself to being patient and then shrewdly aggressive when the right guy comes along.
"We went through our scenarios this morning," Khan said. "There's some really good players out there. I don't think we're saying we're taking this position in this round or that round. We'll just let it come to us."
____________________
ARE YOU SEEING ADS HERE? Support our groundbreaking journalism venture by subscribing to our premium level! That gets rid of all ads, in addition to offering access to our global commenting community, our daily live Q&As with reporters and much more: JOIN US NOW!
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
We’d love to have you!