Steelers 2023 Offseason Aggression Is Not Surprising According To 1 CBS Insider

The Pittsburgh Steelers have built through the NFL Draft for half a century. The Steelers adjusted a philosophy that had not worked for decades and decided to concentrate on getting really good at the process in 1969. Chuck Noll, Bill Nunn, Dick Haley and Dan Rooney accomplished amazing things and Tom Donahoe and Kevin Colbert continued the Steeler philosophy of using the draft to build winning teams through 2022.

After the 2022 NFL Draft, the Steelers switched general managers and replaced Colbert with salary cap guru Omar Khan. Khan hired one of his main rivals for the job, Andy Weidl, who was a key force in building the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles to help him evaluate and replace the current talent on the roster where necessary. Weidl is an expert in identifying linemen in particular and both he and Khan have been extremely busy.

Aditi Kinkhabwala, an NFL reporter for CBS Sports, joined the PM Team w/Poni & Mueller for her weekly appearance on the afternoon show hosted by Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller. She reminded the duo that Khan has his own plan and he isn't hiding his pursuit of it. 

“All of us have been discussing for awhile now, Omar Khan being more aggressive in doing things,” Kinkhabwala began. “In his first free agency period (doing things) very much as he wants to do them and not necessarily how they have been traditionally done or always been done. I asked him at the combine if you would describe yourself as aggressive, and he said yes and he sure as heck is backing that up.”

The Steelers traded Chase Claypool for the number 32 pick overall and have followed up with the busiest free agency period in Steelers history. They have potentially signed as many as half a dozen new starters and that number could grow depending on how position battles shake out. Free agency wasn’t available as an option when Noll took over the Steelers but if it was, it is hard not to wonder what the Steelers of the 1970s might have looked like under the current NFL system.

Mueller and Fillipponi devoted an extensive portion of their show after the Tuesday trade to the idea that importing Allen Robinson could mean Diontae Johnson would soon be exported via trade. Mueller asked Kinkhabwala if she thought a trade could be forthcoming in the near future.

“I think that everybody’s ears are open in general,” Kinkhabwala replied. “I don’t see it as one-for-one. I don’t at all see it. I also don’t know if Diontae Johnson is not the one that Allen Robinson is, if Diontae Johnson is not the one then George Pickens is. Johnson is not more shoppable, he is a game-breaker. Let’s not forget Robinson is not coming off a WR1 year. The best teams have two wide receiver ones.”

Khan has strategically deployed Weidl and Mike Tomlin as talent evaluators during the offseason. It is not a new duty for Tomlin who truly loves spending time with college prospects and evaluating them as people not just talent. The big difference is that the Steelers have acted on the information that Tomlin has gathered throughout his time in the NFL to aggressively pursue free agents as a viable route to remake the black and gold in Khan’s image.

Steelers GM Omar Khan Upgrades Wide Receiver Room In Bold Gamble

There is no denying the Steelers have a type in free agency and Khan has not abandoned the long-time blueprint. He just enhanced it by going after players like Isaac Seumalo, Patrick Peterson and Robinson who will either turn 30 during the upcoming season. Those three additions are being counted on as key additions to what the Steelers hope will be a Super Bowl formula.

Khan is taking his responsibility to maximize Kenny Pickett’s rookie contract very seriously and with the NFL Draft just a week away it will be very interesting to see how the final puzzle fits together next Sunday night.

What do you think Steeler Nation? Are you pleasantly surprised by Khan’s aggression? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.

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