Ben Roethlisberger Gives Steelers' Omar Khan Advice To Trade Up For Special Ohio State Star

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to look like a much different football team in the 2026 season. That’s no secret now that Mike Tomlin is stepping away after 19 seasons as head coach. Tomlin was the face of the franchise throughout his tenure, and he often carried the weight of the team’s failures more than anyone else. After the 2024 season, he openly admitted that he owns the lack of playoff success over the past decade, saying he would “happily tote those bags” as the leader of the organization.

As the Steelers begin the search for their next head coach, the front office is also evaluating the future of the roster. There is a sense of uncertainty surrounding the direction of the franchise, because no one truly knows what the team will look like until the new head coach arrives in the Steel City and begins shaping the culture and identity. Adding to the intrigue, the 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, putting even more pressure on the organization to make bold, forward-thinking decisions that could energize the fan base.

During a recent episode of his podcast, Footbahlin, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger offered some notable advice for General Manager Omar Khan. Roethlisberger suggested that the Steelers should consider moving up in the first round of the draft to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, a dynamic defensive playmaker widely viewed as a potential game-changer. If Khan follows that advice, it could signal a willingness to take aggressive risks in order to build the next era of Steelers football. Something Steelers fans believe Khan is capable of doing.

"I want a Troy Polamalu/TJ Watt game changer," Roethlisberger said. "I want a safety. I want a safety that can come in here and you can plug him in... I would go with the Ohio State safety [Caleb] Downs. I believe he is a game changing safety... he probably won't be there at the 21st pick, let's just be honest. I think he's that good that he will be gone early, but is there a way we can move up a pick or two, or five or something? I am not going into the top 10 for him if he's gonna be gone, but we need to get a game-changing type of safety."

Roethlisberger believes that landing a player like Downs would be a huge boost for the organization. He also likes the idea that, if the Steelers drafted Downs, the young safety could learn from veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey. 

Another option Roethlisberger floated was targeting the best linebacker available early in the 2026 NFL Draft, reinforcing the importance of building around elite defensive talent.

For the Steelers’ new regime, the 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh, giving the organization a rare opportunity to make its selections on its home stage for the first time. It’s an exciting moment for fans, but also an uneasy one, as this will be Khan’s first draft without Tomlin at the helm. It will be fascinating to see how Khan approaches roster-building and decision-making now that Tomlin is no longer part of the process.

Steelers Could Land Highly Coveted Safety In 2026 NFL Draft

The Steelers find themselves in unfamiliar territory, but that uncertainty also brings opportunity. Roethlisberger believes Khan should take a more aggressive approach in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft by targeting Downs, while still being mindful of how far up the board he is willing to move. 

Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. currently ranks Downs as the sixth overall prospect on his big board, making him one of the most coveted players in the class.

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