It's going to be pretty hard for Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan to surprise anyone when the 2026 NFL Draft begins. The main reason for that is, with 12 picks, pretty much every possible scenario has already been thrown out there by the media and fans alike. The front office has plenty of options, so trading up, back, or staying put in the first round are all on the table. There have been mixed rumors about whether a lot of teams will be looking to be on the move; however, it all will really depends how the board shakes out and which players slide.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan looks out to the crowd and takes it all in as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice being held at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Khan will have the easiest path to making a strong move up the board in one of the first few rounds. The Steelers have five selections within the first two days, and an added 2027 fifth-rounder due to the George Pickens trade with the Dallas Cowboys. There weren't many players that Pittsburgh invited for a Top 30 visit that are projected to go in the Top 10; however, the right player, such as Makai Lemon, could trigger Khan to get aggressive.
With franchises now only being given eight minutes to make a pick in the first round, trade talks have likely already heated up. General managers need to be aware of what certain organizations are going to ask for, so a quick decision can be made on draft night. This is where Khan's familiarity with a specific NFC foe could trigger a massive move.
On Monday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, hosted a fan chat and, as expected, a lot of the discussion had to do with the 2026 NFL Draft. Someone was curious as to which possible teams the Steelers might be calling if the the right prospects slips early on. The beat writer threw out a new name that hasn't been discussed all that much in regards to a deal with Pittsburgh in round one.
"Omar Khan goes way back with the Saints, who sit at No. 8," Batko noted. "Maybe the Rams at 13 or Bucs at 15 would be more manageable and they're on opposite sides of where the Ravens are picking. Steelers and Ravens often can be found fishing in the same pond."
General Manager Mickey Loomis of the New Orleans Saints has some solid draft capital to work with. However, as the organization attempts to get back to being competitive, having even more could come off as an attractive idea. It would be complicated for Khan to get up to the eighth overall selection without giving up 2027 compensation, but anything is possible.
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New Orleans Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis stares off into the distance as he stands on the field prior to a professional football game.
The Los Angeles Rams seem to be the more likely candidate to get a call from the Steelers. Jumping one spot ahead of the Baltimore Ravens, as Batko noted, could be very advantageous. Now that the Cincinnati Bengals no longer have the 10th overall selection, Pittsburgh wouldn't be jumping over any other AFC North foes to slide into the Top 10.
Speculation will continue to run rampant until the first couple days of the NFL Draft come to a close. The good news is that Khan will have the power to do as he wishes; it's just a matter of the right player slipping just far enough down the board. Khan was very complimentary of Lemon during his pre-draft press conference on Monday, so that may have been a subtle hint.
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University of Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon running past the Rutgers defense in a 2024 college football game.
Steelers Have The Ability To Shock The NFL If They Really Want To
Everyone is consistently speaking and writing about how 2027 draft picks are at a premium because of the expected quarterback class. However, that was once being thought about the 2026 group. If Khan and co. have the ability to make the roster a lot better with an aggressive move or two, no one should be surprised if something ends up happening. It would take a lot to get into the Top 10, but there is no doubt that the Steelers might be considering it.
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