While the Pittsburgh Steelers are enjoying their time off, some of the fan base is getting extremely frustrated with the team. This is usually the quiet time of the year, but it has been even more silent than most other years. To some, it may be too quiet, like maybe General Manager Omar Khan is cooking up a big surprise for everyone behind the scenes. He's always looking to make some sort of splash and improve the team in any way possible. While a few players are out on a retreat, that could be exactly what the GM is focusing on.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan (left) and Owner Art Rooney II (right) on the field at a team practice while having a discussion.
Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case for now. In his weekly Q&A chat, insider Ray Fittipaldo shut that idea down quickly when asked about it being a possibility.
"No," Fittipaldo said. "Not before [training] camp."
For an insider that usually gives some sort of explanation or detail, this was about as straightforward as it could get. There are many reasons for not working on trades, with the main reason right now being the fact that there's no one on the block that would be a significant upgrade for Pittsburgh. It doesn't make sense to try and make a deal for the sake of making a deal.
Khan has developed a reputation of being a very aggressive general manager. However, he is not overly aggressive. He will call and ask about anyone and everyone he thinks would be a benefit to the team, and he will not hesitate to negotiate if any of these other general managers show even the slightest bit of interest in one of his guys -- but he doesn't force things to happen.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan intently making a crucial phone call during the intensity of draft night, coordinating key decisions to shape the future of the franchise.
When training camp rolls around and all 32 teams get a better idea of what kind of roster they have, then Khan might start calling around again. For now, though, it will likely remain quiet at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex as players and coaches get a much-needed vacation before the grind of a long season starts back up. Once training camp begins, there will be no stopping this train.
Steelers Are Busy Working On Other Things Behind The Scenes
There may not be any big trades coming up, but there are still negotiations going on as we speak. In this case, though, Khan is just working with his own guys. It starts with rookie quarterback Drew Allar, who has not signed his rookie contract yet. Time is ticking before camp starts up, and the last thing that the Steelers want is drama at the passer position. It's possible they're in the midst of trying to end a game of chicken with the Arizona Cardinals.
Meanwhile, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is looking for a blockbuster extension. Numerous reports have said that these talks will likely go into August as the cornerback will likely be "holding-in" and sitting out of practice. It's unclear exactly how much progress has come from these negotiations, but there needs to be plenty of dialogue going back and forth so Porter doesn't miss all of training camp and preseason.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Expectations are that the Steelers won't sign any free agents until training camp either, but there could still be some negotiations going on in that regard as well. Reports say that a handful of teams are interested in bringing in Stefon Diggs, and that may or may not include Pittsburgh. Khan could also be organizing a shortlist of players to sign in case injuries pop up in July and August as the team ramps up its practices.
What do you think about the severe lack of news surrounding the Steelers currently? Do you think big moves will be made in training camp? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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