Omar Khan will make his annual rounds at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine next week, and while he rarely shows his hand, history says it’s worth listening closely.
For example, Khan identified outside linebackers, defensive linemen, and running backs as strengths of the draft class last year. Those ended up being the Steelers’ first three picks.
Khan is firmly from the Mike Tomlin school of saying very little, but history suggests it’s still worth reading between the lines—especially with a new coaching staff in place. Here are the questions I hope to have answered next week from Khan’s various appearances at the combine.
About those 12 picks…
I want to know if he expects to make 12 picks for the first time since 1992 when the draft was still 12 rounds long. It’s hard enough to fit seven rookies on the 53-man roster, let alone 12. Could he consider moving up for a blue-chip talent, which they rarely have access to? Could they use those picks to acquire veterans on the trade market leading up to the event? How does he actually plan to deploy this stockpile?
Even the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry
Khan stressed the importance of stockpiling draft picks last year. It’s no secret they had quarterbacks in mind, and wanted to be able to maneuver the board to acquire one. The 2026 class is way worse than anybody anticipated. Did that catch them off guard, and what does he actually think about this QB class? Do they want to add to the room this offseason?
Return on investment
Even last year Khan admitted they were dissatisfied with their return on investment on defense. Then they went and paid T.J. Watt and acquired Jalen Ramsey via trade to become the highest-paid defense in the league by a wide margin. How can they turn things around if throwing money and resources at the defense didn’t move the needle?
More for Muth
This front office gave Pat Freiermuth a big contract two offseasons ago, yet he’s been criminally underutilized. How does Khan view their return on investment with Freiermuth, and what will that look like going forward with a few more seasons under contract?
Salvageable… barely
Khan’s first-ever draft pick was trading up to acquire OT Broderick Jones. That might also be his worst pick to date. There are a lot of questions here. How is Jones’ health? Is the fifth-year option on the table? Is this new OL staff excited about turning his career around? Or are they ready to give Dylan Cook the reigns?
I of course have many more questions, and I’m sure you do too. I’ll have an opportunity to ask some of these questions next week, but I’m open to hearing what others would like answered. If I like one enough, maybe I will even ask it on Tuesday when Khan speaks to the media.
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