What questions should be asked of Steelers GM Omar Khan at the Combine?
It’s Tuesday, February 24, and that means Steelers GM Omar Khan is at the Combine. It’s the first time he talks—what does he need to say? Obviously, this is a big offseason for numerous reasons, starting with Mike Tomlin’s resignation. Beyond that, the quarterback situation is yet again firmly unsettled, with Aaron Rodgers hovering in the background.
Over the weekend, Ross McCorkle posed a series of questions for Khan to address about the Steelers. Surprise, surprise, it’s a good list, addressing the team’s draft cache, the quarterback class, the defense, TE Pat Freiermuth, and Broderick Jones. But that leaves plenty of room for further questioning.
For example, how big of a role will Mike McCarthy have in the draft process, particularly on the scouting trail with Omar Khan? McCarthy hasn’t always had a nomadic, boots-on-the-ground philosophy in that regard. Tomlin very much did, and Khan was by his side as GM. But in his first year in Pittsburgh, McCarthy may have too many other things on his plate to invest that time away from the office.
The Steelers also have a bevvy of free agents, even if they’re not exactly world-beaters. With a nearly entirely new staff, how does that affect the evaluation of, say, Kenneth Gainwell? Do they want Isaac Seumalo back, or do they want to continue the youth movement? And how does the Steelers’ new offensive line coach play into that?
A lot of discussion around the outside linebacker room, too. With Nick Herbig in a contract year, things are coming to a head. How does Omar Khan envision this room playing out this year? Do they want Herbig in a starting role, and do they feel an urgency to accelerate that prospect? Or is he a valuable enough chip that they can flip for an asset at another position?
Given the changes this offseason, there are as many questions as ever for Omar Khan to face. It’s up to the reporters present, however, to actually ask them. We do have some people there, so one hopes were get a chance to ask something ourselves. One that Khan might actually answer, ideally, since he inherited Tomlin’s gift for skillfully-employed verbose nothingness.
The Steelers exited the playoffs in the first round yet again, a pattern going back to 2017.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are facing another long, long offseason. No doubt we will see many changes, but none will top Mike Tomlin resigning.
The NFL has crowned its latest champion, but for us and the Steelers, we have been in offseason mode. That’s what happens when the team you coverloses by the middle of January all the time, but you’ve been around, so you know that already. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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