INDIANAPOLIS -- Omar Khan's first full offseason as general manager of the Steelers is well underway.
And now, the tangible differences between he and the previous regime are starting to become apparent.
Before everyone wonders if Khan is going to shake things up and drastically change the way things operate from the top down, that's not what this is. This is still the Steelers' franchise. There's a way the Steelers have done things, and a lot of those processes will remain intact.
"I think because I had been here so long with Kevin [Colbert], the transition has been smooth," Khan told Steelers reporters Tuesday morning at the Scouting Combine's media center. "It doesn't really feel much different. I went to Mobile. I was at the HBCU Combine last week. I went to some school visits during the season."
The Steelers weren't looking for a drastically different approach when Colbert decided to step away from more than two decades atop the front office hierarchy. But, Khan still brings a fresh perspective -- one that was evident enough to Art Rooney II when he addressed a select number of reporters in January.
"I think we're seeing changes already in the way Omar and Andy [Weidl] are preparing for the draft," Rooney said. "Those guys have their own ways of doing things that are a little different from Kevin. Everybody's a little different. Certainly, we'll see some changes in the approach to the draft. Just some of the things they're doing already this time of year are different. ... There are a lot of different ways to get it done right, and I like the way Omar has gone about it so far."
Weidl's addition to the Steelers' front office as assistant general manager gave fans reason to be excited. Weidl was part of the front office in Philadelphia that built one of the best rosters in the NFL. Specifically, the Eagles' offensive and defensive lines are the anchor of that team. In turn, Weidl coming aboard came with an external expectation that he could help build something similar in Pittsburgh.
However, one of the questions that came with that expectation is what Weidl's exact role would be; what responsibilities he'd have. The key decision-makers have been and still are Rooney, the GM and Mike Tomlin. With Khan taking over Colbert's spot, he now slides into the Steelers' trinity at the top.
Of the many issues he addressed with reporters, Khan revealed a specific task that Weidl has during the draft process.
"The way I'm doing it, I'd say that Andy's in charge of putting the board together," Khan said. "He's going to have a lot of influence from Mark Sadowski and Dan Colbert, who were a big part of this. Obviously, Coach and I are going to be heavily involved in the moolah. Coach, Art and I will make sure to get together to make the right decision."
Sadowski is the team's director of player scouting and Colbert is the director of college scouting. So, Weidl will work with the scouting department and build the team's big board. Then, the decision on each selection ultimately comes down to whoever Rooney, Khan and Tomlin land on.
Of course, Weidl has his own way of doing things, so the draft board won't be constructed in the same exact way it was before. And, while each decision comes down to Rooney, Khan and Tomlin, Khan isn't about to turn any input away from his team in the front office. Khan wants to maintain continuity of the Steelers' way, but some fresh ideas and perspectives are welcomed additions to the process.
"I’ve been very fortunate that I have a great nucleus of guys that I can lean on and consult with and talk to," Khan said. "Having the new ideas has been great, seeing how other people have done things, and we’ve been able to incorporate it into what we do. Part of the process is also explaining to those guys how we do things at our place and having them kind of gel and combine both. But for the most part, things are very similar."
Khan's mere presence as GM is already enough of a change that the Steelers' way isn't exactly how it used to be. Trading Chase Claypool to the Bears at the trade deadline last season for a second-round pick is not a move seen very often in Pittsburgh. And, it's turned out to be a phenomenal decision. Not only was the team able to play much better after the trade -- of course, many other variables played a role in that -- but now the Steelers have three selections in the first 50 picks of this draft.
That gives the Steelers plenty of options heading into this draft process. Because Chicago finished with the worst record in the NFL and Miami lost their first-round pick, that second-round pick is essentially the final pick of the first-round, but teams will have 18 hours to blow up Khan's phone about that pick.
In Khan's meeting with the media, one word that was said multiple times was, "opportunity." We wants the Steelers to have all options on the table, and even mentioned his willingness to trade up in the first round if the right player or deal presented itself. With what he did at last season's trade deadline and how forthright he was Tuesday about his "all options" approach in free agency and the draft, Khan had no problem admitting he's an aggressive deal maker.
"From that standpoint, yes, I probably am aggressive," Khan said. "I’m a big believer in listening to every opportunity and then thinking it through, talking it over with my staff and making the right decision. But yeah, I’m open to anything. I’ll put it that way."
This is the first time Khan has led the Steelers throughout the free agency and draft process. But, it's clear to see how much he's enjoying what he's doing. Outside of any rah-rah quotes that praise the team's upward trajectory, he's just appreciative to be in the role he's in and help the Steelers get back to their winning ways.
"It’s been a dream come true for me since I was a kid to have the opportunity to build a Super Bowl roster and win a few Super Bowls," Khan said. "Every day I go to work, I’m very appreciative and I love it. I'm surrounded by great people, a great head coach, great owner, great locker room, great support staff, great football staff. It’s fun. Every day is fun. Being here is fun, and experiencing new things like this, it’s fun for me. I understand it’s part of the process, but I’m looking forward to the first draft and I’m looking forward to getting back to football in September."
