The NFL annual meeting has wrapped up. Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan and Art Rooney II all spoke with reporters, which is the key reason why we cover this event.

After months of silence from the owner and head coach, a month since the general manager talked and a first wave of free agency, it's time for answers. And, with the NFL Draft less than a month away, we have a much better grasp on the state of the roster.

Of everything said, five different things stood out more than anything else:

• The Steelers are convinced they are signing Aaron Rodgers. From everything Tomlin, Khan and Rooney said, what I've been reporting -- it's a matter of when not if -- was confirmed.

There are two key reasons why I feel even better about the team's stance. Rooney's comment saying, "We keep hearing that he's, I guess, headed in our direction, and so that seems to be all signs are positive so far."

The other: That wry smile from Tomlin after answering a question if Rodgers has given any indication of when he might make his decision:

"We've had some discussions," he said. "But I'll leave it between he and I."

Seriously, that smile. I've covered Tomlin long enough to know he knows a lot more than he's letting on.

Nothing's official until pen is put to paper. But, nothing learned this week suggests this stands a significant chance of not happening.

• Khan has a long-term outlook at quarterback, and Rodgers is not part of it. Rodgers can help bridge the gap, but at age 41, there's obviously no long-term future with the four-time MVP.

The long-term outlook involves potentially taking a quarterback in this year's draft. That may even include the first round, though I remain skeptical they are seriously considering that. It also includes the compensatory picks they are loading up on to have as much ammunition as possible to go get whoever they want next year when the quarterback class is projected to be better.

Either way, adding Rodgers this year doesn't impact their draft plans. Both Tomlin and Khan suggested as much.

"Our draft plans are our draft plans," Tomlin said. "We're, right now, just information gathering and getting to know the whole field. I'd imagine that focus and those details are narrow as we get close, but we're a pretty decent distance away from some of that narrowing."

• Jaylen Warren is in line to be at the top of the depth chart. Almost nothing can deter that. Not unless somehow the Steelers miraculously wind up selecting Boise State's Ashton Jeanty (highly unlikely). But, I'm not convinced he'll be the feature back.

Both Tomlin and Khan expressed strong belief in Warren. But, there was enough talk about the upcoming draft and the addition of Kenneth Gainwell to suggest the running back position is going to be more about the collective, not one guy.

"Uniquely deep draft at that position, and I've got an opportunity to kind of meet a lot of them and see some of them, whether it's working in [Indianapolis] or at their Pro Day, there's a lot of talent in that group. And so it’s just really exciting there," Tomlin said. "Obviously, the acquisition of Kenny Gainwell is something that we're really excited about. That’s a guy that we've competed against. It seems like he made a bunch of significant plays in the flat against us a couple months back that were significant, game altering, like plays. You catch a swing route on third and six, you make a couple people miss, you get a new set of downs. You're able to keep the drive alive. He converted a third down in a similar way inside the red area. Created a first and goal circumstance. It directly related to points as that game unfolded, and you guys know that watch us work routinely, how much we value routine things like winning in a flat, whether you're a ball carrier or a ball catcher or a tackler. So that's a skill set that really stood out to us, but he's got a well-rounded game. He's a capable and willing special teams player. Plays a lot on possession-down ball. Excited about the acquisition of Kenny Gainwell."

That whole quote is there for a reason. It was Tomlin's longest answer to any question over two separate media availabilities. I don't believe that's a coincidence.

• It sure sounds less and less like the Steelers are trading George Pickens.

"No. You need more than one receiver in this league," Khan said. "We're fortunate we have George and Calvin [Austin III] and excited about what Roman [Wilson] is going to be able to do for us."

With only six picks in this year's draft, and considering this receiver class is more underwhelming than most in recent years, the evidence suggests Khan doesn't want to risk having a repeat of last season. They can't have just one top alpha receiver.

However, the question remains: Will Pickens receive a contract extension this summer?

• Neither Tomlin or Khan pounded the table, stating how much they love this year's class of defensive tackles. But, there was one quote from Khan to confirm what we already know.

"I'd say, the trenches are important," Khan said. "I've always talked about those big guys on both sides of the ball, so we understand where we're at."

Where the Steelers are at is without Larry Ogunjobi after cutting him, and with a whole bunch of rotational/depth guys. Daniel Ekuale stands out among them all, but he's been a full-time starter just one season. Cam Heyward, while he's still great, is getting older. Keeanu Benton has yet to break out. It's not exactly a position of strength, not when you have just one player that can be counted on, no matter what.

Khan and Weidl put heavy emphasis on the trenches. This is a great defensive tackle class. It's arguably the best and deepest position in this draft. And it just so happens to align with a need. Expect at least one defensive tackle to be drafted later this month.