Pittsburgh Review

With the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon, the Pittsburgh Steelers are making final preparations to select new talent for their team. General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin have expressed optimism about the prospects available this year.

"(There are) a lot of good players, players that can help us," stated Khan at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. He also mentioned their strategy for the draft with the six picks they have, emphasizing the possibility of staying put or moving back rather than moving up.

The Steelers' picks include the 21st overall in the first round, and selections in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds. They traded their second-round pick to Seattle, which limits their potential to trade up this year.

The offseason focus has been on possibly acquiring a quarterback, but the precise timing for such a move remains uncertain. The team has conducted extensive research on this year's quarterback class and remains engaged with free agent Aaron Rodgers. Currently, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the quarterbacks on their roster.

Tomlin indicated that the draft's outcome might influence future talent acquisitions. "I think what you do in a draft oftentimes affects some talent acquisition that happens after," he remarked.

The Steelers have evaluated many prospects, particularly focusing on quarterbacks, running backs, and defensive line positions, reflecting perceived depth in these areas. Khan noted the importance of understanding and sorting these talents.

While open to trading back, Khan and Tomlin emphasized the team's readiness to secure outstanding players if available. "You never really want to trade away from a really good player that can help you and is the right guy for us," Khan confirmed.

Completing the draft preparations has involved extensive planning and evaluation. Tomlin credited the scouting department for their foundational work over the past year. He acknowledged the challenges of today’s information landscape but praised their scouting department's efforts.

As the draft concludes, the Steelers and the rest of the NFL will shift focus to the 2025 season.

"As we kind of bring our preparation to a close, I'm just really appreciative of the work that our scouting department, under the leadership of Omar and (assistant GM) Andy Weidl, the work that they do over the 12-month calendar," Tomlin stated, reflecting on the comprehensive talent evaluation process.