PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – While everyone waits to hear about Aaron Rodgers, a former NFL general manager believes the Steelers are laying a foundation for major improvement going forward.
“When you look at how this is setting them up for their next decision,” said former Bills GM and Steelers front office executive Doug Whaley on the Fan Morning Show. “I think Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers are nailing this offseason.”
What he means by that is the Steelers have filled all of their needs already through free agency. They’ve added a quarterback, running back, depth on the defensive line, corner, safety, linebacker and traded for a Pro Bowl wide receiver. He said that sets you up for drafting the best players available next month in the NFL Draft.
You don’t have to reach for any position. Sure, you have areas you can upgrade (quarterback, defensive line, running back for example), but no place where you have to address in the first round which often can lead to misses or over drafting.
“That opens that draft board up where they could truly follow the draft board and get the highest rated player on the draft board, which in turn makes them true evaluators of the talent,” Whaley said during his weekly segment on the Fan Morning Show. “Not evaluators of the talent at a position of need.”
With the probability of being awarded four, the maximum number allowed, compensatory picks in 2026 due to free agent losses and potentially two of them in the third round, the Steelers have options.
They could use the picks on a player or package other picks, having those in your back pocket, to move up next year or even this draft if you see someone you really want, at any position.
While the attention is on the future Hall of Fame quarterback, Whaley believes the Steelers are improving, even if you don’t see the direct results of it in 2025.