‘All options on the table’ Omar Khan pre-draft thoughts

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – You aren’t really sure this time of year what you hear from any NFL general manager is reality or what they want out there. It’s understandable, but focusing on the Steelers, let’s review what Omar Khan said during his pre-draft news conference.

“I mean, all options are on the table,” Khan said Monday. “We're open to whatever's best for the Steelers.”

That goes for trading up to down, to trading players for picks or visa versa. It would be a shocker to see any players traded, rumors are out there, but talk among the team is keeping what they have now.

“Having the 12 picks gives us a lot of flexibility and a lot of opportunity for some things,” Khan said. “We’ll see where it goes.”

Trading picks to move up in a round is the most likely option.

Khan said if we were to ask him during the draft, which he quickly stipulated that we can’t, he would be better able to answer what is available to him. He said as the names start coming off the board he will have a better idea as to what they might do.

It’s Khan’s first year working with Mike McCarthy and the veteran head coach called his process ‘fun’ for him admitting they are getting to learn each other.

McCarthy did feel comfortable enough to bust him a little bit during the news conference where they sat side-by-side at a table. Khan was asked about the time between picks in the first round dropping from 10 to eight minutes.

“I'd love to have the 10 minutes, but hey, it's the same for everybody else. So eight minutes is what it is, but those two minutes, man, it feels like an eternity sometimes.”

Then McCarthy spoke up pointedly

“You only get 40 seconds to call a play. Oh, come on, it's not that bad.”

After a relatively serious first 10 minutes of the news conference, that brought out some laughter and showed a little more about their relationship.

“I believe in draft and develop,” McCarthy said. “I think that's the bloodline of how you grow your roster. I love the roster that's in place here. I think we have a very good mix of younger players and established veterans. And then to add a full draft class and obviously being above ten I think would be awesome personally.”

“I've always felt that the more players you have to develop. I think it definitely is for the long term is a good process. And it's frankly my 18 years as head coach speaks to that. So, I'm a big believer in draft and develop.”

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Draft at home

The series of firsts for McCarthy returning is also a first for the region. The Greenfield native is the head coach the only time the NFL Draft is held at home. He joked that his mom asks him every year if he’s at the Draft and he always tells, her no, he’s at the team facility. He will be on the South Side not the North Shore to keep that streak alive, but is looking forward to how it plays on TV and all media.

“I think anytime Western Pennsylvania has a chance to show itself off, it’s a great thing,” McCarthy said. “Personally, for family and friends and what the Draft will bring to our great city and to show it off. It will be exciting.”

“This is going to be awesome.”