The Pittsburgh Steelers have completely changed the narrative of how they operate player transactions since Kevin Colbert passed the torch down to Omar Khan. While Colbert did not make many big transactions, Khan is not afraid to chase the big fish and get the guy he truly wants. In his very first draft as general manager, Khan traded up in the first round to secure the team's left tackle of the future, Broderick Jones. Meanwhile, there were 13 seasons between the previous two times that Colbert traded up for the guy he truly wanted in the first round.
Some of his players have noticed this change in philosophy in acquiring talent to win now. TJ Watt was asked about how he felt about having a more aggressive general manager like Khan building the team. He praised how the Steelers have always done things, but he mentioned that this latest offseason was unusual, but in a way that could result in wins.
"It's been great to bring in talent. It seems like we bring in great talent every year, but this year, it seems a little bit different, and I'm looking forward to seeing, hopefully, it translate into victories. It's all that matters."
In previous years, the Steelers would try to get the cheaper options as opposed to the top options, as Steve Nelson was the highest-paid free agent in the Colbert era, and he was cut after just two seasons with the team. Guys like Nelson were sometimes able to turn into key contributors, but it always felt like they were missing a piece that they just couldn't get while drafting in the back half of the first round on a consistent basis.
During the Khan era, everything has been different. Instead of picking up a cheap depth option at linebacker, the Steelers went out and signed arguably the best one on the market, Patrick Queen. Instead of just hoping a new offensive coordinator could fix everything, they completely revamped their offense and made sure it fit their new coach's scheme. Anything less than the best seems to be not tolerated under this new regime.
Change Is Good For The Steelers
Watt said that this offseason seemed different, and it was for good reason. Previous general managers have not overhauled the team the way that the Steelers did in 2024. Watt and his teammates should be on their best game now after watching everything unfold in the offseason. Many players during the Colbert era would continue to struggle and/or be a problem on the team, but they would be allowed to keep their jobs. Khan seems to be pushing lesser productive players out the door quicker.
2024 feels rightfully different for Watt and the Steelers. Instead of letting guys like Matt Canada continue down a regrettable path, changes will be made as needed. Any kind of bad play or problematic locker room behavior will result in the player wearing another uniform sooner rather than later. With Khan's new philosophy, the Steelers are heading full-steam ahead to much-needed progress, and maybe even a seventh Super Bowl.
