For the most part, the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed better classes from the NFL Draft process since Omar Khan took over as general manager. He started strong in 2023 and followed that up with a solid group in 2024. His two most recent batches of rookies have a long way to go before anyone can judge those groups fairly, but the first impressions haven't been as positive as his first two.
The 2025 draft class shows that Khan can assemble quality rookies on paper, but last season, those players didn't perform well enough. Even this most recent draft class has brought plenty of scrutiny, as it doesn't appear great on paper like prior drafts.
Still, it's hard to complain too much after how the Kevin Colbert era ended, and fans have plenty to be excited about heading into the 2026 season.
Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan has provided some inconsistent results at the NFL Draft
2023 draft picks: Broderick Jones (1), Joey Porter Jr. (2), Keeanu Benton (2), Darnell Washington (3), Nick Herbig (4), Cory Trice (7), Spencer Anderson (7)
It's been three years, but you could argue that this is one of the better draft outcomes for the Steelers in decades. They effectively landed four impact starters in their lineup with Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, Darnell Washington, and Nick Herbig. Two of them have already received massive paydays from the Steelers, and both Benton and Porter Jr. could be the next in line for a new deal.
The biggest mark against this draft class is Broderick Jones.
They traded up for him, but the young offensive tackle has yet to figure things out. Since Omar Khan missed on this pick, the class as a whole couldn't meet the criteria of being graded as an A+. Even their final two picks from the 2023 draft showed promise at times, and Spencer Anderson is challenging for a starting spot this season.
2024 draft picks: Troy Fautanu (1), Zach Frazier (2), Roman Wilson (3), Payton Wilson (3), Mason McCormick (4), Logan Lee (6), Ryan Watts (6)
If Troy Fautanu can comfortably switch to the left tackle position, then this class could even get better. On paper, this outcome made Khan seem like a genius. They got great value at their picks at multiple spots on the board. In reality, they landed four starters, but few have reached the same heights as the 2023 class. There are still tons of potential oozing from this group of players.
Zach Frazier might've been the best pick, and he is on his way to being one of the best centers in the NFL. Mason McCormick is a solid starter at guard, even though he was an older prospect. The final result from this crop of rookies will hinge on how Roman Wilson and Payton Wilson shake out. Both of them have shown signs of potential, and if they reach it, this could be another elite draft class for Khan.
2025 draft picks: Derrick Harmon (1), Kaleb Johnson (3), Jack Sawyer (4), Yahya Black (5), Will Howard (6), Carson Bruener (7), Donte Kent (7)
Trying to come up with a fair assessment of this draft class is tough, as they have been in action for just a year.
All of these players are coming off their rookie seasons, and some fared better than others. Derrick Harmon showed promise during his rookie campaign, despite multiple injuries. Jack Sawyer and Yahya Black played roles on defense as rookies and showed promise of growth to come.
Kaleb Johnson was the biggest mistake of this rookie group thus far. He made significant mistakes in his first action with the Steelers, which could end up hurting this draft's potential. Will Howard didn't play a snap last season, but the new coaching staff seems high on him. If he turns out to be a starter, he could raise the grade for this draft class. A lot of these players are going off of potential still.
2026 draft picks: Max Iheanachor (1), Germie Bernard (2), Drew Allar (3), Daylen Everette (3), Gennings Dunker (3), Kaden Wetjen (4), Riley Nowakowski (5), Gabriel Rubio (6), Robert Spears-Jennings (7), Eli Heidenreich (7)
We have obviously yet to see this class on the field, but the early reviews for Omar Khan's 2026 class are rather mixed. Some believe it carries significant potential that could be unlocked, while others believe they reached for several prospects and it could get ugly.
At the end of the day, this 2026 draft class shows that Omar Khan wanted to address key weaknesses more than he has in the past.
He landed three to five players who should be able to jump onto the field this upcoming season at various points and play big roles. On the other hand, Khan might witness many of these picks backfiring. Some of these draft picks might struggle to make the team or find playing time.
Add us as a preferred source on Google