Many people have labeled Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan as “The Khan Artist,” but that characterization doesn’t tell the full story.
Since taking over as the Steelers’ top decision-maker in 2022, Khan has brought a refreshing level of aggressiveness and urgency to the organization. However, his tenure has not been without flaws. While he has made several notable moves that have energized the franchise, he has also shown shortcomings in both free agency and the NFL Draft, raising questions about some of his decisions.
At the end of the day, Khan and his colleagues will be judged by wins and losses.
While the Steelers have not posted a losing season since he took over, they have yet to experience any playoff success. Khan has been aggressive in free agency and willing to invest significant resources in outside talent, but the results have been mixed. This report card suggests the Steelers may have more reason to question Khan’s personnel decisions than they publicly acknowledge.
Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan's results in free agency haven't been strong enough
2023: Isaac Seumalo, Patrick Peterson, Keanu Neal, Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts
The Steelers’ 2023 free-agent class produced a few bright spots, but it also included several notable disappointments.
The standout additions were Isaac Seumalo and Elandon Roberts, both of whom played significant roles on offense and defense. Cole Holcomb remains with the organization, but it is evident that the serious injury he suffered has impacted his ability to return to his previous level of play.
Both Patrick Peterson and Keanu Neal ultimately fell short of expectations, though Neal’s shortcomings were less damaging given the modest expectations. Peterson, on the other hand, was expected to provide steady veteran play while helping mentor Joey Porter Jr. Although he succeeded in guiding the young cornerback, Peterson’s on-field performance declined noticeably.
2024: Russell Wilson, Patrick Queen, Cameron Johnston, DeShon Elliott, Cordarrelle Patterson, Dean Lowry, Van Jefferson
Omar Khan made several questionable decisions during the 2024 offseason. In an effort to keep an aging roster competitive, he doubled down on short-term moves. At the time, the additions of Russell Wilson and Patrick Queen appeared to be strong acquisitions, but neither move aged well. Wilson failed to elevate the offense, while Queen has yet to provide the level of impact his contract desires.
While Russell Wilson and Patrick Queen failed to live up to expectations, DeShon Elliott stands out as one of Khan’s best free-agent acquisitions from the 2024 offseason. Elliott quickly proved to be a valuable addition and remains a reliable starter heading into this season. Beyond that, however, the Steelers received little impact from the rest of their free-agent class.
2025: Aaron Rodgers, Malik Harrison, Darius Slay, Kenneth Gainwell, Mason Rudolph, Brandin Echols, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark
Overall, this was one of the strongest free-agent classes Omar Khan has assembled during his tenure with the Steelers.
Aaron Rodgers, Kenneth Gainwell, and Brandin Echols all proved to be excellent value signings. While none of them performed at an elite level in 2025, each delivered quality play and outperformed their salary commitments. Khan deserves credit for several savvy additions in this class, though not every move was a success, as a few of his decisions failed to produce the desired results.
The signing of Darius Slay proved to be a major disappointment.
Slay's age and declining athleticism were evident, and his tenure with the team was short-lived, making him one of the least successful free-agent acquisitions of Khan’s tenure. Juan Thornhill followed a similar trajectory, as neither signing delivered the impact the Steelers were hoping for. Malik Harrison remains on the roster, but the financial commitment the team made to him is difficult to justify.
2026: Jamel Dean, Rico Dowdle, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Jaquan Brisker, Brock Hoffman
It is still too early to draw firm conclusions about Pittsburgh’s most recent free-agent class, but the early outlook is encouraging. On the surface, Omar Khan appears to have done solid work, securing several additions without handing out excessive contracts.
In fact, some of these deals could prove to be tremendous values. The signings of Rico Dowdle, Jamel Dean, and Jaquan Brisker, in particular, have the potential to age very well.
Sebastian Joseph-Day and Brock Hoffman both appear to be cost-effective free-agent additions who could provide strong value for the Steelers. Whether they earn starting roles or serve as key depth pieces, each player projects as a solid fit in the trenches on their respective sides of the ball. It remains too early to fully evaluate this free-agent class, but the initial outlook is promising.
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