The Pittsburgh Steelers recently signed Aaron Rodgers, but don't for a second think that general manager Omar Khan is done working his magic. 'The Khan Artist' (as those within the fanbase so often refer to him) has been poking and prying to see which notable NFL players may be available for trade. Unfortunately, his methods could backfire on the team.
According to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, Khan keeps getting turned down because, well... he keeps giving other front offices 'lowball' offers for their players.
"They're going to have to get another pass catcher," Jones told Kyle Long on the Pushing the Pile podcast. "I don't know if that's wide receiver, and I don't know if that's tight end. They're going to have to get a pass catcher. And they know that. They've been lowballing teams when they make a call. 'Hey, how about this guy? No, we're not doing that for a conditional sixth-round pick' They'll get there."
This back and forth is part of the process. Just like any exchange, you never come in with your best offer first. But is Khan doing more damage than good by presenting trade offers other front offices deem unserious?
Pittsburgh Steelers fans need to trust the process with Omar Khan and the front office
While we might think that Omar Khan is damaging relationships with other general managers, the Pittsburgh Steelers GM isn't hurting anything by coming in with a low initial offer. When teams know the Steelers are interested, and they are ready to move on from a player, they can always reach out to see if they can work out a deal.
The trade offers Jones may be referring to could stem from the reported calls the Steelers made to the Miami Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons. Pittsburgh reportedly made phone calls inquiring about former Pro Bowl tight ends Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts, but so far, nothing has come of this.
While Jones expects the Steelers to trade for a skill player—either a wide receiver or a tight end—Pittsburgh might not stop there. According to the latest rumor circulating on X, the Steelers are interested in acquiring a cornerback like Jalen Ramsey or Jaire Alexander. These players wouldn't help the offense, but if the goal is to get more competitive, either CB could prove to be a valuable addition.
Though Alexander is a free agent, Ramsey is still under contract with the Miami Dolphins, and it makes you wonder if the Steelers have already reached out about a potential trade for the seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback.
Sure, Omar Khan's approach to finding a trade partner could blow up in his face. But if he knows that teams are looking to move on from some of their players, a trade or two could materialize for the Pittsburgh Steelers this summer.