Omar Khan on Steelers’ draft: ‘It worked out perfectly for us’

The Pittsburgh Steelers came away with seven selections from the 2024 NFL Draft. In the aftermath, GM Omar Khan feels solid about what the franchise did, especially in one certain area for their team.

Khan assessed Pittsburgh’s work in the draft during an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Tuesday. He thought the process turned out in their favor, specifically after ending up with a trio of offensive linemen in Washington OT Troy Fautanu, West Virginia C Zach Frazier, and South Dakota State G Mason McCormick.

“Yeah, Pat, I think, from day one since I got this job, I made it clear that those big guys up front on both sides of the ball were important to us,” said Khan.

“You know, the way the draft worked out? It worked out perfectly for us,” Khan said. “Offensive lineman in round one, got a tackle in round one. A center then a guard that we’re real excited about in round four.”

Fautana, the Husky that was two-time All Pac-12 First Team and a member of the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line in Seattle last season, went No. 20 overall as the Steelers’ first selection. Frazier then came in the second round at No. 51. That was before McCormick rounded it out for the offensive line additions in round four at No. 119. Both players were experienced and accomplished in their respective careers with the Mountaineers and Jackrabbits.

Pittsburgh made one other offensive selection in Michigan WR Roman Wilson at No. 84 in round three. He joins the black & yellow after four seasons with the maize & blue, including his senior one as the lead receiver for the Wolverines who were undefeated national champions, where he caught 107 passes for 1,707 yards and 20 touchdowns.

After that, the Steelers made three defensive picks. They went with NC State LB Payton Wilson, Iowa DE Logan Lee, and Texas DB Ryan Watts.

Wilson, who went 98th in the third round, was the winner of the Butkus and Bednarik Awards in 2023. He was also a Consensus All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Lee, at No. 178 in the sixth, posted 158 tackles, 18.5 being for loss, and nine sacks with the Hawkeyes. Finally, Watts, at No. 195 in round six, arrives after playing at both Texas and Ohio State. During his collegiate career, he had 100 tackles, six deflections, and three picks.

The Steelers also then signed five more unselected prospects following the conclusion of the draft.

Over the course of three days, not every team’s board turns out exactly as they expect it to. Still, considering what they added, Khan was pleased with how it turned out by the time they came off the clock in the end.

“I wouldn’t say that was necessarily the plan. It didn’t go exactly to the T but we had an idea of what we wanted to do,” Khan said.