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Steelers front office prepares for NFL Draft as voluntary minicamp begins for players
TL;DR
The Steelers have begun their voluntary minicamp while preparing for the NFL Draft. GM Omar Khan is confident in their strategy with 12 draft picks, despite some positional uncertainties.
Key points
- Steelers start voluntary minicamp on the South Side
- GM Omar Khan expresses confidence in draft preparation
- Team has 12 draft picks for flexibility
- New coaching staff but similar drafting process
- Smaller presence at prospect pro days this year
Mentioned in this story
Omar Khan
Mike McCarthySteelers
The Steelers kicked off âvoluntary minicampâ on the South Side on Monday while the front office prepares to draft a new rookie class.
For Steelers GM Omar Khan, these days leading into the draft are always the slowest.
With 12 picks offering a lot of flexibility, he and Mike McCarthy believe theyâre ready, despite uncertainty at a few positions.
âI trust our process. Iâm confident, saying right now, that when weâre done on Saturday, weâve gotten 10, 12, 14 players, whatever it is. [I] feel good about - really good about - where weâre at right now and all the work we put into it and how the board is stacked,â said Khan.
Despite a new coaching staff, Khan said not much has changed in his process, though the Steelers did have a noticeably smaller presence at prospect pro days.
Khan is chalking that up to scheduling and the coaching transition.
Head Coach McCarthy shared some new ideas, too.
He said he is a believer in drafting and developing players as the main way to build a roster.
âI think we have a very good mix of younger players and established veterans. And then to add a full draft class and obviously being above 10, I think would be awesome personally,â McCarthy said.
But there are still questions.
Left tackle Broderick Jones is still recovering from a season-ending neck injury, though Khan said nothing has changed - downplaying a recent report that Jones suffered a setback.
At quarterback, the wait continues for Aaron Rodgers.
Khan is calling those talks positive.
As for how that impacts their draft strategy:
âYou know, we still evaluate it. That doesnât change our evaluation process. Weâre still putting the guys up where they need to be. And, you know, weâll just see how it shakes out,â Khan said.
Mike McCarthy, the Greenfield native, is excited to see his hometown on display, but itâs all business for him.
He said itâs a bigger deal for his family. Heâll be too busy on the South Side to fully take it in.
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Q&A
What is the significance of the Steelers' 12 draft picks for the NFL Draft?
The Steelers' 12 draft picks provide them with significant flexibility to address team needs and potentially acquire valuable players.
How is Steelers GM Omar Khan preparing for the NFL Draft?
Omar Khan is confident in the team's preparation process, emphasizing the work done to stack their draft board effectively.
What changes have occurred in the Steelers' approach to prospect pro days?
The Steelers have had a noticeably smaller presence at prospect pro days this year, indicating a shift in their evaluation strategy.
