The Steelers have but to outright waive any draft choose made beneath GM Omar Khan, however that may change quickly. They’ve solely parted with one draft choose to this point, and that was as a consequence of harm. However by the point the 2025 common season begins, we is perhaps parting with a small handful of names.
By my estimate, there are 4 Steelers draft picks beneath Khan dealing with heavy strain for their roster spots. Of the 4, two are rookies, particularly their two seventh-round picks. CB Donte Kent impressed in camp early, however he has since missed time as a consequence of harm.
Whereas the Steelers hadn’t launched any of Khan’s picks earlier than, they stored two on the Reserve/Injured Record final 12 months. DB Ryan Watts was one, and he has since retired as a consequence of his accidents. His draft classmate, DL Logan Lee, additionally spent 2024 on IR, however he could also be on the apply squad in 2025. Let’s overview every of the 4 draft picks in query and gauge their probabilities of making the 53-man roster.
CB Cory Trice Jr.:
A gifted however oft-injured cornerback, Trice is on the sidelines but once more. Omar Khan rolled the cube on him within the seventh spherical in 2023, and on the time, it appeared sensible. He clearly has expertise above his draft stage, however he has been unable to remain on the sector. It’s his lack of availability that has put his roster spot in jeopardy. The Steelers invested in cornerback this offseason with Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, and Brandin Echols, and Trice lacks versatility.
DL Logan Lee:
The Steelers and Khan signed two defensive linemen in free company, then drafted two extra. With that form of turnover, Logan Lee was all the time going to be in for a tricky street. After taking part in only a handful of snaps within the Steelers’ first preseason sport, he’s doubtless on the skin wanting in. It doesn’t assist that Yahya Black is wanting like the true deal.
CB Donte Kent:
Kent made Khan and the Steelers look sensible together with his early work in coaching camp. Since then, nonetheless, he has been sidelined as a consequence of harm, and he missed the primary preseason sport. Though he shed a strolling boot, it’s unclear when he shall be again on the apply discipline. At this level, he appears destined for no higher than a apply squad spot.
ILB Carson Bruener:
Whereas everybody wrote in Carson Bruener as Mark Robinson’s substitute, Robinson has had different notions. Of the 4 named right here, although, Bruener most likely has one of the best likelihood of constructing the 53-man roster. He has the clearest path, by way of particular groups, and he did report two particular groups tackles within the first preseason sport.
It’s value noting that even within the worst-case situation, the Steelers will nonetheless have retained 16 of Omar Khan’s first 21 draft alternatives by way of three years. And a type of can be Watts, who would possibly nonetheless be right here—as a substitute of Chuck Clark—if not as a consequence of well being.
When the common season begins, the Steelers undertaking to start out 9 Khan draft picks on offense and protection. A number of others—Darnell Washington, Nick Herbig, Kaleb Johnson, Jack Sawyer, and Yahya Black—might see vital roles on Sundays as properly. All in all, it’s actually not a nasty run. However he quickly received’t be batting 1.000 anymore.
