Followers and media have tagged Steelers common supervisor Omar Khan with the nickname “Khan Artist” for his stellar free-agent signings and trades over the previous two years. His aggressiveness has given new life to Pittsburgh’s roster, however which strikes are his greatest?
Listed below are the 5 greatest offers by the “Khan Artist,” who grew to become Pittsburgh’s GM in 2022.
5) Kendrick Inexperienced commerce
Inexperienced was a third-round decide by the Steelers within the 2021 NFL Draft, however he by no means discovered success at middle as a rookie. In 2022, the crew moved Inexperienced to protect after signing veteran middle Mason Cole, however Kevin Dotson beat out Inexperienced.
Within the 2023 preseason, Inexperienced’s struggles continued. He even experimented with a place change to fullback throughout coaching camp, however then it grew to become evident he could not even make the 53-man roster.
Khan, nevertheless, turned a possible lower candidate right into a draft decide, buying and selling Inexperienced to the Texans for a 2025 sixth-rounder. It wasn’t a lot in return, however that decide later grew to become one other certainly one of Khan’s greatest offers.
4) Isaac Seumalo signing
Final offseason, Pittsburgh wanted to proceed overhauling its offensive line, one of many league’s worst. Khan well added a former Tremendous Bowl champion in Seumalo at an inexpensive worth, signing the previous Eagle to a three-year, $24 million deal ($8M per 12 months).
In 2023, the 30-year-old didn’t enable a sack, per Professional Soccer Focus. Seumalo has loads of good soccer left in him and can be an vital pillar on Pittsburgh’s offensive line for at the least the subsequent few seasons.
3) Patrick Queen signing
The Steelers have been attempting to exchange linebacker Ryan Shazier since he suffered a career-ending spinal damage in 2017. They’ve blended and matched a number of veterans since, however Khan lastly stated it was sufficient and signed a product of AFC North rival Baltimore this offseason to fill the void.
Queen, a first-round decide by Baltimore in 2020, has been one of the productive inside linebackers within the NFL over the previous two years, posting 250 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two pressured fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 12 defensed passes.
Some believed Queen might have obtained a deal that reached $18 million a 12 months. Khan landed the 24-year-old for about $13.6 million per 12 months (three-year, $41M contract).
2) Justin Fields commerce
Do you do not forget that sixth-round decide Pittsburgh obtained within the Inexperienced commerce? Nicely, that comes into play right here.
The Steelers had main quarterback questions heading into 2024 after starter Kenny Pickett threw simply 13 landing passes (and 13 interceptions) in 25 video games. Pittsburgh added Russell Wilson in free company, however Pickett wasn’t eager about competing with him and requested a commerce.
Khan granted his request, buying and selling him to the Eagles. Nonetheless, with Wilson because the lone quarterback on the roster, the “Khan Artist” labored his magic once more, buying and selling a 2025 sixth-round decide to the Bears for Fields. That decide can be a 2025 fourth-round decide if Fields performs 51 p.c of the snaps, however that appears unlikely as a result of indicators level towards the crew giving Wilson the within observe to start out.
Wilson turns 36 this season and is on the again 9 of his profession. Fields, who simply turned 25, could possibly be their future franchise quarterback and all he value was a sixth-round decide.
1) Chase Claypool commerce
There isn’t any deal extra spectacular by Khan than his commerce of Claypool.
A second-round decide by Pittsburgh in 2020, Claypool confirmed flashes of greatness, totaling 121 receptions for 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two seasons. The Notre Dame product, nevertheless, by no means put all of it collectively.
After an underwhelming begin to his 2022 season and enduring criticism for his lack of effort at occasions, Claypool was dealt to the Bears for his or her 2023 second-round decide (No. 32). It turned out to be the primary decide within the second spherical as a result of the Bears had the worst report within the league (3-14).
That decide grew to become cornerback Joey Porter Jr., the son of former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter. Porter Jr. rapidly established himself as Pittsburgh’s greatest nook, and it appears to be like like he’ll be a key participant on protection for years.
As for Claypool, he had 18 catches for 191 yards and one landing in 10 video games with Chicago earlier than the Bears despatched him to the Dolphins for a 2025 sixth-round decide. He’s now a free agent.
