Did Khan and Tomlin Give us ANYTHING During Their Pre-Draft Press Conference?
No, they did not. However, it’s always fun to hear from Coach Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers’ General Manager, Omar Khan, and Head Coach, Mike Tomlin, addressed the media on Monday ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Steelers are known to be a cards-close-to-the-vest type of team in general, and this press conference was no difference. To put it bluntly, no team outside of the Chicago Bears is going to divulge anything to the media that is going to give any real insight into their draft plans. Nearly everything that we’re gonna hear this week leading up to Thursday is going to be bullshit. But, we got some fun quotables from it, so I went through it with a fine-tooth comb anyway!
Khan has been adamant, this whole offseason, about his perceived flexibility on the offensive line. He maintained that confidence on Monday when he was asked about the center position, saying: “We have guys on the roster that have flexibility, so we have options there. There’s some good players [available] at that position, and we’ll see where it shakes out.”
James Daniels played some center during his time with the Bears, so I assume that’s mainly who he’s referring to. I can tell you that a majority of Steelers Nation disagrees with him, at least based on what I see on social media. Even if Khan is projecting Daniels starting at center in 2024, you can bet your ass they’re going to be upgrading in other places along the o-line.
Tomlin and Khan spoke similarly about the wide receiver position, but again, there’s no way in hell they’re going into 2024 with the WR room as is. They WILL draft or trade for someone. I’d bet my life on it. Tomlin also got an opportunity to speak about George Pickens’ opportunity to emerge as a leader in that room, saying: “Certainly, we’re really comfortable with George Pickens in terms of what he’s going to be able to provide us as a player, not only in terms of playmaking, but what his experience within the room and within this organization provides us.” Sounds like a damn good endorsement to me.
Am I the only one that remembers the hype surrounding Cory Trice Jr. during training camp last year? I can’t be the only one. I feel like a lot of yinz have forgotten. For those that do remember, you obviously know that he tore his ACL before the season began. I see mock drafts everywhere where we’re taking corners pretty early. Don’t get me wrong, if Cooper DeJean is there, you take him. But, let’s not be reaching for corners in this draft. I’m not giving up on Cory Trice Jr. Both he and Darius Rush should provide solid depth to the DB room heading into 2024. When asked about Cory Trice Jr.’s health during this press conference, Mike Tomlin said that it’s “moving in the right direction, certainly.”
That’s probably the only actual news that came during this press conference.
The very last time Mike Tomlin spoke during this press conference, he had this to say: “There’s a pool of people coming into the National Football League, and it’s our job to know them. Whether or not we get to do business with them is irrelevant.They’re guys that are coming into this business, and we got to know what they’re about. Those that we don’t get an opportunity to do business with, we’ll probably compete against. That’s the mindset that I go into the process about…That’s why my urgency is there.”
That entire quote really encapsulates the importance of this time of year. Of course, I want to see the Steelers get better at positions of weakness. And as we take guys off the board, I’m diving STRAIGHT into their film. But if you think I’m not keeping just as close of an eye on the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Chiefs, among others, then you haven’t reached my level of obsession quite yet. Give me a fuckin brick wall. I’m so excited. It’s draft week, Steeler Nation.
Here. We. Go.
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