Barring another summer surprise, Omar Khan\u2019s heavy lifting appears to be finished ahead of the 2026 season. Between a complete coaching overhaul, splashy veteran additions, contract extensions, and another draft class, the Steelers reshaped their present and future prospects considerably over a few short months.<\/p>\n
Some moves were obvious home runs. Others are far more debatable, with the story to be told over the next several years. With the dust mostly settled, it\u2019s a good time to look back and rank every significant move Khan made this offseason, weighing both the impact on the 2026 season and on the franchise\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
As always, this is subjective. Feel free to tell me where I\u2019m wrong in the comments.<\/p>\n
18. Signing Darnell Savage<\/p>\n
S Darnell Savage will either be an important depth addition or a non-factor who doesn\u2019t make the roster. That all depends on the health of the veterans in front of him. If Jalen Ramsey, Jaquan Brisker, and DeShon Elliott are all healthy entering the season, Savage\u2019s lack of special teams will make him harder to keep around. Perhaps he could stick around on the practice squad as insurance.<\/p>\n
17. Punter change<\/p>\n
I received pushback when I called for a change from Corliss Waitman. He is statistically one of the best in team history<\/a>, after all. The problem is, that\u2019s an extremely low bar. He always seemed to have his worst punts in the absolute worst moments. Just look how important punting was for the Seahawks last year. The Super Bowl was a great example. But is 34-year-old Cameron Johnston coming off injuries in back-to-back seasons the solution?<\/p>\n 16. Rebuilding Special Teams<\/p>\n With Connor Heyward, Miles Killebrew, James Pierre, and Calvin Austin III leaving the team, special teams needed an injection of talent. Travis Homer was a good veteran addition to the group, but will he make the roster? Kaden Wetjen could boost the return units, but other additions like Eli Heidenreich and Robert Spears-Jennings need to make the team before they can be counted as part of the solution. I have some concerns here, especially with ST coach Danny Crossman leading the way.<\/p>\n 15. Extending Chris Boswell<\/p>\n People love K Chris Boswell, and so do I. That doesn\u2019t mean I love paying a kicker an average of $7 million per season, especially one who is 35 years old. If he\u2019s like Adam Vinatieri and plays well into his 40s, then money well spent. He\u2019s obviously a crucial part of the team\u2019s present success.<\/p>\n 14. Cutting Jonnu Smith<\/p>\n Given how poor his 2025 season was, cutting TE Jonnu Smith was addition by subtraction. But that means you have to question the decision to trade for him. This move will create additional opportunities for more efficient players like Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth.<\/p>\n 13. Finishing O-line Rebuild<\/p>\n If all goes well, this will end up much higher on the list. Right now my concerns lie in the process. They drafted a right tackle in the first round, requiring both Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick to move from right to left. Will Max Iheanachor crack the starting lineup immediately or in the middle of the season?<\/p>\n Guard was the biggest immediate need, but they waited until the end of the third round to address it. Currently, it doesn\u2019t seem like Gennings Dunker is in the plans at right guard<\/a>. The future is bright, but I have significant concerns about the present.<\/p>\n 12. 2026 Draft Class<\/p>\n Entering with 12 picks, I felt that Omar Khan could have done a little more. I like some of the individual selections, but I wonder how much impact the group will have this season. How many of the 10 picks will they be able to keep on the 53-man roster? On the other hand, if they truly finished rebuilding the OL, found a future starting quarterback, a return ace, and a starting corner in one class, then it\u2019s a complete home run.<\/p>\n 11. Drafting Drew Allar<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to take swings at quarterback until they get it right, but will they learn enough before potentially drafting a first-round QB next year? I don\u2019t hate drafting for the potential, but No. 76 overall probably could have been used on a player that could make an impact in 2026. I liked OG Emmanuel Pregnon, WR Ted Hurst, and DT Domonique Orange, to name a few.<\/p>\n 10. Ensuring CB Depth<\/p>\n