Steelers' Omar Khan Still Has Big Hopes For 2024 Receiver Class: 'We're Optimistic About The Opportunities'

The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for the final few days before the 2024 NFL Draft. The team has many needs to address and is in a unique position with their first pick at 20th overall. Several quarterbacks are considered a sure thing to be taken very early in the draft. This helps boost the Steelers' position in the first round as their primary focus will be at other positions.

While most mock drafts have the Steelers taking either a center or offensive tackle in the first round, another position offers some exciting possibilities: wide receiver. The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson early in the offseason, creating a big hole on the roster for a starting wide receiver to pair with George Pickens. 

Fortunately for Pittsburgh, this draft is a strong one for receivers. There are many choices, from the highly elite, like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, all the way down to the players that teams will be taking a flyer on in the late rounds. The Steelers are often praised for their ability to find and develop talented wide receivers. This has created a debate about where they should draft a receiver this year, with some believing they need to go first round -- seeing it as a critical position. Others think it can wait until the second or third round, and some even later. 

During their pre-draft press conference, General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin were asked about the wide receivers this year. The class is labeled offensively deep as a whole. However, one reporter commented on how the draft classes always seem to be deep at receiver and asked Tomlin why he thinks that is the case. 

"It's the nature and the development of the game. I think everybody plays with three receivers and five defensive backs at this stage of the game now. I also think it's the development of seven-on-seven football at the lower levels, in high school, where it's becoming more of a year-round endeavor," said Tomlin. "The people that are involved in seven-on-seven have an opportunity to have a higher level of skill relative to their positions than people that don't. I think it's played out, not only in this draft, but in those preceding this draft. In recent years, you just really see the impact and development of high school seven-on-seven as it pertains to the development and readiness of the people that participate in it."

Another reporter piggybacked off the wide receiver talk to ask about the current receiver room and the new faces the team recently brought on board. The Steelers signed Quez Watkins from the Philadelphia Eagles and Van Jefferson from the Atlanta Falcons, and both veterans signed one-year contracts. 

They add depth to the room, but it is unlikely they will fill the void left by Johnson's departure. However, that doesn't stop Khan from being thrilled about the new additions.     

"It's no different than any of the other positions. I've said this before. Really, the competition is important to us, and any chance there's an opportunity to upgrade a room, we're going to look into it. It's a good receiver group, so we're optimistic about the opportunities," said Khan.

These comments don't close the door on the Steelers drafting a receiver, or possibly making a draft day trade for one of the veterans they have been linked to, such as Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers, or Treylon Burks from the Tennessee Titans.   

Are The Steelers Going Offense In The First Round?

It seems unlikely that the Steelers will be able to nab any of those generational talent-type receivers available early in the first round, including Harrison, Nabers, and Rome Odunze. It seems unlikely the Steelers would move up to do that as well. As usual, Tomlin and Khan play their cards close to the vest and do not give much away about what they feel they still need.