Caleb Downs is Possible, if GM Omar Khan Rolls the Dice
by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published April 14, 2026, 7:19 AM
Five Draft Questions That Will Define Pittsburgh’s Future
There comes a point where an organization has to stop circling answers and start defining them. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, this is that moment.
Another draft. Another opportunity. Another wave.
Free agency brought the trade for Michael Pittman from the Colts, but other than the transaction with Indianapolis it was rather quiet off season. Modest acquisitions on the defense in players like Jaquan Brisker lead us some big questions heading into this 2026 NFL Draft.
THE FOUNDATION CRACK – TACKLE CAN’T BE A MAYBE
It was supposed to be solved.
Broderick Jones, selected 14th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, was brought in to be the next cornerstone. The tone-setter. The guy you stop worrying about.
That hasn’t happened.
There have been moments, yes, but not the kind that make you sleep easy at night. Not the kind that say, “we’re set here for the next decade.” And now, with the added uncertainty surrounding the neck injury suffered against Chicago last season, this position has quietly gone from “developing strength” … to urgent concern.
So, what do the Steelers do?
Hope? Or act?
Because if you’re serious about competing, left tackle isn’t a position you gamble on. It’s one you lock down, especially with what appears to be a lock in Aaron Rodgers returning for his 22nd season in the National Football League.
Prospects like Blake Miller out of Clemson is a name to get familiar with or does Pittsburgh need to take another aggressive swing at finding a true force on the edge?
Do they move up?
THE QUARTERBACK QUESTION – REALITY OR WISHFUL THINKING
And then… there’s the elephant in the room.
The Steelers are still in a holding pattern with Aaron Rodgers. A legend, no doubt but not a long-term answer.
So naturally, attention shifts to the future.
Enter Will Howard.
There’s intrigue. There’s curiosity. There’s even deep belief in some circles.
But let’s be honest the idea that Howard simply fell into Pittsburgh’s lap and suddenly becomes the next great answer for the franchise. That’s a lot to buy into.
This isn’t a quarterback class loaded with can’t-miss prospects. But it’s not empty either.
If the Steelers truly see something in Howard, then they will pass on players like Carson Beck or even Drew Allar.
My money is on another quarterback being added on day three of the draft.
OMAR KHAN’S MOMENT – PLAY IT SAFE OR CHANGE EVERYTHING
This is where things get interesting.
Omar Khan isn’t short on resources. The Steelers are sitting on 12 draft picks. It represents a rare kind of flexibility.
So, the question becomes:
Do they sit patiently at No. 21, take what’s left, and hope it works out?
Or do they go get their guy?
Because if there’s a player in this class you truly believe in someone like Caleb Downs or Carnell Tate, then you make the leap.
Why risk watching your future go to someone else?
This is the kind of draft where bold moves don’t just help, they define.
THE PASS RUSH – A SHIFT IS COMING
While this isn’t a draft night topic, Khan has evolved into a gun slinger with making trades or seeking to try and get deals done, ala, the Brandon Aiyuk that never materialized. There’s something brewing on the edge.
Everyone sees it.
Nick Herbig is coming and he’s not asking for permission. His 7.5 sacks in 15 games (with six starts) weren’t a fluke. They were a signal.
Meanwhile, Alex Highsmith posted 9.5 sacks in 13 games
T.J. Watt had 7 sacks in 14 games
The production is there but the structure feels a bit unsettled.
Trade rumors involving Watt? That doesn’t align with how Pittsburgh operates. Franchise players don’t get moved lightly.
But Highsmith?
That’s where the conversation gets real.
Could he become part of something bigger? A piece in a deal that reshapes the offense maybe even tied to a name like A. J. Brown?
It sounds bold or even outlandish but it’s possible.
But bold might be exactly what this team needs.
THE BIGGER PROBLEM – WHERE IS THE NEXT CORE?
Here’s the part no one wants to say out loud.
According to Spotrac, the Steelers’ top 10 salaries in 2026 average 29.9 years old.
That’s not a young nucleus.
That’s a clock ticking.
And when you look at the pipeline of homegrown talent, the concerns grow louder:
Kenny Pickett – gone
Najee Harris – productive, but not transformative
George Pickens – gone
Roman Wilson – bust for a second-round selection
Broderick Jones – even healthy is a question mark
This isn’t about one miss.
It’s about a pattern.
And patterns, if left unchecked, become identity.
This isn’t just another April.
This is where Pittsburgh decides who they are moving forward.
Are they building… or maintaining?
Maintaining is what eventually led to Mike Tomlin walking away.
Are they bold… or cautious? Are they chasing the next era or clinging to the last one?
They have the picks.
They have the opportunity.
Now comes the hard part – Getting it right.
That’s the hard part…
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
