Author: Austin Bechtold

Khan added three All-Pros and two additional Pro Bowlers in one offseason to make a run at a playoff victory and beyond,

The Pittsburgh Steelers made some of the splashiest moves in franchise history all in one offseason.

Out are Najee Harris (free agency), Dan Moore (free agency), Elandon Roberts (free agency), and Minkah Fitzpatrick (trade). In are four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, Pro Bowl receiver DK Metcalf, Super Bowl champion cornerback Darius Slay, All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey, and Pro Bowl tight end Jonny Smith.

Needless to say, the Steelers were one of the most active teams in free agency and the trade market to improve a roster that hasn’t won a playoff game in eight years.

Could the general manager Omar Khan and the Steelers be looking to add or extend key players?

“In terms of extensions, there’s nothing going on right now,” Khan told the media on Wednesday. “Could there be a player, maybe that we think about? Sure. That option’s still available.”

Khan himself signed a three-year extension in early July, keeping the GM in Pittsburgh through 2028.

The last two offseasons have seen an unprecedented amount of aggression on the open market and willingness to add external pieces for an organization defined by the draft and development.

“I’ll be honest with you. We made a lot of moves this year, I feel really good about where our team is right now,” Khan said. “So to say we’re out there trying to find someone, that’s not the case.”

Subtracting Minkah Fitzpatrick, going into the final year of his deal and took until Dec. 21 to snap a 26-game stretch without an interception, leaves a significant question mark at safety.

Former Chief and Brown Juan Thornhill signed a one-year, $3 million deal in March to be Fitzpatrick’s backup, but he will be thrown to the wolves to potentially start. Thornhill, 29, has missed 12 games the past two seasons due to injury.

The second, if not first, key question regarding the team in camp is if Khan did enough at wide receiver. Pittsburgh is banking on Roman Wilson, who only played five snaps last year, and Robert Woods to be key contributors teamed with Metcalf and Calvin Austin. Khan said he’s not actively looking for replacements or potential additions, but is keeping an open mind to add.

“If an opportunity becomes available, we’ll look at it,” Khan said. “But I feel really good about our team.”

The Steelers open preseason play in Jacksonville on August 9. The regular season begins in New Jersey against the New York Jets on September 7.

Watt sparked rumors of a contract dispute when he posted a peace sign on social media, but claims it was to stir the pot.

Contract negotiations between the Pittsburgh Steelers and T.J. Watt resulted in the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in football.

The drama is over. Watt didn’t need to do a hold-in. There’s no drama as the Steelers began practice at St. Vincent College on Thursday. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows before the pen hit the paper.

In April, Watt posted a picture of himself giving the peace sign on his Instagram story. The post sparked rumors that Watt either wanted out of Pittsburgh or wasn’t happy with how contract negotiations were playing out.

According to Watt, he did it to see what reaction the post would cause.

“Sometimes it’s just fun to have fun with the narratives out there,” Watt told the media. “Obviously, I’m very in tune with what’s going on with negotiations and how things are going. It’s fun to see what you guys are all writing, thinking things are one way even though they’re completely a different way.”

The Steelers and Watt agreed to a three-year, $123 million extension less than a week before training camp. Watt will make an average annual value of $41 million per season.

“Sometimes it’s fun, especially when it’s early in the offseason, to kind of throw something out there and see what happens,” Watt said. “It stirred things up a lot more than I ever thought it could.”

But, did the post ultimately work to his advantage?

“I don’t know. That’s the great thing about negotiations. You never know what works,” Watt said. “I’m sure both sides have things that they’ve done and that they used as tools and chess pieces throughout the process but I’m sure you’ll never know what worked and what didn’t.”

Watt posted a picture of him flexing toward the camera to all but confirm the deal on July 17.

He opted to stay home and remain training in his routine rather than participate in mandatory minicamp.

Watt said he thought he would be more of a distraction during contract talks if he only participated individually. During the last negotiations four years ago, Watt attended minicamp.

“There’s definitely more that goes through a lot of things when it comes to a contract,” Watt said. “I think it was more so being prepared as best I possibly could as opposed to flying in and doing things on the side and potentially being more of a distraction. I’m glad the deal got done. I’m super excited to move forward.”

Watt is under contract through the 2028 season. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks with 108 and has finished runner up for Defensive POTY twice. The Steelers play the New York Jets in New Jersey to begin the year on Sept. 7.