If there is one thing we can take away from general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin's pre-draft press conference, it is the priority they have placed on position flexibility.
What is certain is that the offensive line will likely be addressed on the first night of the NFL Draft. The pending question is: how will they approach it?
The starting center spot for the club is still up in the air going into Thursday, despite their declaration of trust in the possibilities currently on the roster. Khan mentioned during his presentation that a sizable portion of the players in this year's draft class have the ability to become long-term starters at center.
In keeping with the theme of position flexibility, Khan may have deduced who the potential player is. The first name that comes to mind is Duke's Graham Barton, who was primarily a left tackle but made the transition to center during this year's Senior Bowl. The idea of having Barton gives them a player that can play both tackle and center; hence, potentially addressing two issues in one pick.
The other possibility is Washington's Troy Fautanu, who, despite playing the majority of his career at left tackle, is capable of playing at all five positions on the offensive line. With recently revealed knee-related medical concerns, he may very well fall into the Steelers lap.
The potential wild card position for the Steelers would be at receiver, where a receiver like LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. could be available. With all this noted, fans should still expect the unexpected, especially with a general manager like Khan.
Comments