Hats off the Khan and Steeler scouts. Grade A+

[WindyCitySteel]

I think you have to seriously question Kevin Colbert's last several years. Once Kahn and Tomlin started drafting together, we have had two solid drafts.

Colbert always struck me as a bit of "I'm the boss guy." Maybe Kahn and Tomlin work more as equals and collaborate. IMO, Weidl is a big part of the success.

Tomlin's fingerprints were all over recent bad drafts, especially Najee and Kenny. I think it's more likely that Rooney has limited Tomlin's power when he stepped in to fire Canada.

[feltdizz]

Good picks.. everyone else

bad picks.. all Tomlin

I knew as soon as Kenny didn't work out it was a Tomlin pick even though most people said THANK GOD ROONEY STEPPED IN AND PICKED KENNY because we all knew he was in love with Willis.

[WindyCitySteel]

Good picks.. everyone else

bad picks.. all Tomlin

I knew as soon as Kenny didn't work out it was a Tomlin pick even though most people said THANK GOD ROONEY STEPPED IN AND PICKED KENNY because we all knew he was in love with Willis.

Didn't say all bad picks were on Tomlin, but he loved both Najee and Kenny.

BTW, the post before mine blamed all the bad picks on Colbert, and you didn't have a problem with that.

[Captain Lemming]

I always have to wonder about a draft grading system that gives no one a "D" or an "F"... I mean, is it really possible for EVERY team to have had an average or above haul?

That said, I do think we had to have been up near the top with this one.

I would suggest it would be hard to grade an F or even a D because nobodys draft looks like pure trash when it happens. It might wind up an F but that is because players did not reach draft day expectations.

Ryan Leaf was an F pick but you would not know that on draft day.

[NorthCoast]

I would suggest it would be hard to grade an F or even a D because nobodys draft looks like pure trash when it happens. It might wind up an F but that is because players did not reach draft day expectations.

Ryan Leaf was an F pick but you would not know that on draft day.

'Instant grades' are pretty meaningless.

I do like the re-grades some sites put out after the season.

The Athletic did one for 2023 about a month ago;

https://theathletic.com/5366550/2024/03/28/nfl-draft-2023-grades-cj-stroud-bryce-young/

Houston was the only team to get an 'A'. Steelers got a C minus.
There were a bunch of Ds too.

[Captain Lemming]

Didn't say all bad picks were on Tomlin, but he loved both Najee and Kenny.

I will support the fact that you 100 percent gave Tomlin credit for wanting Kenny AT THE TIME. Other people implied Tomlin MUST have wanted Willis but not you. You have been consistent And it is absolutely clear that he loves Najee too. Dizz has a point but not it should not be
direct to you. That said-

BTW, the post before mine blamed all the bad picks on Colbert, and you didn't have a problem with that.

OV blamed the GM and Dizz got no problem with that because it is THE GM THAT changed. The same coach was part of those bad drafts and these good drafts. It is quite simple.

What is weird to invent out of thin air the idea that Colbert who had experience with personnel going back to when Tomlin was a kid had LESS POWER to decide players than Khan who was given MORE authority than Colbert ever had despite NO experience in player evaluation.

That premise is beyond ridiculous. Tomlin JUST GAVE THE MOST GLOWING DESCRIPTION EVER of why HE would not move from picking Troy. It is the same kind of stuff that we saw with Kenny and Najee.

Bottom line it has ALWAYS been a collaboration. If we like what is happening now it is logical to suggest the piece that has been changed is the difference.

[Captain Lemming]

'Instant grades' are pretty meaningless.

I do like the re-grades some sites put out after the season.

The Athletic did one for 2023 about a month ago;

https://theathletic.com/5366550/2024/03/28/nfl-draft-2023-grades-cj-stroud-bryce-young/

Houston was the only team to get an 'A'. Steelers got a C minus.
There were a bunch of Ds too.

I don’t mind draft grades, get excited by the draft but yeah truth is that time will tell.

[feltdizz]

Didn't say all bad picks were on Tomlin, but he loved both Najee and Kenny.

BTW, the post before mine blamed all the bad picks on Colbert, and you didn't have a problem with that.

I didn?t direct my post at anyone. However, I remember some folks implying Tomlin was overridden when it came to selecting Kenny.

I do believe Colbert was bad at rebuilding the OL and I definitely believe Colbert helped build a lot of good teams so he had more influence as a GM.

[Captain Lemming]

I didn?t direct my post at anyone. However, I remember some folks implying Tomlin was overridden when it came to selecting Kenny.

I do believe Colbert was bad at rebuilding the OL and I definitely believe Colbert helped build a lot of good teams so he had more influence as a GM.

In Colberts defense I would suggest the olines deterioration was sudden and premature.

And don’t forget that In a complete rebuild from the Colbert/Cowher era, Colbert/Tomlin DID BUILD what was at one point the leagues best line.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

BTW, the post before mine blamed all the bad picks on Colbert, and you didn't have a problem with that.

I'll say it. IMO The GM is the one who should face the blame and take the credit on the draft. In this case I'll call it Khan/Weidl. Prior to that I say since 2007 it was Colbert. Prior to that (1999-2006) I say Cowher because he won a power struggle with Donahoe, got him fired, and got Colbert hired. So, even though GM is above HC on a typical organizational chart, Cowher was above Colbert until Cowher retired, and then Colbert. I believe that others give input but Khan/Weidl makes the final pick with Ronney having rarely used veto power.

[Captain Lemming]

I'll say it. IMO The GM is the one who should face the blame and take the credit on the draft. In this case I'll call it Khan/Weidl. Prior to that I say since 2007 it was Colbert. Prior to that (1999-2006) I say Cowher because he won a power struggle with Donahoe, got him fired, and got Colbert hired. So, even though GM is above HC on a typical organizational chart, Cowher was above Colbert until Cowher retired, and then Colbert. I believe that others give input but Khan/Weidl makes the final pick with Ronney having rarely used veto power.

We can speculate and make stuff up all we want.

Khan said very clearly that he Rooney and Tomlin make the picks. Weidl and the scouts prepares a board for them in advance.

Weidl does not make picks on draft day.

[Captain Lemming]

I keeps telling people this but I am not providing the links. Here it is:

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/02/steelers-draft-picks-will-be-decided-by-omar-khan-mike-tomlin-and-art-rooney-ii/

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I think you have to seriously question Kevin Colbert's last several years. Once Kahn and Tomlin started drafting together, we have had two solid drafts.

Colbert always struck me as a bit of "I'm the boss guy." Maybe Kahn and Tomlin work more as equals and collaborate. IMO, Weidl is a big part of the success.

Kahn and Weidl are an upgrade. Colbert was decent for while but had poor drafts after TJ Watt.

I will still point out that Tomlin doesn't have a screen or smart device in the war room, nor have seen him have one in the past. As such he is rather disconnected.

I would love to see those terms we had on the table to trade down from pick #20.

[NorthCoast]

I will support the fact that you 100 percent gave Tomlin credit for wanting Kenny AT THE TIME. Other people implied Tomlin MUST have wanted Willis but not you. You have been consistent And it is absolutely clear that he loves Najee too. Dizz has a point but not it should not be
direct to you. That said-



OV blamed the GM and Dizz got no problem with that because it is THE GM THAT changed. The same coach was part of those bad drafts and these good drafts. It is quite simple.

What is weird to invent out of thin air the idea that Colbert who had experience with personnel going back to when Tomlin was a kid had LESS POWER to decide players than Khan who was given MORE authority than Colbert ever had despite NO experience in player evaluation.

That premise is beyond ridiculous. Tomlin JUST GAVE THE MOST GLOWING DESCRIPTION EVER of why HE would not move from picking Troy. It is the same kind of stuff that we saw with Kenny and Najee.

Bottom line it has ALWAYS been a collaboration. If we like what is happening now it is logical to suggest the piece that has been changed is the difference.

What no one can say is what level of influence Weidl now has in the room. Some posters say it's Kahn but Weidl was brought in specifically for his player evaluation expertise. He sets the board. Kahn entertains trades but I highly doubt he has the power to rerank the board during the draft.

It was telling that they had Fautanu ranked 7th best player in the draft. It also explains why there was no way Kahn was going to trade down with him being available at the pick even though Kahn fielded multiple phone calls. Clearly Tomlin wanted the pick as well; "he (Kahn) was wearing me out" [referring to trade offers].

[WindyCitySteel]

In Colberts defense I would suggest the olines deterioration was sudden and premature.

And don’t forget that In a complete rebuild from the Colbert/Cowher era, Colbert/Tomlin DID BUILD what was at one point the leagues best line.

First few drafts in the Tomlin era were stellar.

Then as he accumulated power and responsibility, they started to wane, as did the defense he took control over.

I think we've had a power reset in the last year or so.