Steelers Now
In the new episode of “Forging Steel,” Pittsburgh Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl peeled back the curtain on the Steelers’ draft philosophy.
Weidl has been the Steelers’ assistant general manager since 2022, and has been the right-hand man of Steelers general manager Omar Khan, specifically when it comes to scouting and the draft
A former offensive lineman at Villanova, Weidl primarily undertook the remanning of the Steelers trenches over the last four draft classes, with the Steelers taking Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Jack Sawyer, Max Iheanachor, Gennings Dunker and Gabriel Rubio.
“We want to build through the lines,” Weidl said. “The foundation of your team, the foundation of a house with your offensive line and defensive line. We always want to be strong there.”
Before joining the Steelers, Weidl spent six years with the Philadelphia Eagles. Building through the trenches has been a staple of the Eagles under general manager Howie Roseman. That philosophy originally started with Andy Reid in the 2000s.
Weidl raved about about the three draft selections in the trenches — Iheanachor, Dunker and Rubio.
“These are guys, they’re strong, they’re physical guys. And they’re great teammates,” Weidl said.
In the new episode of Forging Steel, Khan revealed why Iheanachor was the Steelers’ selection at 21st overall.
“Max really won the spring for us: full process starting with the Senior Bowl to the [NFL Scouting Combine] in April, and the zooms and the interviews,” Khan said. “He just really won the spring and grew on us, and [we] got to know him a little bit better and realized quickly that he was a Steeler and our type of player.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Andy Weidl Opens Up on Steelers Draft Philosophy
