Steelers notebook: Too much work remains for Kevin Colbert to think about last days as GM

Kevin Colbert’s time as Pittsburgh Steelers general manager is winding down and can be measured in weeks if not days.

Colbert, 65, hasn’t allowed himself to get sentimental about the approaching end of his 22 years with the organization or the 15 years he has spent working alongside coach Mike Tomlin.

The NFL Draft, after all, takes precedence.

“You share the highs, you share the lows, and it’s been great,” Colbert said Monday at his final pre-draft press conference. “But quite honestly, we haven’t had time to think about that. Now, I think that time will come whenever it comes, but right now, we’ve got to get this thing right, and that’s what we are focused on.”

After months of preparation, the Steelers will have seven picks to make when the three-day draft commences Thursday night. And Colbert, like most general managers, has a contract that runs through the conclusion of the draft.

When it is over, Colbert will assist team president Art Rooney II and Tomlin in conducting a second round of interviews from the initial pool of 16 general manager candidates. Tomlin did not participate in the first round of interviews.

Tomlin said it will be different working with another general manager because of his relationship with Colbert, his frequent companion on the offseason scouting circuit.

“I’ve tried not to think about it, to be quite honest with you,” he said. “It went through my mind a little bit some when we were traveling because we’ve had such great times over the years traveling and gathering information, necessary information, to get to know the young men. But we’ve been up against it pretty good and hustling, so there hasn’t been a lot of those moments. Obviously, it’s been a pleasure to work alongside him, and we’ll see where the roads lead us.”

Colbert hopes to remain in the organization in some capacity after his replacement is named.

Three is enough

The NFL Draft remains an inexact science, but it is the foundation of the way the Steelers build their roster, so there is little margin for error – particularly on the first two days of the event.

“Our top three picks, they have to become starters in the business model that we follow because you have to have so many players fit into so many categories,” Colbert said. “When you miss on a player in those rounds, which we have, you end up spending more money to replace them in free agency.”

The Steelers had their most expensive free agency in franchise history, with the organization going outside to land two potential starters on the offensive line, one at quarterback, one at inside linebacker and one at cornerback. They also retained starters at right tackle, cornerback and, finally, strong safety when they signed Terrell Edmunds to a one-year deal Monday.

“Our goal always is to address all needs so we can kind of let the field come to us in the draft,” Tomlin said. “We feel comfortable that we have quality, capable guys at each and every position. And that’s what we desire, and that way we can go into the draft and not feel undue pressure in terms of reaching positionally.”

Missing piece

Colbert said a few weeks ago that out of 25 positions, including specialists, the Steelers had capable starters at 24 of them. The return of Edmunds eliminates the lone vacancy.

“I want to emphasize, we are not saying we’re good enough,” Colbert said. “We’re saying we have NFL veteran starters at each position. And the draft process will provide great competition for that, but it isn’t like any of these young men that we draft will come in and be ordained a starter.”