OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: 5 and 2 Justin who? Hand the Fields to Wilson

[Goalie_Bob]

A lot can change with FA, the draft process, and the draft itself, but I'm still prioritizing WR, DL, and maybe CB above RB. They definitely need to address RB, but do they need to address it within the first 2 or 3 rounds? I dunno.

Definitely not in the first round. I'm ok with using a up to a 2nd round pick on a RB if someone like a Caleb Johnson falls that far. This is a very deep draft for RBs and it feels like there will be very good players in Round 3-4. For reference, last year, there were 6 backs rated 83.0 or higher on NFL DraftBuzz, this year there are 15. PFF had like 2 guys in the Top 80 last year, this year they have 7.

Same with DL, last year there was a dearth, this year is a bumper year for guys in the late 1st through 3rd round. The Steelers should lean into those strengths.

But we all are in agreement, WR, DL, CB, RB are the primary needs of the team. I'd throw G in there as well. So they need to spend some money this offseason to fix some of those positions.

My preference, would be to sign a G and CB in free agency. I think they could bring back Jackson on a reasonable deal (6-7mil AAV) and sign another guy like Davis from DET or Byron Murphy from the Vikings.

And then for Guard. Man if Trey Smith makes it to FA. The Steelers should go hard after him. He is only 25 and has four years starting at RG and at a high level. If the Steelers really wanna be this run first, play action team then they need to lean into it. All the other guys are on rookie deals, pay Smith 20-22mil AAV and you are still not spending that much on your O-line.

In parallel they need to sign a decent WR, at least a guy making 8-15mil. I like Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Big, 6-3" 220, good blocker and knows how to score TDs. Can play in the slot or outside. Plus he stays healthy.

Then head into the draft and take the best guy at WR or DL in the first. Don't reach!

I think it's possible that either of McMillan (it'll be close) or Egbuka will be there with our 1st. You run those picks to the podium ...

McMillan has zero chance of making it out of the top 10. He is one of the Elite players in this draft. Burden III could be there, same with Egbuka.

Have to wonder about how people see Egbuka with Jeremiah Smith blowing up. That being said, I like his game a lot and he would never make it to the 2nd round pick. So.....

Another interesting pick would be a TE. I know they just signed Muth, but if they want to run alot of 12 or 13 personnel. Then another top end TE may make sense. Whether Warren or Loveland make it that far is probably 50/50. Nad a really good receiving TE can be just as good as a WR, just look at Bowers, LaPorta, Kelce etc. But if they don't that means other good players are sliding.

 

[Pens1566]

McMillan has zero chance of making it out of the top 10. He is one of the Elite players in this draft. Burden III could be there, same with Egbuka.

Have to wonder about how people see Egbuka with Jeremiah Smith blowing up. That being said, I like his game a lot and he would never make it to the 2nd round pick. So.....

Another interesting pick would be a TE. I know they just signed Muth, but if they want to run alot of 12 or 13 personnel. Then another top end TE may make sense. Whether Warren or Loveland make it that far is probably 50/50. Nad a really good receiving TE can be just as good as a WR, just look at Bowers, LaPorta, Kelce etc. But if they don't that means other good players are sliding.

I was basing it on McMillan being 15OVR in the latest ESPN rankings I could find. I kind of agree with you, which is why I called it iffy. It's possible he slips like Quentin Johnson did a few years ago. Not impossible if we have our usual 1st rd exit.

I think Egbuka is really underrated. Depends on where our 1st ends up landing though.

 

[pistolpete11]

I'd rather look into FA to fill the DL and CB spots tbh. Ogunjobi and Jackson are both likely walking after the year, so a bunch of money should be opened up to fill those two spots. I'm not confident you can get a legitimate CB2 without a high draft pick out of the gate, I'd rather go into FA and fill that role.

I'd probably do a WR round 1 and either a RB and DE/DT in round 2 and 3, depending on who the best guy available for those roles are. I'd bet that a WR round 1, a DE/DT in round 2 and a RB in round 3 yields probably the best immediate NFL help.

I would probably be fine with that, but the problem with going into FA to fill CB spot is that the good ones are going to be in their late 20's which means you're lucky if they have another season or 2 before they start aging out. It shouldn't take until Week 18 to work out the communication issues, but still, it would be nice to have some stability for a while.

 

[Peat]

I'm not going to get too demanding about how they fill the incipient WR/RB/DL/DB holes because obviously you've got to work with what the shop has got, but I would prefer it if they could solve some of the DL/DB stuff in the draft because the defensive side of the ball needs to get younger and build a post-Watt/Heyward plan.

I'd also add that I'd support a double dip at both positions (or keeping Ogunjobi and drafting a DL high). I don't think the DL is where we want it to be right now and DB ideally needs a boundary CB and a slot guy (or maybe even a slot/FS guy). I don't know whether it can be done, it probably can't, but that'd be the ideal.

And, much as I want them to beef up the offensive side of the ball, I do think that to a certain extent they've played most of their cards there and it's now a matter of seeing how they develop.

 

[pistolpete11]

I'm not going to get too demanding about how they fill the incipient WR/RB/DL/DB holes because obviously you've got to work with what the shop has got, but I would prefer it if they could solve some of the DL/DB stuff in the draft because the defensive side of the ball needs to get younger and build a post-Watt/Heyward plan.

I'd also add that I'd support a double dip at both positions (or keeping Ogunjobi and drafting a DL high). I don't think the DL is where we want it to be right now and DB ideally needs a boundary CB and a slot guy (or maybe even a slot/FS guy). I don't know whether it can be done, it probably can't, but that'd be the ideal.

And, much as I want them to beef up the offensive side of the ball, I do think that to a certain extent they've played most of their cards there and it's now a matter of seeing how they develop.

Another factor will be what they decide to do with Pickens. If they decide he's not worth the headache, they MUST either sign Higgins, make a trade, or use their first on a WR. Maybe even trade up for a WR if necessary.

If they keep Pickens for at least another year, I think they could sign one of the lesser FA or use a 2nd. The 1st would still be on the table, though.

Frankly, Pickens attitude the last couple of weeks has shifted my opinion somewhat. I could be onboard for trading him for a pick(s), drafting a WR in R1, and then using the pick(s) from the trade to build up other holes. I don't know what his value would be, though. I don't think he'd bring back a 1st, but if you could get a 2nd+3rd or something?

 

[Empoleon8771]

I would probably be fine with that, but the problem with going into FA to fill CB spot is that the good ones are going to be in their late 20's which means you're lucky if they have another season or 2 before they start aging out. It shouldn't take until Week 18 to work out the communication issues, but still, it would be nice to have some stability for a while.

I think the issue is that we don't know how quickly a highly drafted CB will be a good NFLer. I'm not against drafting a CB high but I think they need more immediate CB help than what a high pick would likely give him. Even with Porter being good immediately, he has had some issues himself.

I'd prefer to get a more proven veteran CB1/2 to pair with Porter than rely on another young guy with growing pains, especially in the context of Porter's struggles this year.

I'm not going to get too demanding about how they fill the incipient WR/RB/DL/DB holes because obviously you've got to work with what the shop has got, but I would prefer it if they could solve some of the DL/DB stuff in the draft because the defensive side of the ball needs to get younger and build a post-Watt/Heyward plan.

I'd also add that I'd support a double dip at both positions (or keeping Ogunjobi and drafting a DL high). I don't think the DL is where we want it to be right now and DB ideally needs a boundary CB and a slot guy (or maybe even a slot/FS guy). I don't know whether it can be done, it probably can't, but that'd be the ideal.

And, much as I want them to beef up the offensive side of the ball, I do think that to a certain extent they've played most of their cards there and it's now a matter of seeing how they develop.

I don't see how this is the case. Yes, they've drafted a full OL and need to let it develop, but they've completely neglected the WR position.

I don't mind not drafting a RB because you can sign another guy like Warren and run with that guy and Warren, but not drafting a WR in the 1st round would be inexcusable IMO.