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

[pistolpete11]

I like Branch and would have been fine taking him, but CB is a more premium position. It's harder to find and/or more expensive to keep good ones. The fact they found a pretty good one in JPJ, I'll take it. Especially since they seem to have found a pretty good S in Elliot, too. I'd say it's worked out well for the Steelers.

 

[WickedWrister]

I would say this generally matches the eye test. Have to consider QOC here too though.

What bodes well for the Steelers? Divisional play doesn't seem as daunting as we thought.

Browns and Bengals are cooked.

We seem to have the Rats' number and would not surprise me if we split with them. But we know that Tomlin coached teams tend to max out at 10 wins.

I agree that this is the "easier" portion of our season but we still have a .468 strength of schedule. It's not like outlier easy. You can see we played some tough defenses according to that graph. Falcons, Colts, and Broncos would all be in the playoffs if the season ended today.

I initially had us going 3-3 in the division, splitting with every team. But now, I'd be disappointed if we don't sweep the Browns. Commanders game looks much more difficult on paper than it did 2 months ago. Jayden Daniels will probably be back for that one.

 

[Peat]

Imo the only game the Steelers have had so far where the opposition made it feel like a gimme before the match was the Raiders. The first half schedule hasn't been tough but it hasn't been easy either. There's been a bit of luck in getting a couple of teams before their QBs settle in and a bit of luck in getting a couple of teams after a bunch of injuries but such is life. Maybe we'll have opposition teams wishing they'd got a crack at Fields and not Wilson.

The division matches later on... I'm a little worried the Bengals will find some life and be on an absolute mission to get in. Browns are dead but honestly I'd rather play them with something to play for, as I feel like that'd focus them a bit more on football and a bit less on cheap shots. The attrition rate is far more worrying to me than the chances of winning with that stupid second half schedule.

 

[Empoleon8771]

On the WR talk, I’d go hard after Kupp but I’d only offer a 2nd with conditions of him staying healthy. That being said, he’s literally exactly what this WR group needs and has some term left on his deal as well. They will need to re-work the deal but I’m all for bringing him in.

I’d probably offer a 3rd that can become a 2nd if Kupp stays healthy for this year and the Steelers go on a deep playoff run. That’s very similar to what Adams and Cooper went for.

 

[xlm34]

I still think they just end up with Mike Williams, which I don’t love but have warmed up to some. If they’re going to lean into what they did vs the Jets and the passing offense is gonna rely on these 50/50 vertical shots, getting Williams makes sense.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

On the WR talk, I’d go hard after Kupp but I’d only offer a 2nd with conditions of him staying healthy. That being said, he’s literally exactly what this WR group needs and has some term left on his deal as well. They will need to re-work the deal but I’m all for bringing him in.

I’d probably offer a 3rd that can become a 2nd if Kupp stays healthy for this year and the Steelers go on a deep playoff run. That’s very similar to what Adams and Cooper went for.

No they went for 3rds and they were rentals. Kupp missed 5 games last season and ran the lowest depth of target routes in his career

 

[Goalie_Bob]

For Kupp, I think the most I would go with is a 3rd. His injury history is just way too big of a concern. He would need to play the full game this week and be productive for me to even consider it.

Taking on his contract means that you owe 5 mil of his roster bonus as it was guaranteed in March of 2024 and he is due his whole 7.5 mil roster bonus on March 19th. His contract for 2025 is 20mil (Including roster bonus) and then for 2026 is 19.850 (Including 5 mil roster bonus due on March 2026).

Dude has been hurt alot of the past few years and is 31 and will be 32 in the summer. I think there is a big reason why LA is offering him up.

He feels like a guy that would go for like 5th or 6th in prior years. I would do it with know money retention for that price.

 

[Snooki Stackhouse]

The timing of this is no coincidence. Buccaneers lost two of their top guys just last night in a year they’re contending, Steelers have a clear need, Kc has a need, Cooks still injured in Dallas, I don’t think Zay Flowers is getting it done on his own in Baltimore, who does LAC even have right now. This year more than any other has a lot of teams looking to compete with really beat up or unfinished WR rooms. Demand should be high but a second is pretty rich.

 

[Empoleon8771]

For Kupp, I think the most I would go with is a 3rd. His injury history is just way too big of a concern. He would need to play the full game this week and be productive for me to even consider it.

Taking on his contract means that you owe 5 mil of his roster bonus as it was guaranteed in March of 2024 and he is due his whole 7.5 mil roster bonus on March 19th. His contract for 2025 is 20mil (Including roster bonus) and then for 2026 is 19.850 (Including 5 mil roster bonus due on March 2026).

Dude has been hurt alot of the past few years and is 31 and will be 32 in the summer. I think there is a big reason why LA is offering him up.

He feels like a guy that would go for like 5th or 6th in prior years. I would do it with know money retention for that price.

Idk that contract looks totally fine to me? I figure the Rams will be eating some money anyway (especially if they can somehow get a 2nd for him), so that yearly money doesn't really seem all that big of an issue to me.

 

[JTG]

I'd give them a 2nd but they would have to swap us their 3rd. He's 32 years old. A 2nd is them just playing supply and demand.

This league may be bad enough that the Steelers can do it this year. This is hands down the worst football I've ever seen. Look at the QB leaders in the NFL right now. It's like a who's who of past busts. Makes one think.

 

[MrBrightside]

This is feeling very much like the process that led the Pirates to trading for Bryan de la Cruz.

 

[MrBrightside]

 

[bigdaddyk88]

This is feeling very much like the process that led the Pirates to trading for Bryan de la Cruz.

Tennessee is paying most of his remaining salary and he has a tear in his mcl seems like the price tag is set for any wr

 

[OnMyOwn]

I’d prefer Kupp for sure, but I’ve always liked Mike Williams. They just need to get some kind of help.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I'd give them a 2nd but they would have to swap us their 3rd. He's 32 years old. A 2nd is them just playing supply and demand.

This league may be bad enough that the Steelers can do it this year. This is hands down the worst football I've ever seen. Look at the QB leaders in the NFL right now. It's like a who's who of past busts. Makes one think.

No way I'd do that much (even with the swap).

 

[JTG]

No way I'd do that much (even with the swap).

I wouldn't either, but even with not being good...they are very much in this race this year.

 

[MrBrightside]

Some of the hesitation on adding a WR feels like a lot of the apologists for the Pirates' inactivity - "well, they aren't one player away so we shouldn't make a trade for Player X" - then you never get closer and are never one player away and you remain with unfilled holes and further from contention. The AFC feels pretty wide open this year, and while I think the Steelers are more likely the 5th or 6th best team in the conference than a true contender, they aren't so far away that adding a veteran receiver is a waste of resources, particularly one with term. Worst case, I'd much prefer to go into the draft knowing WR is A need but not such a pressing need that they have to take a lesser player just fill it.

 

[pistolpete11]

Who would you rather have Kupp vs. Williams is kind of an interesting question.

Do you want to diversify a little and get a better all around guy? Or do you go all in on the moon ball? I think you could make a case for either.

Giving up anything more than a 4th is tough to stomach, though. Too old and too injury prone. On the other hand, maybe you take your shot while the AFC (and really the NFL) might not be that good this year, guys like Heyward and Watt are only getting older, and you have the cap space because you aren't paying your QB's? I don't know. It's a tough call. Whatever they decide, I'm sure we'll complain about it

 

[Pens1566]

Who would you rather have Kupp vs. Williams is kind of an interesting question.

Do you want to diversify a little and get a better all around guy? Or do you go all in on the moon ball? I think you could make a case for either.

Giving up anything more than a 4th is tough to stomach, though. Too old and too injury prone. On the other hand, maybe you take your shot while the AFC (and really the NFL) might not be that good this year, guys like Heyward and Watt are only getting older, and you have the cap space because you aren't paying your QB's? I don't know. It's a tough call. What they decide, I'm sure we'll complain about it

Kupp. Not even close for me.

But my crazy/dream scenario is to see what NO wants for Olave

 

[MrBrightside]

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Who would you rather have Kupp vs. Williams is kind of an interesting question.

Do you want to diversify a little and get a better all around guy? Or do you go all in on the moon ball? I think you could make a case for either.

Giving up anything more than a 4th is tough to stomach, though. Too old and too injury prone. On the other hand, maybe you take your shot while the AFC (and really the NFL) might not be that good this year, guys like Heyward and Watt are only getting older, and you have the cap space because you aren't paying your QB's? I don't know. It's a tough call. What they decide, I'm sure we'll complain about it

The better questions are: will our OC and QB design and throw to a diverse WR? Which also means throwing it to the middle of the field.

Kupp is obviously the better player, but he's injured a ton. That really rules him out for me. If he was healthy, this is a no brainer add.

But even a healthy Kupp may be limited in this offense. They just don't throw to the middle of the field that often and that's where Kupp really shines.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Tbh I have a really tough time caring about the difference between a 3rd and 4th if they’re adding a guy like Kupp. The Steelers already missed out on numerous WRs because Khan didn’t want to overpay, at some point you just gotta suck it up and get a guy you need. This is perhaps their best chance at going on a run that they’ve had in years, and it likely won’t be better next year.

I understand not trading a 2nd outright for Kupp, but a 3rd that could become a 2nd if Kupp stays healthy along with the Rams eating money should be a no brainer even if it is an “overpayment”.

 

[pistolpete11]

Some of the hesitation on adding a WR feels like a lot of the apologists for the Pirates' inactivity - "well, they aren't one player away so we shouldn't make a trade for Player X" - then you never get closer and are never one player away and you remain with unfilled holes and further from contention. The AFC feels pretty wide open this year, and while I think the Steelers are more likely the 5th or 6th best team in the conference than a true contender, they aren't so far away that adding a veteran receiver is a waste of resources, particularly one with term. Worst case, I'd much prefer to go into the draft knowing WR is A need but not such a pressing need that they have to take a lesser player just fill it.

I think most people were on board for someone like Aiyuk. It's when you start talking about 32 year olds with injury history where it becomes harder to justify giving up 2nd or 3rds.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The better questions are: will our OC and QB design and throw to a diverse WR? Which also means throwing it to the middle of the field.

Kupp is obviously the better player, but he's injured a ton. That really rules him out for me. If he was healthy, this is a no brainer add.

But even a healthy Kupp may be limited in this offense. They just don't throw to the middle of the field that often and that's where Kupp really shines.

They will throw to the middle of the field far more with Wilson at QB and a receiver the caliber of Kupp in the middle of the field.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

They will throw to the middle of the field far more with Wilson at QB and a receiver the caliber of Kupp in the middle of the field.

IDK man. Believe I remember seeing passing charts this offseason that JF and Russ are middle field averse through their careers. You might chuckle at this thought, but maybe that's part of the reason why Tomlin was all aboard obtaining them?

At some point you have to stop looking at the personnel and believe it's an edict from Tomlin.
Washington and Muth should be eating defenses alive over the middle, but you only see them catch passes there maybe 1 or 2 times a game.