OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Congrats to KC, but Kelce was the real winner winning Swift

[Peat]

If they can get a 5th from another team that's happy to take Pickett as a cheap back-up with the hope of being more and bring back Rudolph (or anyone else) instead, I'm down with that.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

This would be insane (unless they dump Pickett completely) but part of me would love to see all 3 of them and watch the chaos.

I have said for a long time he is worth more to the Steelers than anyone else

 

[bigdaddyk88]

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don't see bringing back Rudolph making any sense in any way. A big benefit of bringing in Wilson is that he's signing for so cheap, Rudolph would likely command more than Pickett is making now.

Pickett and Wilson as a QB tandem are making like $4.5 million combined. I'd need a really damn good excuse to replace Pickett with another guy with how cheap that duo is, and I don't see anything Rudolph can offer that is that.

 

[Peat]

I don't see bringing back Rudolph making any sense in any way. A big benefit of bringing in Wilson is that he's signing for so cheap, Rudolph would likely command more than Pickett is making now.

Pickett and Wilson as a QB tandem are making like $4.5 million combined. I'd need a really damn good excuse to replace Pickett with another guy with how cheap that duo is, and I don't see anything Rudolph can offer that is that.

If you believe the team doesn't have a hope for the next few seasons or so, then grabbing a pick for a player who no longer has a future here is always good business. The cap hit doesn't really matter, but the pick might.

If you believe the team has a genuine hope, then having a back-up QB who they believe in matters, no? The cap charge can probably be massaged to about 2.5-3.5m for the first season, which is basically Pickett's money (well, less actually). I dunno if there's any dead money to trading him - I assume its his prorated bonus based on how Mac Jones' dead money appears on the Pats' page on OTC, but that's a guess - but that's pretty much all it is. That bonus is 1.85m, that's barely worth thinking about if they believe it's an upgrade. I don't know it necessarily makes sense, but it's pretty shrugworthy territory.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

It’s not crippling if they can’t but hoping for this team to make some adds that avoid them being resigned to drafting a position early in the draft.

 

[WickedWrister]

If you believe the team doesn't have a hope for the next few seasons or so, then grabbing a pick for a player who no longer has a future here is always good business. The cap hit doesn't really matter, but the pick might.

If you believe the team has a genuine hope, then having a back-up QB who they believe in matters, no? The cap charge can probably be massaged to about 2.5-3.5m for the first season, which is basically Pickett's money (well, less actually). I dunno if there's any dead money to trading him - I assume its his prorated bonus based on how Mac Jones' dead money appears on the Pats' page on OTC, but that's a guess - but that's pretty much all it is. That bonus is 1.85m, that's barely worth thinking about if they believe it's an upgrade. I don't know it necessarily makes sense, but it's pretty shrugworthy territory.

Rookie contracts are fully guaranteed so I believe trading Kenny would incur 1.85m dead cap (his yearly signing bonus) in both 2024 and 2025. Versus paying him 3.8 and 4.4m next year. If Mac just went for a 6th, I don't know if Kenny even gets that to be honest. More value keeping him I guess.

We usually bring 4 into training camp, so I'm curious what we'll do with the other two spots. Another vet min kinda guy and/or a late round pick?

 

[WickedWrister]

f*** it bring in Carson Wentz for the "QB's that other teams didn't want and incurred huge dead cap hits" memes

 

[ChaosAgent]

I'm getting optimistic about the Steelers. They upgraded at OC and QB. They will upgrade at DB and OL - just need to restructure Heyward.

Barring a Watt injury, they win 10+. The test for Tomlin will be a playoff game.

 

[Peat]

Rookie contracts are fully guaranteed so I believe trading Kenny would incur 1.85m dead cap (his yearly signing bonus) in both 2024 and 2025. Versus paying him 3.8 and 4.4m next year. If Mac just went for a 6th, I don't know if Kenny even gets that to be honest. More value keeping him I guess.

We usually bring 4 into training camp, so I'm curious what we'll do with the other two spots. Another vet min kinda guy and/or a late round pick?

It's probably very marginal either way so it's not one I see getting too sweated up over, but what's the value of keeping him?

He's now a back-up who's not going to get the time to develop and will probably walk in two years. There's a lot of back-ups who won't develop and will probably be gone in two years. The only real value is that with the dead money he's slightly cheaper than another guy would be. That's deeply shrugworthy. It's not a value worth sticking with the dude over if there's an available QB they like more, even if they literally just cut him.

If they got a trade return, any trade return, even sweeter. Everything counts in large amounts. But even if they didn't, there's pretty much no reason to keep him if they like someone more. Would anyone really be bothered if they let Pickett go to sign Rudolph or whoever, or be bringing it up in a year?

 

[Andy99]

I'm getting optimistic about the Steelers. They upgraded at OC and QB. They will upgrade at DB and OL - just need to restructure Heyward.

Barring a Watt injury, they win 10+. The test for Tomlin will be a playoff game.

Really? It feels like they’re relying on hitting every pick in every draft class … so many holes and they’re not picking up the better players available in FA

 

[ChaosAgent]

Really? It feels like they’re relying on hitting every pick in every draft class … so many holes and they’re not picking up the better players available in FA

There are not that many holes, and by the end of this week we will have 2-3 more players of significance (starter quality guys) in the fold

 

[T1K]

It's probably very marginal either way so it's not one I see getting too sweated up over, but what's the value of keeping him?

He's now a back-up who's not going to get the time to develop and will probably walk in two years. There's a lot of back-ups who won't develop and will probably be gone in two years. The only real value is that with the dead money he's slightly cheaper than another guy would be. That's deeply shrugworthy. It's not a value worth sticking with the dude over if there's an available QB they like more, even if they literally just cut him.

If they got a trade return, any trade return, even sweeter. Everything counts in large amounts. But even if they didn't, there's pretty much no reason to keep him if they like someone more. Would anyone really be bothered if they let Pickett go to sign Rudolph or whoever, or be bringing it up in a year?

You’re overthinking this. Pickett has no real trade value. Any pick we got for him would ultimately be used to acquire the replacement backup. I don’t see the point. Pickett would be fine as a career backup, that profile suits him better given his risk-averse tendencies.

I don’t think Rudolph signing here is very realistic. He’s proven he’s good enough to be a QB2 somewhere.

 

[Peat]

You’re overthinking this. Pickett has no real trade value. Any pick we got for him would ultimately be used to acquire the replacement backup. I don’t see the point. Pickett would be fine as a career backup, that profile suits him better given his risk-averse tendencies.

I don’t think Rudolph signing here is very realistic. He’s proven he’s good enough to be a QB2 somewhere.

Smart orgs are always trying to squeeze a little bit of extra value out of situations. It's why the Steelers traded Dotson and Green. It's why they kept Mann on their 53 man roster a couple of extra days to see if they could get something for him.

As such, it's not overthinking it to think about that possibility when journos are talking about a scenario that might include that possibility i.e. bringing back Rudolph as QB2.

One final point re the idea they might move Pickett - volunteers, not hostages. Nobody knows just how unhappy Pickett is about this situation (and before people go on about performance and deservingness, at this point they've pretty much lied to his face so we're talking a trust thing first and foremost), but we know the Steelers occasionally move players due to this and teams moving dethroned starters is pretty common. I don't expect it, but would anyone really be that surprised if it did happen?

 

[T1K]

Smart orgs are always trying to squeeze a little bit of extra value out of situations. It's why the Steelers traded Dotson and Green. It's why they kept Mann on their 53 man roster a couple of extra days to see if they could get something for him.

As such, it's not overthinking it to think about that possibility when journos are talking about a scenario that might include that possibility i.e. bringing back Rudolph as QB2.

One final point re the idea they might move Pickett - volunteers, not hostages. Nobody knows just how unhappy Pickett is about this situation (and before people go on about performance and deservingness, at this point they've pretty much lied to his face so we're talking a trust thing first and foremost), but we know the Steelers occasionally move players due to this and teams moving dethroned starters is pretty common. I don't expect it, but would anyone really be that surprised if it did happen?

The journalists have been wrong about the Steelers QB situation all offseason. Why would I start believing them now? They’re milking the last bit of Rudolph click-bait they can before that story dies.

I don’t really care to speculate on Pickett’s happiness… who gives a shit? Backup QB in the NFL is a pretty sweet gig.

 

[T1K]

Like, are we really supposed to take the clown beat reporters here seriously when this is their first reaction to making the lowest risk move possible at QB?

x.com

x.com

 

[Peat]

The journalists have been wrong about the Steelers QB situation all offseason. Why would I start believing them now? They’re milking the last bit of Rudolph click-bait they can before that story dies.

I don’t really care to speculate on Pickett’s happiness… who gives a shit? Backup QB in the NFL is a pretty sweet gig.

If you don't want to talk about the possibility that Pickett's future here might be officially done sooner than his rookie contract suggests, then just don't talk about it. No need to come up with a bunch of flimsy reasons why nobody should discuss it, as if player happiness has never factored into trades or this thread only ever discusses journalistic reports that we know to be absolutely totally accurate.

 

[T1K]

If you don't want to talk about the possibility that Pickett's future here might be officially done sooner than his rookie contract suggests, then just don't talk about it. No need to come up with a bunch of flimsy reasons why nobody should discuss it, as if player happiness has never factored into trades or this thread only ever discusses journalistic reports that we know to be absolutely totally accurate.

He’s firmly the backup. Nobody is talking about trading him except for you. Your reasons are flimsy.

 

[Peat]

Like, are we really supposed to take the clown beat reporters here seriously when this is their first reaction to making the lowest risk move possible at QB?

x.com

x.com

The only thing wrong with this take is that arguably the set-back has already happened regardless of Wilson.

But Wilson will get at least one year maybe more, It'll take a QB picked where the Steelers pick at least one year to turn into a guy who can carry a franchise and probably more. The Steelers will be there to make up the numbers for at least three years, maybe more.

He’s firmly the backup. Nobody is talking about trading him except for you. Your reasons are flimsy.

Again, you don't want to talk about it, don't talk about it. You're not the thread police.

 

[T1K]

The only thing wrong with this take is that arguably the set-back has already happened regardless of Wilson.

But Wilson will get at least one year maybe more, It'll take a QB picked where the Steelers pick at least one year to turn into a guy who can carry a franchise and probably more. The Steelers will be there to make up the numbers for at least three years, maybe more.



Again, you don't want to talk about it, don't talk about it. You're not the thread police.

It seems pretty clear they weren’t sold on Penix and Nix. Why force it?

As for trading Pickett, by all means feel free to speculate on his trade value all you want. Seems like a waste of time to me, considering Fields has no market, but I’ll drop it. No other player worth a 5th/6th at most in trade value would garner so much discussion, but whatever.

 

[Peat]

It seems pretty clear they weren’t sold on Penix and Nix. Why force it?

As for trading Pickett, by all means feel free to speculate on his trade value all you want. Seems like a waste of time to me, considering Fields has no market, but I’ll drop it. No other player worth a 5th/6th at most in trade value would garner so much discussion, but whatever.

Because any team in the NFL that doesn't have a franchise QB should be trying to get one.

Maybe they evaluated them and think there's no way. Maybe they never really bothered for whatever reason. It's possible they were genuinely sincere about Pickett and had no intention of replacing him except with cut price Wilson because they think cut price Wilson is amazing. I don't think that's likely, but it's possible.

But in any case, the point about franchise QBs stands. Wilson isn't one and he isn't an attempt to get one. If people think he's still the best option, fair enough, but it seems pretty reasonable to be upset with the Steelers admitting that's where they are. Nobody actually wants to be in this situation, right?

 

[T1K]

Because any team in the NFL that doesn't have a franchise QB should be trying to get one.

Maybe they evaluated them and think there's no way. Maybe they never really bothered for whatever reason. It's possible they were genuinely sincere about Pickett and had no intention of replacing him except with cut price Wilson because they think cut price Wilson is amazing. I don't think that's likely, but it's possible.

But in any case, the point about franchise QBs stands. Wilson isn't one and he isn't an attempt to get one. If people think he's still the best option, fair enough, but it seems pretty reasonable to be upset with the Steelers admitting that's where they are. Nobody actually wants to be in this situation, right?

Penix/Nix would burn several years trying to find out if they’re any good. I’m tired of wasting Watt’s prime. This signing is our best attempt at trying to maximize what’s left of that. If Wilson flops then we are in a very good spot to find a QB next year. If he returns back to his Seattle form we could be in for a fun season.

I’m pretty happy with the Russ situation. There’s no downside.

 

[Peat]

Penix/Nix would burn several years trying to find out if they’re any good. I’m tired of wasting Watt’s prime. This signing is our best attempt at trying to maximize what’s left of that. If Wilson flops then we are in a very good spot to find a QB next year. If he returns back to his Seattle form we could be in for a fun season.

I’m pretty happy with the Russ situation. There’s no downside.

And the difference between me and you is that I think this signing is the surest way of wasting the rest of Watt's prime. I think the likeliest outcome for Wilson is he doesn't flop and he doesn't roll back the years. He ends up in the middle, just more watchable. Then at the end of it you still have to go get another QB where you'll burn several years finding out if they're any good, only you start that bit later, assuming they don't opt for another low end veteran.

 

[xlm34]

Rudolph may have overplayed his hand…Darnold is going to the Vikings so I don’t see anything but a backup job available to him.

 

[Captain Hook]

Rudolph may have overplayed his hand…Darnold is going to the Vikings so I don’t see anything but a backup job available to him.

I can see Denver or possibly one of these teams that plan on drafting a QB early bringing him in as that stopgap starter until the rookie is ready. I never thought there would be a big market for him as a starter though. He'll probably get a decent backup deal at most. Some of those fringe starter/backup guys have really gotten paid. Makes me feel even better about getting Russ so cheap.