OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: New Quarter Backs for the Handball team!

[MrBrightside]

Everyone who wants to trade down because the top of the draft is deep is correct. I don’t, however, think it’s just that easy to do as other teams will view the draft the same way so unless there are guys who fall that a later 1st team wants, it’s going to be really tough to get good value trading back this year.

 

[OnMyOwn]

I’m fine with taking a C and not caring at all. Cole was such a huge negative last year. He was in the QB’s lap half the game.

If you watch some Wilson highlights of his best plays, his C was standing tall on blocks. I actually thought we were gonna pursue him this offseason.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I'm right there with you. I think sitting here, I'd be trying to maximize volume because of the depth of the draft. But if a guy we really like drops to 10-15 (Nabers)...I'd hope they'd be aggressive and go get him.

I think a good case could be made for WR, CB, etc so I would be fine with mostly anything.

I can’t ever remember being mad about a Steelers pick, maybe disappointed when they took Jarvis Jones and Edmunds… the Troy Edwards pick annoyed me but I wasn’t overly mad about it.

This team has enough holes even if they went DL I could see that as well.

I just think they have invested so damn much in the D that it’s time to focus some on the O, particularly the line.

I’m fine with taking a C and not caring at all. Cole was such a huge negative last year. He was in the QB’s lap half the game.

If you watch some Wilson highlights of his best plays, his C was standing tall on blocks. I actually thought we were gonna pursue him this offseason.

Cushenberry? I was hoping they would grab him in FA also.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

How Likely Are Steelers To Land Starting Center In 2024 NFL Draft?

The 2024 NFL Draft is shaping up to present some extremely difficult decisions when it comes to roster construction for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unless anything drastic happens between now and the draft, they have urgent needs at center, wide receiver, offensive tackle, and slot corner. There...

steelersdepot.com

 

[xlm34]

I’m actually starting to wonder whether there’s a decent chance Frazier will be available in the second. At first I thought there was no shot but now I’m questioning that. He’s only a couple months out from a broken leg so you can probably throw the numbers out but he didn’t test particularly well at the Big 12 pro day. And I’ve seen some concerns over his ability in pass protection.

Definitely strikes me as the late second round center type we’ve seen the past couple of years. Just a matter of whether need pushes him up some draft boards.

 

[Peat]

I’m actually starting to wonder whether there’s a decent chance Frazier will be available in the second. At first I thought there was no shot but now I’m questioning that. He’s only a couple months out from a broken leg so you can probably throw the numbers out but he didn’t test particularly well at the Big 12 pro day. And I’ve seen some concerns over his ability in pass protection.

Definitely strikes me as the late second round center type we’ve seen the past couple of years. Just a matter of whether need pushes him up some draft boards.

I think the thing about Frazier is nobody ever seemed to think he was a great athlete, but people love his toughness and attitude. There's a ton of guys who have the athleticism to play in the NFL and only so many of them have the mental and physical toughness to get torn up week after week and keep coming back.

So anyone who is jonesing for Frazier is probably happy as a clam that the guy is doing pro day drills four months after breaking a leg, knowing his numbers won't be great but still determined to compete. That right there is another tick in their box for Frazier having the toughness.

I'm waiting to see what the home stretch draft news is with him - what flaws people see when hyper-focusing, when leaks out from teams. I've seen some people worry about his lateral quickness and ability to pick up pass protection too.

But my guess is that Frazier goes at about the top of the range you can project for his talent, because teams will look at the toughness and feel safe he's not going to wash out on them. Which maybe still leaves him in play at 51, but I don't think the Pro Day necessarily changes things. It's not like the results were damning either, his speed is basically equal to Cushenberry.

 

[OnMyOwn]

Cushenberry? I was hoping they would grab him in FA also.

Yea and honestly after we grabbed Russ, I figured it was a guarantee he was the next signing.

 

[Peat]

I think a good case could be made for WR, CB, etc so I would be fine with mostly anything.

I can’t ever remember being mad about a Steelers pick, maybe disappointed when they took Jarvis Jones and Edmunds… the Troy Edwards pick annoyed me but I wasn’t overly mad about it.

This team has enough holes even if they went DL I could see that as well.

I just think they have invested so damn much in the D that it’s time to focus some on the O, particularly the line.

I agree with most of what you've said, but particularly the bolded.

Yeah, they can improve the team just about everywhere but I feel like they're just not going to have a major jump until they can get a OL that regularly dominates. And the fact that we've been saying something like that for I have no idea how long at this point...

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Everyone who wants to trade down because the top of the draft is deep is correct. I don’t, however, think it’s just that easy to do as other teams will view the draft the same way so unless there are guys who fall that a later 1st team wants, it’s going to be really tough to get good value trading back this year.

Depends on how far back you want to go. Philly and Dallas make great partners. Philly needs a cb and Dallas needs a C

 

[JTG]

I wouldn't be against them trading back, but this draft is legitimately so good that it may be worth trading up. We can get a top 5 talent outside of the top 10 this year.

 

[Captain Hook]

Everyone who wants to trade down because the top of the draft is deep is correct. I don’t, however, think it’s just that easy to do as other teams will view the draft the same way so unless there are guys who fall that a later 1st team wants, it’s going to be really tough to get good value trading back this year.

Yeah, I agree trading down is easier said than done. The depth of this draft depends what you mean by deep. Deep early? Yes. Deep through 3-4 rounds? Probably. I've heard people say it falls off hard after that though due to NIL deals keeping more underclassman in school these days. If true that's one of the benefits in moving up to 98 in the Pickett deal and moving from round 5 to round 4 prior to that in the Dotson deal.

I’m actually starting to wonder whether there’s a decent chance Frazier will be available in the second. At first I thought there was no shot but now I’m questioning that. He’s only a couple months out from a broken leg so you can probably throw the numbers out but he didn’t test particularly well at the Big 12 pro day. And I’ve seen some concerns over his ability in pass protection.

Definitely strikes me as the late second round center type we’ve seen the past couple of years. Just a matter of whether need pushes him up some draft boards.

It's possible. The dream scenario to me is one of those big time tackles in round one and then Frazier in round two. Between those two draft picks and Broderick Jones the O-Line would be set for years at that point.

 

[xlm34]

I think the thing about Frazier is nobody ever seemed to think he was a great athlete, but people love his toughness and attitude. There's a ton of guys who have the athleticism to play in the NFL and only so many of them have the mental and physical toughness to get torn up week after week and keep coming back.

So anyone who is jonesing for Frazier is probably happy as a clam that the guy is doing pro day drills four months after breaking a leg, knowing his numbers won't be great but still determined to compete. That right there is another tick in their box for Frazier having the toughness.

I'm waiting to see what the home stretch draft news is with him - what flaws people see when hyper-focusing, when leaks out from teams. I've seen some people worry about his lateral quickness and ability to pick up pass protection too.

But my guess is that Frazier goes at about the top of the range you can project for his talent, because teams will look at the toughness and feel safe he's not going to wash out on them. Which maybe still leaves him in play at 51, but I don't think the Pro Day necessarily changes things. It's not like the results were damning either, his speed is basically equal to Cushenberry.

Yeah I’m also really curious to read through some of the final scouting reports on these guys. Dane Brugler’s massive scouting book is probably coming out soon which is always an awesome resource.

Not saying they’re bad prospects by any means but a little part of me is wondering if we’re seeing some overhyping of the center prospects just because of how massive that need is.

 

[Peat]

Yeah I’m also really curious to read through some of the final scouting reports on these guys. Dane Brugler’s massive scouting book is probably coming out soon which is always an awesome resource.

Not saying they’re bad prospects by any means but a little part of me is wondering if we’re seeing some overhyping of the center prospects just because of how massive that need is.

Tbf, Brugler's been a guy leading that hyping charge. He's said stuff like 3 Cs could go in the first round. But maybe he's not as aggressive come the end. Ditto Jeremiah, the guy who mocked Frazier in the first round.

Or in other words, it's not like any of us dreamt that hype. But maybe some of us have brought into it enthusiastically because it's what we want to hear.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Yeah, I agree trading down is easier said than done. The depth of this draft depends what you mean by deep. Deep early? Yes. Deep through 3-4 rounds? Probably. I've heard people say it falls off hard after that though due to NIL deals keeping more underclassman in school these days. If true that's one of the benefits in moving up to 98 in the Pickett deal and moving from round 5 to round 4 prior to that in the Dotson deal.

It's possible. The dream scenario to me is one of those big time tackles in round one and then Frazier in round two. Between those two draft picks and Broderick Jones the O-Line would be set for years at that point.

Ya I agree.

I feel like the talent in this draft sets the Steelers up perfectly to fix their O-line for the next 7-8 years.

Every sign points to them going T in round 1, and Mims looks like their guy.

Mims has has a senior bowl meeting, a combine meeting, pro day visit from Khan and Tomlin and he also visited their South Side facility.

Doesn’t get much more smoke than that given their big need at RT and the boxes the Steelers always check off with first rounders.

There is also the Jones connection and the Steelers love to draft players from big time programs with pedigree.

 

[Andy99]

Ya I agree.

I feel like the talent in this draft sets the Steelers up perfectly to fix their O-line for the next 7-8 years.

Every sign points to them going T in round 1, and Mims looks like their guy.

Mims has has a senior bowl meeting, a combine meeting, pro day visit from Khan and Tomlin and he also visited their South Side facility.

Doesn’t get much more smoke than that given their big need at RT and the boxes the Steelers always check off with first rounders.

There is also the Jones connection and the Steelers love big programs that know how to win championships.

Yeah agree that looks likely but given the depth at tackle, I’d rather pick a WR, TE Bowers, or CB in the first…if Thomas or Wiggins is there, to me that’s better asset management than tackle there…the corner they got from Carolina has bust potential as a starting outside CB and WR is more desperate to me, also Muth is always injured and not worth his next contract…

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Yeah agree that looks likely but given the depth at tackle, I’d rather pick a WR, TE Bowers, or CB in the first…if Thomas or Wiggins is there, to me that’s better asset management than tackle there…the corner they got from Carolina has bust potential as a starting outside CB and WR is more desperate to me, also Muth is always injured and not worth his next contract…

Something has to give at T and WR as this draft is flush with both.

This may be the best WR class in 20 years, so we could make an argument either way about getting a T first and WR later or vice versa.

It looks like Mims though because he has checked off all the boxes and Steelers are really bad at covering their tracks.

 

[Andy99]

Something has to give at T and WR as this draft is flush with both.

This may be the best WR class in 20 years, so we could make an argument either way about getting a T first and WR later or vice versa.

It looks like Mims though because he has checked off all the boxes and Steelers are really bad at covering their tracks.

Yeah true…I think we need a starting outside WR who is special, more than a starting tackle but whatever…

 

[Pens1566]

I think you have to swing for "value" of the BPA in T/WR/CB given how loaded this class is. There is a real chance that a monster slips to us at 20 in one of those spots. And getting the 5th year option at those positions (if they nail it) is huge.

 

[Ulf5]

Yeah true…I think we need a starting outside WR who is special, more than a starting tackle but whatever…

I think it's a hell of a lot easier to get a starting WR after the 1st round than it is to get a starting T after the 1st round. But hey, I'm just an armchair gm lol.

 

[Peat]

Yeah true…I think we need a starting outside WR who is special, more than a starting tackle but whatever…

That WR would have to be pretty darn special to thrive in this offence if they don't get the line fixed. Not that most of the Tackles available at 20 will be day one instant fixes, but at least they might stop a repetition of this conversation every year.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Yeah true…I think we need a starting outside WR who is special, more than a starting tackle but whatever…

I’m not going to argue much as I’d love a beast at WR. I don’t think having a small slow WR getting the bulk of the targets and a passing game that lacked explosion were a coincidence.

I do think they take a C in the first two rounds since they put themselves in a corner.

So WR or T will get pushed back to round three.

 

[Ryder71]

I’m actually starting to wonder whether there’s a decent chance Frazier will be available in the second.

I seriously doubt that. Most likely we'd have to move up into the mid/ late 30's, 35-38

 

[Goalie_Bob]

I seriously doubt that. Most likely we'd have to move up into the mid/ late 30's, 35-38

Being the GM of Tennessee in the HFBoards mock draft gave me some insight into their draft picks. They do not have a 3rd round pick and only one 4th round pick. So I think they will look to trade down 5-15 places in the 2nd to pick up a 3rd.

And funny enough, if you take the Steelers 51+84 picks they equate to the Tennessee pick which is 38.

That being said, is it really a good idea to trade a 2nd and a 3rd for a less premium position like C?

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Being the GM of Tennessee in the HFBoards mock draft gave me some insight into their draft picks. They do not have a 3rd round pick and only one 4th round pick. So I think they will look to trade down 5-15 places in the 2nd to pick up a 3rd.

And funny enough, if you take the Steelers 51+84 picks they equate to the Tennessee pick which is 38.

That being said, is it really a good idea to trade a 2nd and 3rd for a less premium position like C?

They reach for a C at 20 or likely have to trade up in round two for one IMHO.

Pick your poison I guess.

I assume their “oh f*** what do we do now” options are Herbig who has a whopping 49 snaps as a pro center or Daniels who hasn’t played C since 2019.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

They reach for a C at 20 or likely have to trade up in round two for one IMHO.

Pick your poison I guess.

I assume their “oh f*** what do we do now” options are Herbig who has a whopping 49 snaps as a pro center or Daniels who hasn’t played C since 2019.

Or they believe a guy they can get in the 3rd/4th can come in and do a decent job, aka SvP, Limmer, Bortolini, Equakun.

To be honest, I would like to just use one pick on a Center. So either go with J P-J in the 1st or just see how it goes, grap Frazier in the 2nd or SvP/Bortolini/Limmer in the 3rd.