OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Off Season We dont need a QB Edition

[Goalie_Bob]

I still can’t believe the Steelers are letting Rodgers string them along like this. This is Jets/Browns dysfunction.

They aren’t missing out on anybody by waiting…..

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah the Rodgers stuff is annoying but it doesn't really impact them until it goes beyond the draft. But whether he signs now versus signs in 2 weeks doesn't really make a difference.

They just need to have an answer no later than the draft, and I'd probably demand it a week or two earlier to make sure I'm fully ready for the draft.

 

[MrBrightside]

I mean, it does impact them as they are allocating cap dollars to it that could have been used on other positions and players. If the argument is that there’s no one left worth spending money on, I guess, but if he were to retire they’ve lost other opportunities for nothing.

But reality it’s just the optics. You can tell Hayward is over it - I just hate being the guy sitting there hoping the girl with no other options chooses to go to the prom with hik instead of staying home.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I agree. The Rodgers saga is a bit annoying but at this point it affects nothing

 

[Empoleon8771]

I mean, it does impact them as they are allocating cap dollars to it that could have been used on other positions and players. If the argument is that there’s no one left worth spending money on, I guess, but if he were to retire they’ve lost other opportunities for nothing.

But

But who are these other opportunities they're losing? They don't really have a lot of holes left to fill in free agency, any remaining hole they have outside of QB will most likely be a draft hole.

Just from looking at their depth chart, all they really need at this point is:

-A QB1
-A RB2/3 once they presumably release Patterson (they don't actually need a RB if they keep him)
-A backup LT/RT
-A young LG to sit behind Seumalo for this year
-A starting NT

They really don't have that many obvious holes in their depth chart that they're somehow missing out on in free agency. The only position I think they'll fill in UFA is a backup swing tackle, the rest seem to be draft picks.

 

[MrBrightside]

I’ve acknowledged that right now there’s no one out there that’s that big a deal. Maybe Dobbins, but I doubt that’s affected by this even if they have an interest. And they may not. I’ve also acknowledged it’s really more the optics. Five people have disagreed with my while also agreeing it’s annoying, which is basically what I said in the first place.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I’ve acknowledged that right now there’s no one out there that’s that big a deal. Maybe Dobbins, but I doubt that’s affected by this even if they have an interest. And they may not. I’ve also acknowledged it’s really more the optics. Five people have disagreed with my while also agreeing it’s annoying, which is basically what I said in the first place.

Who cares what Cam "Mike Tomlin is untouchable I will defend him to the death" Heyward thinks anyway?

I wish they would have just signed Minshew to compete with Rudolph but I'm just not fussed by the situation. The team is going nowhere regardless. As long as we can cut bait with Rodgers in 2026 without a cap penalty I am cool with it

 

[xlm34]

For as rough as their situation is, the Steelers have a very long way to go reach the Browns/Jets level of disfunction at the QB spot.

The Rodgers thing is just annoying about how much it’s talked about. It’s not holding them back/has held them back from anything though. A 42 year old Rodgers on a one year deal shouldn’t impact any draft decisions either.

 

[SomeDude]

For as rough as their situation is, the Steelers have a very long way to go reach the Browns/Jets level of disfunction at the QB spot.

Longevity-wise, sure.

Current and in the immediate future, the Steelers are at the bottom of the barrel at the position and in the same exact boat as those other organizations. I believe that even if Rodgers does decide to come here.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Who cares what Cam "Mike Tomlin is untouchable I will defend him to the death" Heyward thinks anyway?

I wish they would have just signed Minshew to compete with Rudolph but I'm just not fussed by the situation. The team is going nowhere regardless. As long as we can cut bait with Rodgers in 2026 without a cap penalty I am cool with it

Every report has said it’s a 1 year deal if he signs and it appears they are still going to draft a developmental Qb

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think a fairly realistic scenario for this year is that they sign Rodgers and draft someone like Howard with a day 3 pick, probably a 5th if I had to guess. Skylar Thompson isn't a guy you care about, so they can cut him or demote him to the practice squad without much issue.

My hope for the QB room over the next few years would be:

-2025: Rodgers as QB1, Rudolph as QB2 and Howard as QB3
-2026: Rudolph and Howard battle for the QB1/QB2 spots, the 2026 1st rounder has a full redshirt year as QB3
-2027: 2026 1st rounder as QB1 and Howard as QB2

Now if Howard somehow ends up more than the quality backup upside I think he has, that is an interesting wrench in this, but this strategy is what I'd like to pursue.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Egbuka is a legit first-round receiver, not strictly a a lot Guy and a lot better than Roman Wilson. But there will be guys just as good as Egbuka next year and right now you don’t need a receiver.

But if they draft Egbuka just so they can trade Pickens for a second-rounder instead of drafting a first-round talent at a position of need then that’s one of the stupider things I will have seen. You traded for Metcalf (1/2) and are getting Wilson (4) after a redshirt year. With Pickens and Austin you are basically set.

 

[Pens x]

Wilson must be pretty dumb to not understand Artie “run, run, 3 yard pass” Smith’s dynamic playbook.

 

[JTG]

Wilson is a really skilled wideout. I know the injuries really slowed him down. I'm hopeful he and Austin can take some steps forward

I think Grant may have a higher upside, but to me it seems like he has a hell of a lot more of a ways to go to become an effective 3 down player than Harmon does. When it comes down to it, gimme the guy who has more pass rush juice.

I also just think the way the draft sets up, you’re better off going Harmon in round one and then double dipping for a guy like CJ West in round 4 who gives you the big run stuffer. You’re (hopefully) DL of the future is set then. If you take Grant, you’re still looking for a Heyward replacement and that is not all that easy to find.

I would honestly like them both. Have Harmon, Grant, and Benton as the core of the defense going forward.

I'm not just trying to be contrarian but a name I haven't seen mentioned too much in this thread is Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen. I think he's in that tier 2 with Harmon and Grant, granted I've seen him go consistently later than those two in mocks and rankings, but still in the same range where individual team preference should be considered. He was the #1 recruit in the country in his recruiting class for the people that value pedigree. Super twitchy/athletic 3 down IDL.

View attachment 1002646

I think Nolen has the ability to be the best DT in this draft. He's that freakishly skilled and his body is built to be a DT. He plays like a 320 pound DL at 300.

 

[pistolpete11]

I’ve acknowledged that right now there’s no one out there that’s that big a deal. Maybe Dobbins, but I doubt that’s affected by this even if they have an interest. And they may not. I’ve also acknowledged it’s really more the optics. Five people have disagreed with my while also agreeing it’s annoying, which is basically what I said in the first place.

Dobbins would actually be a pretty interesting target, but with major injury concerns, he's not worth affecting the comp picks for next year. Which means he would have to be real cheap and/or signed after the draft. Neither of which would be affected by waiting on Rodgers.

I think a fairly realistic scenario for this year is that they sign Rodgers and draft someone like Howard with a day 3 pick, probably a 5th if I had to guess. Skylar Thompson isn't a guy you care about, so they can cut him or demote him to the practice squad without much issue.

My hope for the QB room over the next few years would be:

-2025: Rodgers as QB1, Rudolph as QB2 and Howard as QB3
-2026: Rudolph and Howard battle for the QB1/QB2 spots, the 2026 1st rounder has a full redshirt year as QB3
-2027: 2026 1st rounder as QB1 and Howard as QB2

Now if Howard somehow ends up more than the quality backup upside I think he has, that is an interesting wrench in this, but this strategy is what I'd like to pursue.

I could get on board with this, but my only quibble would be that you probably want more of a veteran to be the backup for the 1st rounder. A Chuck Batch type, not a 3rd year QB who probably will have limited experience himself.

Also, I doubt Howard is ever more than a backup, but if he somehow is, I HIGHLY doubt he's 'the guy'. In which case, they could trade him to a QB hungry team and sign a vet in FA.

Egbuka is a legit first-round receiver, not strictly a a lot Guy and a lot better than Roman Wilson. But there will be guys just as good as Egbuka next year and right now you don’t need a receiver.

But if they draft Egbuka just so they can trade Pickens for a second-rounder instead of drafting a first-round talent at a position of need then that’s one of the stupider things I will have seen. You traded for Metcalf (1/2) and are getting Wilson (4) after a redshirt year. With Pickens and Austin you are basically set.

You're set for 2025, but the question is if you trust Pickens enough to give him an extension. If not, it makes some sense to trade him so you can get something for him now.

Kind of torn on it myself. As you said, it's a good draft for DL which they desperately need and I'm a firm believer in building inside-out. However, I don't trust Pickens long term. I dunno. Maybe the answer is a compromise. Trade Pickens, still use the 1st on a DL, and the 2nd/3rd you get for Pickens on a WR?

 

[pistolpete11]

I saw a pie in the sky trade proposal that will never happen, but would be interesting.

Trade Watt to Tennessee for 1OV. I think there was some additional adds, but the article stupidly said to draft Ward, but I'd be more interested in taking Carter as a Watt replacement. It's a risk trading a perennial DPOY contender for an unproven player, BUT even using the most optimistic timeline, the Steelers aren't going to be competing until 2027+. Watt will be 33 by then and making probably $40M/year. I think he will still be a good player, but he will be declining and that's a lot of money.

 

[JTG]

I think a fairly realistic scenario for this year is that they sign Rodgers and draft someone like Howard with a day 3 pick, probably a 5th if I had to guess. Skylar Thompson isn't a guy you care about, so they can cut him or demote him to the practice squad without much issue.

My hope for the QB room over the next few years would be:

-2025: Rodgers as QB1, Rudolph as QB2 and Howard as QB3
-2026: Rudolph and Howard battle for the QB1/QB2 spots, the 2026 1st rounder has a full redshirt year as QB3
-2027: 2026 1st rounder as QB1 and Howard as QB2

Now if Howard somehow ends up more than the quality backup upside I think he has, that is an interesting wrench in this, but this strategy is what I'd like to pursue.

My personal hope is that they want to take stabs at these next two drafts as far as QBs go. Way too good to f*** around with the guys in this draft.

 

[JTG]

I saw a pie in the sky trade proposal that will never happen, but would be interesting.

Trade Watt to Tennessee for 1OV. I think there was some additional adds, but the article stupidly said to draft Ward, but I'd be more interested in taking Carter as a Watt replacement. It's a risk trading a perennial DPOY contender for an unproven player, BUT even using the most optimistic timeline, the Steelers aren't going to be competing until 2027+. Watt will be 33 by then and making probably $40M/year. I think he will still be a good player, but he will be declining and that's a lot of money.

I saw that also. I think the time to trade Watt is now, and it's two fold - he kills the tank, and he is highly valuable draft capital wise.

 

[MrBrightside]

I think two things are equally true:

1. It would make a lot of sense to trade Watt now.
2. There is no chance in the world the Steelers trade Watt.

 

[Empoleon8771]

He's 100% dragging this out so he can announce it on that stupid McAfee live show.

 

[pistolpete11]

I saw that also. I think the time to trade Watt is now, and it's two fold - he kills the tank, and he is highly valuable draft capital wise.

I don't think the Steelers would even consider it, though. Also not sure why Tennessee would do it. They are basically in the same position of needing a QB and likely not going to be competing for at least a few years.

 

[JTG]

I don't think the Steelers would even consider it, though. Also not sure why Tennessee would do it. They are basically in the same position of needing a QB and likely not going to be competing for at least a few years.

They don't.

TJ is a player that retires with one franchise. He will be enshrined as a Steeler and will be basically right there with Troy as best ever.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Ben Roethlisberger.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

Ok, we are closing in on the Steelers 4th round pick in the HFBoards NFL Mock Draft. Here are players that could be available, we are currently at pick 120 in the draft.

It's obvious how deep the RB and DL classes are at this point. Though we did go like 1.5 rounds without a RB being picked, but maybe this is the sweet spot for them.

Still some good DL left. Though they are very much in the smallish-quick effort bracket (West, Peebles, Pegues) and the NT bracket (Phillips. Caldwell). Caldwell being the Hampton type at 6-1, 340.

OL is very meh. QBs are meh, I like Shough but not in the 4th. WR is very meh. This is also a sweet spot for Edge as well, but the Steelers don't need one at this point. TE is meh, maybe one later.

Potential at Pick 123:

QB: Tyler Shough (59-0-0-91), Quinn Ewers (0-0-142-0), Riley Leonard (0-0-121-0), Dillon Gabriel (0-0-131-122), Kyle McCord (0-0-0-137)

RB: Jordan James (62-0-0-0), RJ Harvey (95-0-85-0-3), DJ Giddens (0-0-86-131), Devin Neal (0-0-96-110), Damien Martinez (0-0-101-0), Brayshul Tuten (0-0-132-76), Jayden Blue (0-0-126-142), Kalel Mullings (0-0-150-0), Ollie Gordon II (0-0-0-126)

TE: Mitchell Evans (0-0-143-136), Benjamin Yurosek (0-0-147-0), Jackson Hawes (0-0-0-116), Jalin Conyers (0-0-0-146), Moliki Matavao (0-0-0-148)

WR: Tai Felton (0-0-0-99), Tory Horton (0-0-135-124)

OT: Chase Lundt (0-0-138-85), Jalen Rivers (0-0-123-130), Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (0-0-127-0), Ajani Cornelius (0-0-146-0), Carson Vinson (0-0-0-112), Jalen Travis (0-0-0-120), Emery Jones (0-0-0-125)

G: Miles Frazier (0-0-0-100), Jonah Monheim (0-0-0-127)

DL: CJ West (0-0-69-0), Jordan Phillips (73-0-80-104), Jamaree Caldwell (0-0-118-73), Vernon Broughton (0-0-78-0), Aeneas Peebles (0-0-115-0), JJ Pegues (0-0-124-138), Rylie Mills (0-0-140-0), Sai'vion Jones (0-0-141-0)

Edge: Elijah Roberts (0-0-82-111), Kaimon Rucker (0-0-107-0), Quandarrius Robinson (0-0-119-0), Barryn Sorrell (0-0-122-102), Ahmed Hassanein (0-0-133-0), Antwaun Powell-Ryland (0-0-136-0), Tyler Batty (0-0-145-0), Jah Joyner (0-0-0-140)

CB: Quincy Riley (77-0-0-123), Mello Dotson (0-0-120-144)

S: Billy Bowman Jr (0-0-149-95), Sebastian Castro (0-0-102-0), Maxen Hook, (0-0-0-121), Malachi Moore (0-0-0-129), Kitan Crawford (0-0-0-149)

The Number beside each name:

• Dane Brugler’s Big Board 100 (Feb 11th) – no update since combine
• Daniel Jeremiah Top 50 (Mar 6th)
• PFF Big Board Top 150 (Mar 21st)
• 33rd Team Top 150 (Mar 6th)

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I think two things are equally true:

1. It would make a lot of sense to trade Watt now.
2. There is no chance in the world the Steelers trade Watt.

The day the Steelers take from their precious defense under Tomlin is the day I eat my hat.