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

[MrBrightside]

Anyone check on Mel Kiper this morning? He was having quite the night in his feels over Sanders not getting picked.

Speaking of, while I am absolutely not on board with the "we'll just get our franchise guy in 2026" assumptions, picking Sanders would have been such a bad move for many reasons. Given how little draft capital they have, it sucks they'll likely use one of their next two picks on a QB that has a 4% chance of being a good starter and I wish they wouldn't, but they've backed themselves into a corner and almost have to at this point.

 

[pistolpete11]

I called this about a month ago: Steelers were going to take a DL. They draft for need in R1, never BPA.

I mean, it wasn't a hard prediction One of their biggest needs aligned with one of the drafts strengths and there were a number of guys that projected to be available at 21.

I also think saying they didn't take the BPA is splitting hairs a bit. We could post back and forth a million mock drafts and why they should or shouldn't have taken so-and-so, but Harmon isn't a reach. Some might have had him a bit higher and some might have had him a bit lower, but it's not like they reached for a guy that was a late 2nd or 3rd round talent for the sake of need (like they did with Pickett).

 

[pistolpete11]

Anyone check on Mel Kiper this morning? He was having quite the night in his feels over Sanders not getting picked.

Did you know he was also appalled that Aaron Rodgers fell like he did? (Please ignore all the others he was terribly wrong about).

Speaking of, while I am absolutely not on board with the "we'll just get our franchise guy in 2026" assumptions, picking Sanders would have been such a bad move for many reasons. Given how little draft capital they have, it sucks they'll likely use one of their next two picks on a QB that has a 4% chance of being a good starter and I wish they wouldn't, but they've backed themselves into a corner and almost have to at this point.

Yeah, it feels inevitable, but we'll see. Maybe the draft will break in a way that a number of them are still there in the 4th round and they will try to see if they can hold out and get one in the 5th.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I mean, it wasn't a hard prediction One of their biggest needs aligned with one of the drafts strengths and there were a number of guys that projected to be available at 21.

I also think saying they didn't take the BPA is splitting hairs a bit. We could post back and forth a million mock drafts and why they should or shouldn't have taken so-and-so, but Harmon isn't a reach. Some might have had him a bit higher and some might have had him a bit lower, but it's not like they reached for a guy that was a late 2nd or 3rd round talent for the sake of need (like they did with Pickett).

I think this is where they sometimes miss the mark on their drafting philosophy. Over the past few years, their biggest needs have coincidently align with the draft depth.

So if there are going to be quality guys available later, why would you podium rush in R1? Wouldn't you take something that is in short supply before everyone else?

Don't get me wrong, there's value in the certainty. But I feel like they've created a too rigid paradigm/philosophy.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I also think saying they didn't take the BPA is splitting hairs a bit. We could post back and forth a million mock drafts and why they should or shouldn't have taken so-and-so, but Harmon isn't a reach. Some might have had him a bit higher and some might have had him a bit lower, but it's not like they reached for a guy that was a late 2nd or 3rd round talent for the sake of need (like they did with Pickett).

Also, agree that the past few drafts haven't been a "reach". Jones, Faunt were picked appropriately.

Devin Bush, KP and Harris were reaches.

 

[Captain Hook]

Did you know he was also appalled that Aaron Rodgers fell like he did? (Please ignore all the others he was terribly wrong about).


Yeah, it feels inevitable, but we'll see. Maybe the draft will break in a way that a number of them are still there in the 4th round and they will try to see if they can hold out and get one in the 5th.

Yeah, Kiper famously declared he'd retire if Jimmy Clausen wasn't a successful NFL QB.

I'm not totally shocked Sanders fell out of round one. Good college player but he does have very average traits. He probably goes to Cleveland at the top of round 2 now. It's not likely but I do wonder if Cleveland will surprise people and go Milroe. Browns OC Tommy Reese coached Milroe at Alabama.

I agree that a QB pick for the Steelers feels inevitable. I don't mind it as much as others. You have to keep taking swings. I like the high upside swing of Milroe but I think he's gone before 83 for better or worse depending on if you like him or not. We're probably going to have to settle for one of Howard, Shough, McCord, Ewers.

I like the Harmon pick. I think he was probably the Steelers favorite of the 3 D-lineman. He's more versitale than Grant and is physically built better for the Steelers scheme than Nolan due to his length.

 

[pistolpete11]

I think this is where they sometimes miss the mark on their drafting philosophy. Over the past few years, their biggest needs have coincidently align with the draft depth.

So if there are going to be quality guys available later, why would you podium rush in R1? Wouldn't you take something that is in short supply before everyone else?

Don't get me wrong, there's value in the certainty. But I feel like they've created a too rigid paradigm/philosophy.

I take your point, but just like a guy that slips to R3 because of the depth, maybe a guy as good as Harmon doesn't fall to 21 for the same reason.

Also, agree that the past few drafts haven't been a "reach". Jones, Faunt were picked appropriately.

Devin Bush, KP and Harris were reaches.

All of those were with Colbert still here. Regardless of whether Colbert lost the plot or was checked out or whatever, it's been different under Khan.

 

[Snooki Stackhouse]

The chargers coach loves running more than Tomlin plenty carries for both guys next season

Looking for something similar to what the Lions are doing, but I just wonder if Henderson would've been a better fit for that type of share. Hampton screams high touch 3 down back. He does everything Najee does with more athleticism.

 

[pistolpete11]

I agree that a QB pick for the Steelers feels inevitable. I don't mind it as much as others. You have to keep taking swings. I like the high upside swing of Milroe but I think he's gone before 83 for better or worse depending on if you like him or not. We're probably going to have to settle for one of Howard, Shough, McCord, Ewers.

I just think they have enough other needs right now and you can still get good players in rounds 2-4. Taking an extreme long shot or a low ceiling guy just seems like a waste. Especially since they almost certainly won't know if they found their guy in 2025 and will be looking to take a guy in R1 in 2026 anyway.

R5, you're starting to get into long shot territory for any position, so if you're going to take a swing this year, do it in R5-7.

 

[End of Line]

Very happy overall with the draft last night. Drafted a solid DL, Buckeyes had 4 first round picks, and the media melting down over their own arrogance regarding SS

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I just think they have enough other needs right now and you can still get good players in rounds 2-4. Taking an extreme long shot or a low ceiling guy just seems like a waste. Especially since they almost certainly won't know if they found their guy in 2025 and will be looking to take a guy in R1 in 2026 anyway.

R5, you're starting to get into long shot territory for any position, so if you're going to take a swing this year, do it in R5-7.

That's how I feel and that's kinda why I'm a bit annoyed about this AR stuff. His signing should have been settled BEFORE the draft.

So I think you can read some tea leaves about the AR saga. If the Steelers take a QB (even a late round) I think it means he's not signing and vice versa.

 

[WickedWrister]

I just think they have enough other needs right now and you can still get good players in rounds 2-4. Taking an extreme long shot or a low ceiling guy just seems like a waste. Especially since they almost certainly won't know if they found their guy in 2025 and will be looking to take a guy in R1 in 2026 anyway.

R5, you're starting to get into long shot territory for any position, so if you're going to take a swing this year, do it in R5-7.

Agreed, I’m not going to repost the QB hit rates from pick 12+ to the 3rd round but it’s dreadful.

I think RB could/should be the pick in round 3. There’s a ton of talent still left in that position group and while pick ~50 is the sweet spot for RB, you can still get premium talent and instant contributors with your 3rd in a good year, which this is for RB.

Or just sign JK Dobbins since everyone is acting like he’s dead.

 

[MrBrightside]

 

[xlm34]

Depending on what some of these teams do today, next year might even be tough to land a QB unless the class is loaded. The Browns and Rams are pretty well positioned to be able to do whatever they want next year.

 

[Peat]

In terms of what the Steelers will be able to get out of the player's talent and after applying positional value discounts, I'm pretty happy with the idea that Harmon was the BPA there. He's a made to measure Steelers athlete with serious production and chops.

Hampton and Starks would have fitted and been better at their jobs, but RB and S respectively are luxuries. I don't know that I'd call any of the OLs better at their job than Harmon is at his, and most of them are probably IOL rather than OTs at which point IDL > IOL. Maybe I'd prefer Simmons as strict BPA but seems to be a bigger injury knock there than was on Harmon.

Golden is the one guy that gives me pause... but then he seemed to be ranked fairly even to Harmon on big boards until he posted a blazing 40 yard time at the combine that wasn't on his game tape. But how much is athleticism you don't see worth, and how much use would the Steelers get out of a more slot/underneath guy with a non-big frame in their planned offence?

So zero problems with Harmon for me. You can ask whether you'd have got better value for taking a thinner position and exploring the deep DL class, but most position groups in this draft seem to be thin at top but deep underneath.



Also while I very much want to ignore QB, the low odds of getting one in the 3rd round are somewhat matched by the low odds of getting a starter you care about in general... unless you want a RB in a deep RB draft. So, you know, pretty please Steelers, do the logical thing.

 

[MrBrightside]

Depending on what some of these teams do today, next year might even be tough to land a QB unless the class is loaded. The Browns and Rams are pretty well positioned to be able to do whatever they want next year.

It's never easy to land a QB and it's why I've been skeptical of all of the "well they'll just wait and get their guy next year." Guys get hurt, guys underperform, guys stay in school, the Steelers tend to overperform expectations, and suddenly they are picking 19th and there are 2-3 first round QB's and they are gone by then and here we are.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think it was pretty obvious the Steelers loved Harmon and he was going to be their 1st rounder if they didn’t go QB. It seems like they really had a smokescreen up to try to convince someone to trade up and take Samders before their pick, but no one bit on it.

From watching more clips of him, I think they just keep Benton at NT and play Harmon at LDE. I think Benton may just have to wait until Heyward retires to move from NT to DE.

 

[Ryder71]

Shedeur Sanders WILL BE a Pittsburgh Steeler. He's a Mike Tomlin guy. Deal with it!

Nothing but lies.

 

[Peat]

Depending on what some of these teams do today, next year might even be tough to land a QB unless the class is loaded. The Browns and Rams are pretty well positioned to be able to do whatever they want next year.

Browns feel pretty short odds to take Sanders and take themselves out of the running.

But yes. I like Harmon. I would have really liked the Falcons' 1st rounder next year. It would have made this draft painful. It could have set up the next 15 years of Steelers' football. Now the Rams get that opportunity. Hopefully we don't look back on this like the trade for Fitzpatrick.

 

[Ryder71]

That's my contention with taking Harmon. Regarding need it's a logical pick. Value wise it's pretty unremarkable.

 

[xlm34]

Harmon was my preference so I’m not bashing the pick at all, but one thing I’ve seen from people a lot is the whole “We gave up 300 yards rushing to the Ravens so this was the obvious pick.” I’m not really sure Harmon does much to change the outlook of the run defense…like ever.

He’s just more of a forward thinking move to make sure there isn’t a massive drop off when Heyward retires.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Harmon was my preference so I’m not bashing the pick at all, but one thing I’ve seen from people a lot is the whole “We gave up 300 yards rushing to the Ravens so this was the obvious pick.” I’m not really sure Harmon does much to change the outlook of the run defense…like ever.

He’s just more of a forward thinking move to make sure there isn’t a massive drop off when Heyward retires.

I think Harmon should be a pretty massive upgrade on Ogunjobi in the short term, so I'm not sure I agree with this.

Their DL now will likely be Harmon at LDE, Benton at NT and Heyward at RDE. That should be a pretty significant improvement to their running defense.

 

[Ryder71]

A running back at #83 would make sense, but I'd still want us to get a corner. Whichever position affords us the best value should be the position addressed there.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

I think Harmon should be a pretty massive upgrade on Ogunjobi in the short term, so I'm not sure I agree with this.

Their DL now will likely be Harmon at LDE, Benton at NT and Heyward at RDE. That should be a pretty significant improvement to their running defense.

They don’t use 3/4 much. They use big nickel so Benton will take over for Larry O. They had Cam playing over 800 snaps that way to much and have 600 to replace from Larry O

 

[xlm34]

I think Harmon should be a pretty massive upgrade on Ogunjobi in the short term, so I'm not sure I agree with this.

Their DL now will likely be Harmon at LDE, Benton at NT and Heyward at RDE. That should be a pretty significant improvement to their running defense.

DL take some time to develop so it wouldn’t surprise me if at least year one he was Ogunjobi ish. I think the ceiling is way higher than what Ogunjobi was though so it just depends on how quick he can get there.