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

[JTG]

Black is nothing like McCullers. McCullers sucked and couldn't move. Black actually has pass rush juice and he can chase down plays (including screens). Black could potentially play 3 downs in my book, but he's fantastic at clogging the middle on run downs.

You are the only person that I have seen that said he could be a 3-down player and pass rush juice. I hope he does. I see him as a pure 2-down run stopper.

No doubt. He's not a sure thing to even do the thing they drafted him to do.

I'm just saying these grades that get put on these guys don't always take into account role. He's getting graded like every other DL and his pass grade is not going to be good which will bring down his overall grade. But that won't be his role in the NFL and certainly not on the Steelers.

I agree with you. I always think about Herbig - in 4-3 system he's probably useless. In our system, he's a stud.

Okay, I get where you're coming from better.

But I still think guys with the potential to execute a straight line style that well are too rare to call vanilla. The constant push for more explosive backs and the potential for big explosive guys to get paid more in other positions has changed the NFL in that way.

I also think those dudes can move the offence's needle and bring a very valuable component, and when it came to a room that already had Warren and Gainwell, a more straight line guy was more likely than another more shifty guy. And that in terms of what it does to the offence, it can be really dynamic.

I worry a bit about whether the blocking is going to be at the standard needed to help him as one of those get up to speed guys, but if he does, I think he's going to go pop off big, as this stat shows

If all else fails with this offense, run behind the right side. Frazier-McCormick-Fautanu should be our work horses in the run game and they really should be one of the better right sides in the league.

Johnson SEEMS to have more juice to his game than Najee. The thing with Najee is that you can only really use the eye test - they made sure he did NOTHING pre-draft so no one could hang being slow on him.

I like Howard as a locker room presence. I don't even care if he ever becomes the starter. I like his moxie. I think both he and McCord were guys that could lay a foundation here for the QB we take in 26/27 and providing some good competition.

With assuming the Steelers won't be in a position to draft one of the true "top guys" in the draft, the guy that I really want to watch more of is Klubnik from Clemson. He had a big year for Clemson but decided to return for another year anyway, while he seems like a pretty high IQ QB with a ton of athleticism.

He seems like a legitimate dual threat QB.

I don't think all of these guys are going to be bunched at the top. They should filter through the first 3 rounds with how things stand now - as you know that could all change.

Also have some Jr's in there that may stay - Arch being the main one.

Also just idle thinking ahead, competition for 1st round QBs next year...

Bills - No
Dolphins - No barring a catastrophic injury that seems more likely for them than any other team
Jets - Maybe Probably. If Fields guides them to a high QB pick and there's a guy they like there, I'd expect them to make the pick
Pats - No

Texans - No
Colts - Probably - if Richardson guides them there and he looks good to do so, they'll look
Jags - No because even if they suck they can't
Titans - No

Ravens - No
Bengals - No
Browns - Probably. Looking at it oh so nakedly

Chiefs - No
Chargers - No
Broncos - No
Raiders - Maybe. I think if Smith guides them there and the talent is there they'll look and they're a bad enough team that it'll be easy for it to happen.

Eagles - No
Commies - No
Cowboys - No
Giants - Maybe. If Schoen and Daboll are gone because they implode and the Giants are picking high, what new decision making team wants to be tied to Dart if the talent is there?

Buccs - No
Falcons - No because they can't
Panthers - Maybe. If Young regresses and results in another high pick, time to call it
Saints - Maybe. Shough maybe stops them taking gambles at 10, but doesn't stop them if they suck and pick top 5.

Lions - No
Vikings - No
Packers - No
Bears - No

Rams - Maybe. If they want to replace Stafford, that extra Falcons pick sits up very nicely for them.
Seahawks - Maybe. Can't believe a team tied to Darnold is immune to looking
Cardinals - No. Well... maybe if they finish 1OA. Maybe I should have done this by how high they have to finish to look.
49ers - No unless they don't sign Purdy.

So by my calculations, that's two teams I deffo expect to get involved and seven who I think will look if they're bad. Doesn't feel super great.

That actually shows better odds than I thought we'd have.

 

[pistolpete11]

Also just idle thinking ahead, competition for 1st round QBs next year...

Bills - No
Dolphins - No barring a catastrophic injury that seems more likely for them than any other team
Jets - Maybe Probably. If Fields guides them to a high QB pick and there's a guy they like there, I'd expect them to make the pick
Pats - No

Texans - No
Colts - Probably - if Richardson guides them there and he looks good to do so, they'll look
Jags - No because even if they suck they can't
Titans - No

Ravens - No
Bengals - No
Browns - Probably. Looking at it oh so nakedly

Chiefs - No
Chargers - No
Broncos - No
Raiders - Maybe. I think if Smith guides them there and the talent is there they'll look and they're a bad enough team that it'll be easy for it to happen.

Eagles - No
Commies - No
Cowboys - No
Giants - Maybe. If Schoen and Daboll are gone because they implode and the Giants are picking high, what new decision making team wants to be tied to Dart if the talent is there?

Buccs - No
Falcons - No because they can't
Panthers - Maybe. If Young regresses and results in another high pick, time to call it
Saints - Maybe. Shough maybe stops them taking gambles at 10, but doesn't stop them if they suck and pick top 5.

Lions - No
Vikings - No
Packers - No
Bears - No

Rams - Maybe. If they want to replace Stafford, that extra Falcons pick sits up very nicely for them.
Seahawks - Maybe. Can't believe a team tied to Darnold is immune to looking
Cardinals - No. Well... maybe if they finish 1OA. Maybe I should have done this by how high they have to finish to look.
49ers - No unless they don't sign Purdy.

So by my calculations, that's two teams I deffo expect to get involved and seven who I think will look if they're bad. Doesn't feel super great.

Where they finish and if they would take a QB if a good one falls to them is one thing, but also worth considering is how desperate they will be to potentially move up. I think teams like the Seahawks, Raiders, maybe the Jets and Saints fall into that category. Would they be desperate enough to move into the top 10 to get a QB? Because the Steelers should be.



Will probably suck and take a QB : Colts, Panthers

Might take one if available, but won't be as desperate as the Steelers: Seahawks, Raiders, Jets, Saints. All of them just spent decent money or draft capital on a QB.

So mismanaged it's hard to predict : Browns, Giants

The Rams getting the Falcons 1st next year was the worst thing that happened in this draft. I think they absolutely use that to take a QB. I guess we'll see where the Falcons finish and if the Rams are more desperate than the Steelers to move up or not.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I like Howard as a locker room presence. I don't even care if he ever becomes the starter. I like his moxie. I think both he and McCord were guys that could lay a foundation here for the QB we take in 26/27 and providing some good competition.

Howard feels very similar to Pickett in that he projects more as a good backup/stopgap starter caliber guy, but he seems like a real leader with moxie that you can easily see the team rallying around. I'm not expecting him to solve their QB issues going forward but I do hope they give him a chance in the NFL.

I don't think all of these guys are going to be bunched at the top. They should filter through the first 3 rounds with how things stand now - as you know that could all change.

Also have some Jr's in there that may stay - Arch being the main one.

Yeah Klubnik looks like a mid/late 1st round caliber guy, but in that he's a legitimate mid/late 1st round talent.

I want this team to try to get a guy who's a legit running threat but doesn't sacrifice a ton of throwing ability for it. Klubnik seems to fit that well, way better than someone like Milroe.

 

[JTG]

Howard feels very similar to Pickett in that he projects more as a good backup/stopgap starter caliber guy, but he seems like a real leader with moxie that you can easily see the team rallying around. I'm not expecting him to solve their QB issues going forward but I do hope they give him a chance in the NFL.



Yeah Klubnik looks like a mid/late 1st round caliber guy, but in that he's a legitimate mid/late 1st round talent.

I want this team to try to get a guy who's a legit running threat but doesn't sacrifice a ton of throwing ability for it. Klubnik seems to fit that well, way better than someone like Milroe.

I think Howard has higher end traits than Pickett and has better mechanics. Pickett's happy feet will kill his NFL career. He had them at Pitt too in his early days. Howard is a bit more calm, he has a bigger arm, he's a bit more athletic I think. Both have balls that drag behind them.

 

[JTG]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25191286-mike-tomlins-son-dino-reportedly-participate-bucs-rookie-minicamp

 

[cookthebooks]

those seem like pretty decent combine scores?

 

[Peat]

Where they finish and if they would take a QB if a good one falls to them is one thing, but also worth considering is how desperate they will be to potentially move up. I think teams like the Seahawks, Raiders, maybe the Jets and Saints fall into that category. Would they be desperate enough to move into the top 10 to get a QB? Because the Steelers should be.



Will probably suck and take a QB : Colts, Panthers

Might take one if available, but won't be as desperate as the Steelers: Seahawks, Raiders, Jets, Saints. All of them just spent decent money or draft capital on a QB.

So mismanaged it's hard to predict : Browns, Giants

The Rams getting the Falcons 1st next year was the worst thing that happened in this draft. I think they absolutely use that to take a QB. I guess we'll see where the Falcons finish and if the Rams are more desperate than the Steelers to move up or not.

Yeah, that's also a good way to look at it. And I think you're right about what teams won't trade up. If they suck and they're there they don't have good reasons to ignore good QBs, but they won't feel the need if they're picking 14 or so.

The bad news is that going by O/U, this is the predicted draft order list for next year

Browns
___
Saints
Raiders
Giants
Jets
Titans
___
Panthers
Colts
Jags
---
Falcons
Pats

And then you get into the 8.5 win teams.

Gonna need a lot of teams to outperform their odds because right now all those won't trade up teams are predicted to not need to.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

It’s funny. Was very worried about KP’s arm strength/zip when we took him based on college tape

Then when actually he showed up and we got to see him in NFL game action I always thought it was pretty solid. Not Josh Allen ofc.

I feel like it is likely he has a bigger arm than Howard does.

 

[xlm34]

It’s funny. Was very worried about KP’s arm strength/zip when we took him based on college tape

Then when actually he showed up and we got to see him in NFL game action I always thought it was pretty solid. Not Josh Allen ofc.

I feel like it is likely he has a bigger arm than Howard does.

Yeah it wasn’t anything special, but I always thought Pickett’s physical talent was a bit underrated. The guy just had negative pocket presence.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Yeah Klubnik looks like a mid/late 1st round caliber guy, but in that he's a legitimate mid/late 1st round talent.

I think Klubnik is going to measure very small. Has good tools but nothing elite. Like Baker was tiny but had a gun for an arm.

as a result it’ll be interesting to see where he’s taken if he has the big year people think he can have. I’d imagine he crushes interviews

 

[xlm34]

Clemson’s team should be absolutely stacked this year so I’d imagine we’ll get to see Klubnik go on a playoff run.

 

[Empoleon8771]

NFL Draft Buzz actually just updated their 2026 QB rankings and Klubnik shot up to the #2 ranked QB for the 2026 draft, with being a projected top-10 pick. Seems like my "legit mid/late 1st round talent" may be outdated anyway

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Yeah it wasn’t anything special, but I always thought Pickett’s physical talent was a bit underrated. The guy just had negative pocket presence.

Gonna be the same with Howard. He struggles with reads, pressure and intermediate accuracy.

Interestingly, he rarely threw to the middle of the field. Where have we heard that before?

 

[Peat]

If all else fails with this offense, run behind the right side. Frazier-McCormick-Fautanu should be our work horses in the run game and they really should be one of the better right sides in the league.

Johnson SEEMS to have more juice to his game than Najee. The thing with Najee is that you can only really use the eye test - they made sure he did NOTHING pre-draft so no one could hang being slow on him.

You have way more faith in the OL than I do.

Yeah Klubnik looks like a mid/late 1st round caliber guy, but in that he's a legitimate mid/late 1st round talent.

I want this team to try to get a guy who's a legit running threat but doesn't sacrifice a ton of throwing ability for it. Klubnik seems to fit that well, way better than someone like Milroe.

I think Klubnik is going to measure very small. Has good tools but nothing elite. Like Baker was tiny but had a gun for an arm.

as a result it’ll be interesting to see where he’s taken if he has the big year people think he can have. I’d imagine he crushes interviews

There's a couple of back foot/moving 50-60 yard throws with what seems to be decent velocity on his tape. I certainly like his velocity on shorter throws. I'm not sure his arm is elite, but it might be the next best thing which seems to be the case for his mobility too - maybe not elite, but really good. He reminds me a little of JJ McCarthy in that respect.

Throws a pretty sweet back shoulder boundary ball too.

NFL Draft Buzz actually just updated their 2026 QB rankings and Klubnik shot up to the #2 ranked QB for the 2026 draft, with being a projected top-10 pick. Seems like my "legit mid/late 1st round talent" may be outdated anyway

They love him. Real high on him. And Greg McElroy from ESPN just named him QB1 in college football.

That said, the mocks I've seen so far aren't as high. Manning/Sellers/Nussmeier/Allar seem to be the top four currently getting touted.

 

[pistolpete11]

Yeah, that's also a good way to look at it. And I think you're right about what teams won't trade up. If they suck and they're there they don't have good reasons to ignore good QBs, but they won't feel the need if they're picking 14 or so.

The bad news is that going by O/U, this is the predicted draft order list for next year

Browns
___
Saints
Raiders
Giants
Jets
Titans
___
Panthers
Colts
Jags
---
Falcons
Pats

And then you get into the 8.5 win teams.

Gonna need a lot of teams to outperform their odds because right now all those won't trade up teams are predicted to not need to.

Huh? With the media freakout over the Steelers QB situation, I would have assumed their over/under would have been set at 0.5.

In all seriousness, I don't follow other teams closely enough to know, but I'm surprised they have the Saints, Raiders, and Jets that low again. Saints and Jets really weren't THAT bad and lost a lot of close games and the Raiders improved the most at QB.

I guess I don't know which teams could potentially take their spot at the top of the draft other than hopefully the Steelers.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

There's a couple of back foot/moving 50-60 yard throws with what seems to be decent velocity on his tape. I certainly like his velocity on shorter throws. I'm not sure his arm is elite, but it might be the next best thing which seems to be the case for his mobility too - maybe not elite, but really good. He reminds me a little of JJ McCarthy in that respect.

Throws a pretty sweet back shoulder boundary ball too.

Not including size…If Mahomes is a 9.8 and Josh Allen is a 10/10 on tools… (my sister goes to Clemson so actually caught a live game this year. Think I will this year too) I would call Klubnik a 6/10 on tools. His arm is good/above average but I think he will let it hang on deep balls here and there and can’t absolutely rip the lower, driving 30, 40 yard balls the guys with elite tools can. But he can still hit that one and all the other throws. Not a burner on the ground but good runner.

So I’d call it a non issue in the NFL. But then couple it with him coming in at say 6’0 3/4 and 195… does that guy still go top 5, top 10 or is he more top 20-32.

 

[Peat]

Not including size…If Mahomes is a 9.8 and Josh Allen is a 10/10 on tools… (my sister goes to Clemson so actually caught a live game this year. Think I will this year too) I would call Klubnik a 6/10 on tools. His arm is good/above average but I think he will let it hang on deep balls here and there and can’t absolutely rip the lower, driving 30, 40 yard balls the guys with elite tools can. But he can still hit that one and all the other throws. Not a burner on the ground but good runner.

So I’d call it a non issue in the NFL. But then couple it with him coming in at say 6’0 3/4 and 195… does that guy still go top 5, top 10 or is he more top 20-32.

Officially he's 6'2" 210/205. I'm guessing you think that's a no way measurement. And who else you putting in that 6/10 range?

Huh? With the media freakout over the Steelers QB situation, I would have assumed their over/under would have been set at 0.5.

In all seriousness, I don't follow other teams closely enough to know, but I'm surprised they have the Saints, Raiders, and Jets that low again. Saints and Jets really weren't THAT bad and lost a lot of close games and the Raiders improved the most at QB.

I guess I don't know which teams could potentially take their spot at the top of the draft other than hopefully the Steelers.

Yeah, I don't follow close enough to know for sure either. Still, someone's got to lose, and I can't say I was looking at a list of the 8/9/10 win teams and thinking "well they're gonna plummet".

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Officially he's 6'2" 210/205. I'm guessing you think that's a no way measurement. And who else you putting in that 6/10 range?

Yeah I think it’s very unlikely he’s that tall and that heavy. But maybe it’s a TV illusion. Stranger things have happened.

His RB Mafah was 6’0 5/8 and 234 according to MockDraftable. At least on cam and from the bleachers they looked equivalent in height and Mafah looks way more filled out comparatively.

Here’s a vid with some good angles of them side by side in the backfield



On 2) Hard for me to say. This was first year in a long time I was really big into CFB and less so NFL. So I’ll just compare to more established guys. I feel like Burrow is like a 6.5-7? He’s less mobile but slightly better arm? I feel like Kyler Murray has a worse arm than Klubnik but also has special acceleration/quicks. Baker overall is like a 7? Cannon arm but not a real run threat. I feel like Klubnik reasonably triangulates somewhere to equal/slightly below those guys on pure tools as of today.

Like idk. He’s got more to work with than Tua, Rudolph. He’s kinda like a KP on steroids haha. I would call Tua like a 3-4/10 prob. Mason Rudolph a 4-5? KP a 4.5-5?

Idk. Not exactly scientific but there you go. Kid is 21 and could get stronger with time.

 

[Peat]

Yeah I think it’s very unlikely he’s that tall and that heavy. But maybe it’s a TV illusion. Stranger things have happened.

His RB Mafah was 6’0 5/8 and 234 according to MockDraftable. At least on cam and from the bleachers they looked equivalent in height and Mafah looks way more filled out comparatively.

Here’s a vid with some good angles of them side by side in the backfield



On 2) Hard for me to say. This was first year in a long time I was really big into CFB and less so NFL. So I’ll just compare to more established guys. I feel like Burrow is like a 6.5-7? He’s less mobile but slightly better arm? I feel like Kyler Murray has a worse arm than Klubnik but also has special acceleration/quicks. Baker overall is like a 7? Cannon arm but not a real run threat. I feel like Klubnik reasonably triangulates somewhere to equal/slightly below those guys on pure tools as of today.

Like idk. He’s got more to work with than Tua, Rudolph. He’s kinda like a KP on steroids haha. I would call Tua like a 3-4/10 prob. Mason Rudolph a 4-5? KP a 4.5-5?

Idk. Not exactly scientific but there you go. Kid is 21 and could get stronger with time.

Thank you. This is all uncharted waters for me so all info is good info. I can see working around Mayfield as a comp. What you said about Pickett on steroids isn't all that wrong (except Pickett was a lot thicker, not that it's done him any good on the injury front) either. Some of the back shoulder throws did make me think of Pickett tbh (the one thing he did very well).

I do think whether he can pack on some extra muscle is going to matter a bit if he doesn't take a mega jump in processing/accuracy. Also Leavitt, Nussmeier, Iamaleava if he comes out, and probably a few others. Not sure I'd anticipate it. Just naturally a bit skinny.

I watched the first three minutes of the All-22 and feel you can easily nitpick some of the ball placement. Not leading his guys into slants, one up high ball that made the dude stretch. Couple of nice escapes from the pocket though.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Thank you. This is all uncharted waters for me so all info is good info. I can see working around Mayfield as a comp. What you said about Pickett on steroids isn't all that wrong (except Pickett was a lot thicker, not that it's done him any good on the injury front) either. Some of the back shoulder throws did make me think of Pickett tbh (the one thing he did very well).

I do think whether he can pack on some extra muscle is going to matter a bit if he doesn't take a mega jump in processing/accuracy. Also Leavitt, Nussmeier, Iamaleava if he comes out, and probably a few others. Not sure I'd anticipate it. Just naturally a bit skinny.

I watched the first three minutes of the All-22 and feel you can easily nitpick some of the ball placement. Not leading his guys into slants, one up high ball that made the dude stretch. Couple of nice escapes from the pocket though.

Yeah I guess my thought with Klubnik is that he’s got enough juice in the tools dept where I don’t see him going in Round 4-5 like the guys who slid this year. (Assuming he has decent season. Obv anything can happen if he’s terrible)

But add his size, conference and lack of truly elite tools — I can see him being more mid-late 1st, early 2nd if this is truly a deep class.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

I think Klubnik is going to measure very small. Has good tools but nothing elite. Like Baker was tiny but had a gun for an arm.

as a result it’ll be interesting to see where he’s taken if he has the big year people think he can have. I’d imagine he crushes interviews

Yeah he could be next year Dart

 

[Peat]

Imo Klubnik would have gone before Dart last year. I saw a few 2nd day grades on him as was, and his tape pops more. Dart has more strength in his body and moxie (maybe) but that's about it.

I think for now I'm gonna keep seeing McCarthy in Klubnik, so I'm still seeing the tools for top half and not second half (and guys with plenty worse tools than both have sneaked in recently *coughNixcough*). But he has a lot to prove to live up to them.

Yeah it wasn’t anything special, but I always thought Pickett’s physical talent was a bit underrated. The guy just had negative pocket presence.

Thinking about it, after watching a lot more QB tape than I have before, Pickett's arm was weird in that his zip and arm strength was pretty good to about 30 yards and then just died a death very quickly after. I don't think I've seen another QB like that.

But yeah. Pocket presence just didn't happen (among other things). Probably a big part of why I value it so much now.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah he could be next year Dart

Klubnik is already better than Dart.