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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 02.15.21
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Brian Batko
1:55
OK everyone, just shoveled my driveway. But the steps can wait, because we have to chat. Steelers and NFL are why you're here, but feel free to keep things loose and fun. Fire away.
Sonny
1:56
Hi Brian.. would you attempt to move up in the first round to get Lance if it meant your first this year and a first and third next year?
Brian Batko
1:57
Hi Sonny. So you're talking about Trey Lance, the North Dakota State product who's probably anywhere between the 2nd and 5th best quarterback coming out this year, depending on your draft guru of choice. To me, if Ben's coming back, which I still believe he is, you need to make an instant impact pick. Whether that's OL, RB or something else, it ain't QB, so it ain't for me.
LivinTheDream
1:58
Given the number of needs the Steelers have if a team drafting in the top 8 were to offer the Steelers  their 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks for the Steelers 1st round pick ....would you take the deal?
Brian Batko
2:00
No, because I think at a certain point, those middle-round picks aren't enough of an upgrade over guys you could get with later picks, in free agency, etc. And I just don't get the sense the Steelers want to trade their first-round pick again. It's not something the organization made a habit of doing, and the Minkah Fitzpatrick deal was the first of its kind for them since 1967. Generally in trades you need to be wary of giving up the best player in the swap, and that's what you'd be doing trading your first-round pick.
Patrick
2:01
Is a starter alongside Devin Bush in the cards early for this draft? Quoting Tampa Bay's Head Coach, "Having 2 ILBs who can run sideline to sideline solves many problems on a defense."
Brian Batko
2:02
I don't think so. As much nickel as the Steelers play, they might need to prioritize a versatile defensive back over another ILB. Especially when Robert Spillane seems like a decent (and cheap) option, at least for now. You could argue that a new nose tackle is a bigger need than ILB too as far as the defense goes.
TPHunter
2:03
Hey Brian. Does the Steelers draft strategy change that much if Ben decides to retire? They still need OL and RB, and they don't seem to have the currency to move up to get one of the top QB prospects.
Brian Batko
2:04
That's a good question and the answer could be on either end of the spectrum. I really don't know if that would all of a sudden put the Steelers in the QB market. If you believe everything they say about Mason Rudolph, then it shouldn't. But I'm not so sure I do, to be honest. You pretty much have to say nice things about all the guys on your roster, considering everyone has a value assigned to them by the other 31 teams, but that's especially true for QBs.
Pamela
2:06
Good afternoon.  I have heard it suggested that the Steelers put the transition tag on JuJu and then trade him for a first or second round round draft pick.  Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:08
Sure, go for it. But they'd need the salary cap room on the front end to sign him, and then who knows if JuJu would want that? He'd have to sign the tender first, I believe. In a vacuum though, of course I'd take a first-rounder for him and probably a second, too.
Jps 717
2:09
Sutton looks like their most important FA keeper.  What type of financial package will it take?  Could they actually save $ by cutting Haden and keeping Cam?
Brian Batko
2:10
Not sure he's their most important FA with all things being equal, but when you factor in both cost and value, yeah, Cam Sutton might be the most realistic one to keep. He's a tough one to gauge for market value considering his versatility, relative lack of usage for his first three years and what the Steelers know about him that other teams may not. They could definitely save money by cutting Joe Haden, but I'm not sure I'd want to. I still think he has another year left in hm.
Ryan
2:11
Good afternoon Brian which free agents do we resign I’m hoping Sutton and banner
Brian Batko
2:13
My predictions for who's kept: McCloud, Banner, Spillane and one of Sutton/Hilton. I'd lean Sutton at this moment.
Brian
2:14
JJ watt to the Steelers? Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:15
I definitely think I've gotten more out-of-the-blue texts/questions from friends and family about this than maybe any other topic since I started covering the Steelers. It would be a great story, and I do think it's something his parents and brothers want. But does JJ want it? That's where it falls apart for me. Even if the money is no issue for him, what about playing time? Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt are similar dudes, and they're still quite good. What about winning a ring? I think it's most significant to him that he plays for a Super Bowl contender, and objectively speaking, there are several teams with better odds than the Steelers.
Bill in SF
2:17
Steelers and Ben were supposed to meet last week, from what we were told.  That apparently didn't happen.  Any word on why, and whether that will happen this week?
Brian Batko
2:19
Maurkice Pouncey's retirement announcement may have factored in. He certainly deserves his moment, and I'd say he got it. That reminds me, another thing I sort of wonder about Ben: Would the fact that Philip Rivers and (most likely) Drew Brees are also retiring this offseason have any effect on him? Would he possibly want to outlast those guys by a year and then sort of be THE retirement of the 2022 offseason? Maybe that's a silly thought by me, especially since Tom Brady could also call it quits next a year and cast a bigger shadow than anyone. But it's February 15th and I'm just thinking out loud.
todd
2:20
any legitimate chance we get JJ..maybe w duprees money etc?
Brian Batko
2:20
I expect Bud Dupree's money coming off the books will end up going to another Watt, in some form or fashion. And no, I'm not predicting a pay bump for Derek.
Javi
2:20
Hello Bats. Did the Steelers anticipate this situation with Ben? In other words are they in a dilema that they expected or did they just hope for Ben to decide for them and just hang it up? Seems like its a delicate area with a storied franchise player and was just wondering if this was forseen..
Brian Batko
2:22
Hey Javi. I'm sure they anticipated that this COULD be a dilemma for them in the final season of that three-year deal when they agreed to it. But they probably also anticipated that things could've gone better, such as Ben finishing this year strong and maybe even winning another ring, or worse, such as a drastic decline in performance or maybe even another injury. It's delicate for sure, and perhaps they really do hope he'll just bow out gracefully. But when I hear people ask why Ben would want to come back, to me, it's simple: that Browns loss is an extremely bitter end for such a competitor.
Ralph
2:23
Do you see Ben coming back know after Pouncey retirement and losing players on offense to free agency that he like to have back.Thanks
Brian Batko
2:24
Yeah, I still see him coming back, but I'll admit that I have less confidence now that Pouncey is gone.
mrbig
2:26
From what I see, Ben recently plays like he's afraid to get hurt... not something you want in your franchise qb, yes?
Brian Batko
2:27
Just because he gets the ball out quickly doesn't mean he's afraid to get hit. It could mean that, but it could also just mean he doesn't want to take sacks and get, as they say, behind the sticks. Has he had to alter his style as he's aged? Absolutely. But is he afraid of another injury? Not sure I'm willing to go that far. Plus only he can answer that.
DALTER
2:28
What do you think will happen with the quarterback situation in life after Ben?
Brian Batko
2:29
That's an interesting name, Dalter. Like Walter with a D, or Dalton with an er. Anyway, it depends when that life begins. Given that I think Ben is coming back in 2021, and that I don't necessarily think the front office believes Rudolph is the ultimate heir apparent, my guess is that the next player to take Snap 1 in Week 1 at QB for the Steelers after Ben is a dude still in college.
2:30
So, I guess that's basically me saying that the Steelers will essentially try to find Ben's successor with a first-round draft pick after Ben retires, and then turn it over to him from the jump. Maybe that sounds crazy given the Steelers' way of doing things, but it's how a lot of the league is trending at that spot.
Mark
2:31
Why couldn't J.J. Watt be a stand up pass rusher/OLB for the Steelers? I wouldn't want him to drop into coverage much, if at all. How often do the Steelers really have their OLBs drop? It's not often and they still have Highsmith.
Brian Batko
2:32
That's just not his game, Mark. And he's not getting any younger. If you know that guy's never dropping, and doesn't even really have the capability of dropping, you're gonna pick apart any 3-4. I really do not see that being Watt's next move.
Bill in SF
2:33
I know there are 100 reasons why the Steelers should not try to sign JJ Watt, but assuming his price was right, wouldn't the leadership he would bring to this team that seems to be lacking in that area be a major reason to make the move?
Brian Batko
2:34
I've never said the Steelers shouldn't try. Of course they should try. At least ask if he wants to come here for a huge, huge discount from his market value. I said this on twitter half-jokingly, but he'd be a major upgrade from Chris Wormley in the DL rotation. That's kind of what I think his most likely role would be, unless of course Cam or Tuitt is willing to vastly alter what he does on a game-to-game basis to accommodate another DE.
Paul
2:35
Who are the top tackles in this draft?
Brian Batko
2:37
Penei Sewell is the consensus top OT, and has been for a while, which is why he opted out of this season at Oregon. After him it seems you could argue between Northwestern's Rashawn Slater, Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw and USC's Alijah Vera-Tucker. I think there's good depth below those four though.
David
2:38
How happy is Tomlin?  He appears he no longer enjoys his job like he once did.
Brian Batko
2:39
Ha. I have no clue. I'm not in Tomlin's head. But I disagree with your assessment that he seems unhappy. In fact, unlike some other HCs who seem like they'll be all too happy to get into the media world or consulting or something like that when it's over, Tomlin strikes me as a guy who just wants to coach football and build NFL rosters and try to win with them. So, he might not be happy with the results in recent years, or really any year he hasn't won a Super Bowl, but I do think he still enjoys the grind.
DJ
2:41
Brian – It has been an enjoyable past 17 years with Ben as our QB. Many highs and as we know, several mind boggling lows. I would rather remember him as the QB who went 12-4 his final year and came up short in the playoffs, rather than give it one more year and likely be the QB that leads our first losing season in the Mike T era. I just do not see the Steelers being able to get to 8+ wins with the first place schedule and very competitive division. I think it is time to move on. What do you think?
Brian Batko
2:43
Objectively, I think you're right and you make very good points. For all we know, another year will only end worse for him and the Steelers. But as I mentioned up top, I also don't think HE thinks that way. And I'm not sure any high-level competitor does. Now, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Ben has done some soul-searching over the past month and decided he just doesn't have it anymore. He's certainly danced around that notion in the past, sarcastically or not. But that's my take.
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