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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 02.26.24
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Brian Batko
2:45
Maybe
epiballo
2:45
With all these ad nauseum rumors tying the Steelers to this QB or that QB in free agency or trade, have you heard anything from anyone associated with the Steelers to indicate anything other than them going forward with Kenny Pickett as the opening day starter?
Brian Batko
2:46
Not particularly, but Art Rooney II did say in one interview (I think with KDKA's Bob Pompeani) that they aren't closing the door on anything when he was asked about trading for a veteran QB. Now, that could just be a very literal interpretation, considering you should never outright dismiss any idea to help improve your team. But it did catch my eye.
PghFNinCALI
2:47
How would you rate the Steelers QBs to the QBs coming out in the draft? If you swapped KP with Brock Purdy do you believe the 49ers would be as good?
Brian Batko
2:48
Long-term I'd probably put Kenny Pickett 4th behind Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye. But I'm not sure there's a big gap for me between Pickett and the best of the rest. And while I think Pickett would be having more success, statistically and otherwise, with the 49ers, I'm not gonna go that far given that Brock Purdy just had them in the Super Bowl.
Ben
2:50
Hey Brian - with the salary cap increase, is there now a better chance that the Steelers go after Patrick Queen or that the Ravens can now afford to keep him?
Brian Batko
2:51
I don't see the Ravens keeping him, but every ILB-needy team will still be able to negotiate against the Steelers regardless of the cap number.
AZ Steeler
2:52
Hey there Bats! Why did you get snubbed and left behind for the Combine?
Brian Batko
2:53
Personal choice. I've covered the combine a couple times before and it's a grind, but also quite fun. Just didn't work out timing-wise for me this year. Fortunately, we still have enough manpower to cover it from all angles. But don't worry, I will still do all the drills - transcribing, chatting, podcasting - at my pro day.
Drew
2:54
Are we comfortable moving forward with Dan Moore…or do we take either Fuaga, Mims or Guyton at 20, then the Center from West Virginia in the 2nd round?
Brian Batko
2:56
My sense is Dan Moore Jr. is in that category of "comfortable but looking to upgrade" - and for the second offseason in a row, to boot. So, then it becomes who's got a high enough grade on your board that you're willing to take them in the first round and feel confident that you're upgrading now and in the future. Of the guys you list, I'd say Taliese Fuaga and Amarius Mims are there. Not sure about Tyler Guyton.
DeShea Townsend
2:57
Seems like one defensive position we did not hear a lot about last season was Slot CB, although I could not really tell you who played there. What does that say about how that position will be handled in 2024?
Brian Batko
2:58
I guess Chandon Sullivan would tell you that means he did a nice job. But he had ups and downs, for sure. I'm looking to find a playmaker, game-changer type of guy there in the mold of what Mike Hilton was. Mike Sainristil from Michigan, Tykee Smith from Georgia and maybe Cooper DeJean from Iowa if that ends up being his best NFL fit could fit that bill in this draft.
George T
2:59
Hi Brian, I love that everyone is counting Kenny out already after 1-1/2 seasons as the starter.  It took Terry 5+ years to become the starting QB. Everyone needs to give it some time to see what he can do. If we moved on from Terry after 1-1/2 years we may not have won 4  SB in the 70’s.
Brian Batko
3:00
Point taken, George. I'll leave you with this, and it's much the same thing I said when the Steelers drafted Kenny Pickett and I had my doubts about it: As someone who covered Pitt from late 2016-early 2019, I was just about ready to write off Pickett and he proved me wrong then. So it wouldn't totally shock me if he does it again. But college ain't the NFL. The NFL ain't college. Clock is ticking.
3:01
And with that, I've gotta scoot, but be sure to be on the lookout for all our stories, chats, podcasts, et al from Indy this week as the combine comes into focus. Enjoy.
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