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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 03.01.21
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Brian Batko
1:55
Why wait? Let's start it up now. JJ Watt to the Cardinals, draft talk, free agency is here this month. Fire away, friends.
Paul from Sacramento
1:55
Hi Brian, Greetings from Sactown!!  There is discussion and mock drafts of Justin Fields dropping and available at the Steelers pick..  would you grab him if available?
Brian Batko
1:56
Absolutely. I think Fields is a stud and is going to be great. His upside would be enough for me to eschew an instant impact QB, though if he were to fall that far, I'd certainly be wondering why...
(Meant to say an instant impact NON-QB)
Guest
1:56
JJ signs with Cardinals
Brian Batko
1:56
Yes. He did.
Dr. Mike
1:58
The ROONEY gene pool apparently has been severely diluted as evidenced by ARII failing to part with Ben, unlike the tough decisions with Troy and Franco.  What are your thoughts in this regard?
Brian Batko
2:00
I don't think you can compare it to any situations/disputes as far back as Franco Harris. Troy Polamalu was a bit more similar, yes. But the positions are vastly different. All that said, I disagree with bringing him back. I think the time is right to either give Mason Rudolph a year to prove what he has or doesn't have, or draft the next franchise QB.
Guest
2:01
Hi Brian, thanks for the chats!  Good stuff! Any chance they tag JuJu or did they already say for certain they are not going to? Seems crazy to me to let him walk, you? Who are they getting for $15m for one year that's as good? Also, leaving themselves no time to negotiate a long term deal if they don't tag..
Brian Batko
2:02
Slim chance, I think. Kevin Colbert basically said that himself. He didn't guarantee they won't use the tag, but they'd never do that. As for letting him walk, you've got three capable wideouts behind him thanks to drafting well. That's the whole point of hitting on your draft picks, replacing more expensive players with cheaper ones who can also do the job.
Coach15
2:02
I understand the whole cap situation, as long as Steelers have BB contract, it will be difficult to take step forward--Do you think Steelers will try to sign 1-2 FA vets at reasonable price, & set themselves up in a better position for upcoming draft?
Brian Batko
2:04
I really don't know what the Steelers will do with outside FAs. My assumption would be not much, given the combination of cap situation and how many of their own FAs they have. But if they do try to find some bargains, I think they'd do it at the positions where they have the most obvious holes: center and tight end.
Bill in SF
2:04
I think either Javonte Williams or Trey Sermon would be great 2nd round RB picks for the Steelers, allowing them to address the OL (or in my dreams grab a QB) in the first round.  Do you think either of them would last that long in the 2nd round?
Brian Batko
2:06
Haven't looked all that closely yet at the draft beyond the first round, but sure, that seems plausible given the way teams like to wait on RB. For what it's worth, Mel Kiper doesn't have ANY backs in the first round of his mock draft at this point, not even Travis Etienne or Najee Harris.
Steeler Fan in GA
2:06
It seems like Anthony McFarland got such limited opportunities behind such a mediocre line we really don't know what he can do.  Are you still optimistic he can be a significant player?  Thanks for the chats Brian.
Brian Batko
2:08
Optimistic is not the word I'd use. I think there's a chance he has some juice. But it makes me pessimistic about his chances that the Steelers rarely, barely turned to him in a year when their ground game needed a spark so badly. If they draft a new RB high, that will feel like even more of a wasted pick, but perhaps Matt Canada will have some big plans for his former Maryland star.
Jacque Strap
2:08
I hope you told Mel Kiper that he's an idiot. Hard pass on Kyle Trask...pun intended.
Brian Batko
2:09
Yes, I unmuted myself on the Zoom call just to tell Mel he's dumb. Come on, Jacque. Anyone in the chat wanna see the Steelers draft Kyle Trask, especially if it's outside the first round?
Harry Carey
2:10
Hey Brian!  If you were a hotdog, would you eat yourself?
Brian Batko
2:10
I would not, no.
Roberto
2:11
Zaven Collins at 24. Do you think it would be a little bit of a reach? He seems very good both in coverage and pass rush. He and Bush would form an awesome tandem.
Brian Batko
2:12
To me it's not so much a reach as it is a luxury pick. And I'm not sure this team can afford to do that given all the questions on offense. Really tough for me to talk myself into using their first-rounder on a defensive player.
Tahleenee
2:12
Knowing that the evaluation process will never be perfect, in terms of eventually selecting Ben's replacement, how concerning is it that we had Mason graded as a 1st rounder?
Brian Batko
2:14
Eh, not that concerning. 1, I think he showed enough in Week 17 last season that there's still a bit of hope for him to become an NFL starter. 2, every team misses on evaluations from time to time. Now, if you're worried that the Steelers will be hesitant to get a more mobile quarterback when it's time to move on from Ben? That could be a legitimate worry, I guess.
The Next GM
2:15
I recently heard that the Arizona Cardinals were considering changing their name to "The Last Paycheck".  Any truth to that?
Brian Batko
2:15
If you're Larry Fitzgerald, they're also The First Paycheck.
bob
2:16
Given canada's history with McFarland, is it possible our running back is already on the roster?
Brian Batko
2:17
It's possible. James Conner was the unquestioned guy last year, right or wrong. And Benny Snell had next. But this offseason should be more of a wide-open competition at RB. Although I guess if you do use your first-round pick at that spot, you better give that guy the rock right away.
Greg
2:18
About to buy a new jersey for this season. I like offense and already own BR. Who should I buy?
Brian Batko
2:20
Hmmm good question, Greg. Do you like O-line play? Kevin Dotson No. 69 might get my vote. But of course the obvious choice is Chase Claypool. He seems like the next great one at wideout for the Steelers. Or wait and buy the jersey of the first-round pick, all but guaranteeing yourself four years and maybe a fifth of use out of it.
Old School
2:21
It appears a majority of Steeler fans don’t want Ben to come back in 2021.  If the Steelers lose free agents as a result of him coming back, and the team also fails to make a deep playoff run in 2021, I believe Ben’s legacy among Steeler fans will take a major hit. What are your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:23
I think that's ridiculous. Sure, you take an athlete's entire career into account for his or her "legacy" but with Ben, there's not much (at least on the field) that trumps winning two Super Bowls as the Steelers quarterback. Did he do it all for those teams? No. But did he ultimately take this team over the top at that position? Absolutely. Lots of players fizzle out at the end, and their teams follow suit. Wouldn't be any sort of major hit to Ben in 10, 15, 20 years from now.
iowasteelerfan
2:24
Who has the higher potential ceiling - Rudolph or Haskins?
Brian Batko
2:26
Haskins has the higher ceiling, but also the much lower floor, to me.
Benson DuBois
2:26
Would love to see the Steelers sign Corey Linsley to replace Pouncey.  Any hope?
Brian Batko
2:26
Probably not. I think he'll be the highest-paid center option in free agency this year, so uh, yeah. That'll be tough.
AK
2:28
No way Fields falls to #24
Brian Batko
2:29
Yeah, I tend to agree with you there. But hey, Charley Casserly is projecting that, and he's not a nobody. Longtime analyst and former NFL exec. I just don't see it happening.
Eric Carr
2:29
Brian, who if any do you think is the most likely for a reunion, Beachum, James, or Finney?
Brian Batko
2:29
My guess would be BJ Finney because I think he'll be the cheapest and at the most depleted position for the Steelers.
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