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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 03.18.24
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Brian Batko
2:00
Hi everyone, what a whirlwind lately. You’ll have questions. Hopefully I’ll have answers.
Sonny
2:01
If you had to pick a player that’s a free agent or trade to upgrade the receivers room who would you want ?
Brian Batko
2:01
Justin Jefferson
iowasteelers fan
2:01
Exciting to see the QB moves - but my one big concern is the huge 5th year option for Fields.  Can we dare pick that up without even seeing how he fits in our system?  Big risk!?
Brian Batko
2:02
No, they won’t pick it up. They’ll let this Russell Wilson/Justin Fields QB story write itself and then react accordingly.
Teller of Untruths
2:03
Mason wanted out. Kenny wanted out. Mason was a model teammate. Kenny struggled, but he had a bad offensive line, the worst offense coordinator in history, and diva receivers. He did act childish at the end, but after being lied to repeatedly I understand. These quarterbacks were deceived by their head coach. Do you think this pattern of lying is beneficial to the team and culture? Do you think it will eventually lead to players not wanting to come here due to lack of trust?
Brian Batko
2:06
I’m sure the Steelers would push back on the characterization that they lied to anyone. NFL decision-makers are paid to do what they think will result in success for their team, and we know that sometimes that comes at the expense of personal relationships or feelings or trust or whatever word you want to use. Just as well, the players on the other end of those moves sometimes hear what they want to hear. With this situation and others, I’m sure the truth is somewhere between the how the two sides view it.
KJ
2:07
Hello Brian, thank you for the chats.  Has there been any indication the Steelers may use Justin Fields in a "slash" role ala Kordell Stewart this season? Or is it too early to tell?
Brian Batko
2:08
No, we haven't even heard from any coaches or Justin Fields himself since the move Saturday evening. That wouldn't be a bad idea for Arthur Smith to include some of those packages or wrinkles in his playbook, but you aren't gonna see Fields playing wide receiver or anything like that.
Coach T
2:10
BB, considering that I once, not all that long ago, really loved Penny Kickett, should I consider transitioning to more brief flings and tawdry one-night stands, metaphorically speaking, of course?
Brian Batko
2:11
I think Mike Tomlin really loved certain aspects of Kenny Pickett, but let's not overstate the dynamic. In fact, Tomlin repeatedly refused to go into referring to Pickett as a "franchise quarterback" and insisted that term is a media creation. That might be true to a degree but he kept things relatively level-headed the entire time from the moment Kenny was drafted. If I had to guess, particularly based on how things are playing out now, Kevin Colbert was his biggest backer with Tomlin somewhere between the old GM and the new one.
Brian in NC
2:12
Thanks for doing these!  Seems like the plan is for Wilson to be QB1 now, and Fields acquired for the future.  But picking up the option on Fields for next year is $25m.  If Wilson plays 2024 as expected, it doesn’t seem like they’ll have much to go on to decide Fields’ future.  Am I missing something besides the benefit of having Fields on standby in 24 in case of Wilson getting injured or not working out?
Brian Batko
2:14
No problem, Brian. I'm not sure there's a plan beyond stack talent and potential in the room, then watch it unfold and respond. In other words, if Wilson performs well this season to the point that you need to pay him more, that's a good problem to have. If he struggles and Fields steps in to some success, then again, you'll evaluate whether and how much to invest in him as your future.
PghFNinCali
2:15
Wow, What a weekend for Steelers news. I/m kind of bummed to see Kenny go. But if he/s not willing to compete for the QB1 job after 2 years of Ughh play. Then I'm glad the Steelers moved on. But I also think Kenny saw what was told to Mason and he didn't want to play that game. Do you think Kenny should have competed? or believe the Steelers are better off?
Brian Batko
2:17
Between some things I've heard and reading the tea leaves, Pickett would tell you it's not that he wasn't willing to compete but that he didn't trust the organization to give him that fair chance after acquiring Wilson. Now, you'd think there's still part of him that would realize Wilson is gonna be 36 and might falter anyway so you'll get your chance - and perhaps some around him tried to convince him of that - but in the end, my sense is that this just got too messy from a personal standpoint. As he said himself in his opening presser with the Eagles today, he felt it was time to move on.
dad in debt 6
2:18
In your opinion, who would fit the offense better, Tyler Boyd or Mike Williams and will the Steelers go after either of them? Who else on the market is worth a look if the Steelers miss out on both Williams and Boyd?
Brian Batko
2:21
Either one could make sense for different reasons. Mike Williams and George Pickens as you're two outside guys should be a deep ball haven for Russ Wilson. But Boyd is the kind of underneath chain-mover they dealt away in Diontae Johnson. I actually think Van Jefferson could still be a fine as a third/fourth option, provided you draft your No. 2 guy.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
2:21
Hi Brian! Thanks for thew chats! I know you will get this question 100 times between now and September but IF Russell is outplayed by Justin in camp and preseason, will Justin start or at least get reps or has that ship sailed and Russ will be the starter no matter what?
Brian Batko
2:23
I'd say this is not that unlike the 2022 QB depth chart, with Wilson in the Mitch Trubisky role and Fields in the Pickett seat. And on that note, I won't say it's impossible for Fields to win the job in the preseason, but I think the bar he'd need to clear would be extremely high.
Galloping Ghost
2:23
Any 3rd running backs interest you?
Brian Batko
2:25
Not in free agency. I'd look to the end of the draft or UDFA, and bring back Godwin Igwebuike if that falls through. He's fine.
LarryG from Punxy
2:25
Looks like the Steelers are in "win now" mode with all of this offseason activity.  So in two years, if we still haven't won a playoff game, would you agree it's time to move on from Tomlin?
Brian Batko
2:27
That's an interesting side angle to all of this. And I'd probably lean toward yes. That'd be nine years. He'd have gotten a chance to right the ship with a young vet, a rookie first-rounder, a homegrown vet, an older vet and a first-rounder from another team.
JfromFL
2:28
I'm tired of all the packon Kenny BS..Great deflection for who's responsible for on field failures over the last 7 yEARS! Mike Tomlin..Will Mike Tomlin be held accountable if he fails to go deep in the playoffs next year?
Brian Batko
2:29
There are so many radical changes this offseason that I don't know that it should be a one-year proposition for Tomlin to win or get out, but certainly, I hear you J. As much goodwill as there might be at the moment within the fanbase, that'll only last through the offseason and then it'll be time to produce on the field again.
Steeler Joe
2:29
Good luck finding things to talk about from this offseason today, Dr. Batko. Yawn. Just the same old Steelers, huh?
Brian Batko
2:31
I've pushed back at times on the narrative that the Steelers can't or won't adapt, but I'll admit I was completely wrong on how they've approached this offseason. Surely you can find old chats or mailbags in which I dismissed the notion of them moving on from Pickett after two years, because this isn't fantasy football or a video game where you make one click and put a guy on the bench. But Omar Khan is moving differently, more aggressively, less patient, if you will. Now, I'm sure Pickett's reaction to all or some of this became a factor in it too, but still, I misread this as did a lot of my colleagues.
Emilio
2:33
Could we use one of the 7th round picks we got for Pickett and trade for Rudolph with the Titans?
Brian Batko
2:34
Ha. Not happening, Emilio. The Mason Rudolph ship has sailed to Nashville. It's a better spot for him, for sure, behind Will Levis and with a fresh start with a new coaching staff.
Little Joe
2:34
Is it not a exciting time to be a Steeler's Fan!?
I got so excited I hit the enter button to soon. LOL Do you think will sign a big time WR ? Thanks for your chats and time!
Brian Batko
2:35
Are Mike Williams/Tyler Boyd big time? Neither would surprise me. But I also wouldn't be shocked if the Steelers roll with what they've got into the draft and let that pick play right away, as George Pickens did.
JB406
2:36
Do you think the Steelers will continue making QB moves/positioning until they know the future is in a great place?   Or do they believe they have done that already with Russ (now) —>Fields (future).  I have some faith in the “now” component but not sold on the future part.  If Fields was “the guy” I am not so sure the Bears trade him away for so little in return.  Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:37
I think they're done with major QB moves for now. Trading for Fields makes it less likely they'd draft one before the third day.
mrbig
2:37
Does this offseason rank up with the 74 draft and the cowboys 90s draft?
Brian Batko
2:39
Let's not get ahead of ourselves, mrbig. I can make a case for why Russ and/or Fields are great moves and will work out, but the former is being paid nearly $40 million by his old team to go elsewhere and the latter had zero suitors willing to give up much for him in a trade.
Ben
2:39
Hey Brian, What do you think the Steelers are going to do with Cam’s cap hit, is it surprising that they haven’t restructured yet? And how do you think they will address the future of that position? Seems like they are poised to take some combo of OT, C, WR, and CB with their first picks at the moment…
Brian Batko
2:40
No, I get the vibe both sides are comfortable they'll work it out eventually, but there's a lot more offseason maneuvering to be done. As for the DL future, I'd say the depth is OK enough that they can be somewhat selective rather than needing to reach for one earlier than that player should go in the draft. But yes, their early attempts at replenishing the pipeline haven't been great, save for Keeanu Benton's promising rookie year.
Robert Lane
2:41
No extension yet for Tomlin. Might he be the next to go?
Brian Batko
2:41
I'm quite confident there will be another "next to go" from Steelers personnel before Tomlin.
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