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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 03.22.21
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Ducats
2:46
Can Pirates avoid 100 losses this season or wishful thinking?
Sorry, tried to slip a Pirates question in there
Brian Batko
2:47
Hey, I don't mind. We can do all non-football questions for the last quarter of the chat if you all want. And I think you're wishfully thinking.
Boiler G Dog
2:48
Brian, if you were the G.M. of the Steelers, wouldn't it have made more sense to sign Matt Feiler and let JuJu walk. He's just waiting a year to leave when the cap is higher. That or keep Nelson at corner. Either option seems better than keeping JuJu another year with the WRs we have.
Brian Batko
2:50
The Feiler thing is tricky because they plugged him in at G last year and the ground game actually got worse. Now, that's not to say it was all his fault. But to my very untrained OL evaluation eye, he was actually better at RT than LG. The Chargers clearly signed him to be a guard, so we'll see how that goes for them and him. JuJu playing on a $2.4 million cap hit is a slam dunk. If anything, it's the latest signal that 2022 is going to be a major rebuild, considering they pushed more than half his salary into the future (when he may not be here)
Chaconutz
2:51
It seems that your colleagues have different views on JuJu returning for one more year. (Mr. Dulac—yay and Mr. Cook—nay). What’s your opinion on the resigning of Tik Tok Schuster?
Brian Batko
2:52
I believe JuJu's a good player. When people would ask me last season if Diontae Johnson had surpassed him as the No. 1, I would say no. However...Chase Claypool seems poised to eclipse him as a player sooner than later. Johnson is a fine complementary option and James Washington isn't bad as a No. 3. Could the Steelers have drafted a guy to step into the rotation and be fine? I think so. Did the weird vibes around JuJu last season almost get to be too much? I think so.
Artie Burns
2:54
I am available for a straight up trade for Steve Nelson.
Brian Batko
2:54
Actually, Artie, you're a free agent. So, you're available straight up for any roster spot in the league.
YinzerinVa
2:55
This looks like 7-9 this year or I should say 7-10.  I read somewhere they are projected to be 120 million under the cap next season.  Is that when we get excited again?
Brian Batko
2:57
Ehh. If my above projection is correct and 27-year-old Mason Rudolph is your 2022 starter, not sure how exciting that would be. A large portion of that cap room will (or at least should) end up going to TJ Watt and maybe even Minkah Fitzpatrick for long-term deals to make them among the highest-paid players at their positions. They'll certainly be in a wide open kind of situation if it is indeed the first post-Ben year.
jj
2:57
Richard Sherman on a 1yr deal, then reset next year with FA/draft, I love it!
Brian Batko
2:59
That'd be interesting, for sure. Sherman's about to turn 33 at the end of the month and we know he can be a bit of a loose cannon sometimes, but he still graded out OK last season on Pro Football Focus.
Guest
2:59
Why get rid of Nelson? Why not do a 4-5 deal with him and lower his cap hit this year? He's good, young and a cornerback, the Steelers have actually found...Steelers Achilles heel!
Brian Batko
3:00
Obviously, the Steelers don't think he's that good. And yeah, he just turned 28, but seems they don't think enough of him to commit like that long term. I'll tell you what though, if you had asked me a month ago what's more likely, Nelson being cut or extended? I probably would've said extended.
3:01
OK everybody, lots of questions on JuJu, Steve Nelson and the draft, and one on the Pittsburgh Pirates. That's a pretty solid ratio. Ray Fittipaldo will be back with ya tomorrow afternoon for more. Thanks for playing!
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