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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 04.07.25
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Brian Batko
2:35
Based on what we saw from him last season and his own stated dislike for the new format, I see no reason to keep Patterson as the kick returner. Give Kenneth Gainwell or a rookie a shot there.
WestcoastSteeler
2:35
Thanks for the chats.  Is safety a possibility with our 1st round pick.  I kinda like BPA
Brian Batko
2:37
That would surprise me, but they are doing their due diligence by having Nick Emmanwori come in for a visit.
Gene
2:38
Do you think the Steelers add to the OL in the draft?
Brian Batko
2:38
Yeah, swing tackle and/or a backup guard with upside.
rj
2:39
Hello Bats. The Steelers solution is simple. Mason run QB 1, draft a DL man in round 1, trade TJ and Mika for more draft capital, use this capital to draft  another DL man in round 2, draft a corner in round 3, draft QB Milroe or Howard in round 4 and  draft your QB with one of your 2 first rounders you will have in 2026 from the trades. This makes too much sense, so the Steelers won't do this. Your opinion, Bats.
Brian Batko
2:39
Sounds like a great video game or fantasy football plan, sure.
Marvin P
2:40
Good morning Brian.  The Cowboys gave the Patriots a fifth round pick for Joe Milton and a 7th round pick.  Given the projections of the Steelers taking a qb in the 3rd or 4th round, why wouldn’t Milton have been a better option for the Steelers?
Brian Batko
2:40
I'm not so sure he wouldn't have been, Marvin. But maybe that tells you the Steelers do have their eyes on a guy or guys in this QB class, at least in the mid-to-later rounds.
The truth
2:41
Brian, I think the idea of drafting a QB or a running back high this year is incredibly stupid. My opinion is they need to go d-line with BOTH of their first 2 picks. I think that unit is so depleted that they need to invest it in like they did with Fautanu and Frazier on the o-line last year. The D line is one of the most important position groups (see Philadelphia). Your thoughts??
Brian Batko
2:42
Won't hear a negative word from me if they do that. I just look at it as even once you draft a D-lineman in the first round, that position group still arguably is the weakest of any others. Plus, the depth there appears to be at RB makes it even easier to wait on that into Day 3 if they want to.
Make It Stop
2:43
Bats. I am so tired of people talking about Steeler Draft picks that will be gone with the first 5 players picked. Dart will never ever make it to 21.  That’s last ten years if the Steelers draft first round pick is bad cause Tomlin has too much power. When he drafted Pickett his quote was we got our man!  To that I say WOOF,!  Tomlin must go for this team to ever achieve success again.
Brian Batko
2:43
You actually think Dart is going to go in the top five? Come on now. If you were referring to Sanders or even Ashton Jeanty or Tyler Warren, then I hear you. But the draft is a crapshoot, especially once you get past that top five.
Steeltowntim
2:44
If the DL prospects they have a first round grade on are gone when 21 comes up do they reach for the best available DL or pick up say a RB or another position
Brian Batko
2:44
You'll have to wait to see my Steelers worst-case first-round mock draft next week. The best-case version will be online this week, probably Wednesday, so keep an eye out.
Cap Ollie Gist
2:45
Hi Brian, What do you think of the Steelers moving down 8-10 spots, adding next year’s 3rd rounder, to get a late 2nd rounder or an early 3rd rounder this ya
Brian Batko
2:46
Would make a ton of sense, but as I've said and written many times now, a trade-down always takes a willing trade-up partner, and I'm not sure there's going to be a lot of suitors to do that in this particular draft. It's got very little separation at a lot of the usual positions that drive prices (OT, edge, QB)
YinzerFromLA
2:47
I thought Aaron Rodgers was supposed to be smart? Didn't he go to Cal? Why would we want to end his career as a Steeler with virtually no offense and a defense that will be joining AARP the same time he does?
Brian Batko
2:47
Maybe he doesn't really. But maybe he's out of options. He's not exactly as desirable as he was a couple years ago. DK Metcalf is here, after all.
Lou
2:48
Brian, what with all the comp picks the steers will have and people say it’s for a big move in 2026, can they use those 10 picks for a big move in 2025 and if so…should they?
Brian Batko
2:50
No, the rub with compensatory picks is they're merely projected for much of the next 12 months. They aren't officially handed out until the March of that draft, then they can be traded. So patience is a virtue when dealing with those.
Greg
2:50
What RB do you believe the Steelers should target and in what round do you think its possible?  I am leaning towards Ollie Gordon in the 3/4 but my preference would be Kaleb Johnson.
Brian Batko
2:51
Really like Damien Martinez from Miami, too, in that big back category. Maybe Kansas State's DJ Giddens but not sure he runs with quite as much power as those others.
Teejay
2:52
I just cant see a team thinking a QB is serious about playing if you are his only real option and he still has to take this much time. What happened to Tomlins " we want volunteers" ?
Brian Batko
2:52
As I've been saying for a while, it's a bad look. Obviously, it's not as if Rodgers is missing anything football-related at the moment, so there's no functional disadvantage to this waiting game. But the optics are what they are.
Jmay
2:54
Hey Brian, do you see the Steelers being so locked in on Dline that they may miss on best player available at 21? Someone like Nick Emmanwori is intriguing to me if Kenneth grant and Nolan are gone by 21. We’ve gotten in trouble in the past with the picks of burns and Edmund’s when position hunting.
Brian Batko
2:55
He must be to some extent if they had him in for a 30 visits last week. But I suppose the beauty of Emmanwori is his physical profile and athletic attributes are such that he can make for a really versatile chess piece in any defense.
JPinPDX
2:55
Thanks for the chat B! Seeing more mock trades of the Rams moving up from 26 to take Dart and the Steelers reaping the benefit of the move back. Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:55
Hey, if they can find a taker, I'm all for it.
Ducats
2:56
Given Arthur Smith’s obvious infatuation wouldn’t it make sense to build around and run the entire offense through Cordarrelle Patterson and how might that change the draft board at this point?
Brian Batko
2:57
OOOK on that note, I'm gonna call it a shift. Tagging Ray Fittipaldo in for tomorrow. More Patterson questions for him, please! Have a great night everyone and let's hope for a good national championship between Houston and Florida. Avid readers of my chat know I called my shot with Houston two months ago so we'll see if I was right.
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