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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 04.14.25
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Brian Batko
12:00
As Mike Tomlin would say, "good afternoon." Sorry the chat time keeps pinging back and forth between 10 am and noon but such is life in the offseason. Steelers questions?
Bama
12:01
How much longer do Steelers wait for Rodgers?  Is there anyone left in free agent market other than AR that is going to be any better than Mason or even Skylar?
Brian Batko
12:02
Well, Art Rooney II's only commitment on the matter was "not forever" and "a little while longer." That's pretty good lawyer speak there. But you make a good point that since we last chatted, the well dried up a bit, so to speak. Joe Flacco and even Drew Lock signed elsewhere. Carson Wentz and Tyler Huntley are pretty much the last cabs left in the parking lot.
STEEL72
12:03
Is there really anything more than contract negotiation posturing going on the Watt? If we've suddenly entered the "anyone is on the trade table" era, then the Steeler way is a thing of the past (at least for fans). If ever there was a guy you want to be a "one helmet" guy, it's TJ. He embodies everything about the franchise. If we lose him, which I'm sure is still very much a rumor, it will signal to me that other mismanagement of rebuilding were handled so badly, that trading him became necessary, What a waste if that's the case. And, of course, thank the Browns for somehow coming up with cash to overpay for everything and win nothing.
Brian Batko
12:05
Couldn't have said it better myself, really. However, let's not pretend the Steelers haven't done the unthinkable with franchise icons in the past. Franco Harris, Rod Woodson, James Harrison all ended up wearing other helmets. And others weren't particularly happy with how their one-team tenures came to an end. It's business.
MrCJJr
12:06
GM Brian. Thanks for the chats as usual. My question: Where do you think the salary for TJ will fall? $35M per yr or more? Thanks
Brian Batko
12:07
Sure thing. I'm saying higher than that. The market has been set. Probably could've got him for less had they done it sooner, but we know that's not typically how the Steelers roll. They're more deadline-oriented when it comes to those big negotiations, for better or worse.
Jeff b
12:08
Good day Brian.  My questions is why do so many Steelers fans consider it blasphemy to mention trading TJ Watt? Wouldn't the potential of draft picks be worth the inquiry?
Brian Batko
12:11
I say good day, Jeff. To me it's as simple as he's an icon in Pittsburgh, a fan favorite who's as popular a player as they've had since Ben Roethlisberger (arguably even more so) and many still believe he can do his job at a high level to help the team win.
AK
12:11
I think Steelers fans are getting excited about Sanders possibly falling to the Steelers.  It’s highly unlikely he falls past the Saints at #9, correct?
Brian Batko
12:13
My guess is that someone still takes a chance on him in the top 10, yes, but there are whispers that the Saints aren't all that interested in him. Could just be the ol' smokescreen but you never know. If I had to put money on it, I'd go New Orleans.
Sam
12:13
I don't want the Steelers to become the Pirates, trading their best players for prospects, but did TJ really have to be go public?  Why should fans care anymore?
Brian Batko
12:16
Yeah, that's the other piece of the answer to Jeff's question. Do people really think it's worth losing the biggest name in town - every Steeler fan you know has a TJ Watt jersey, right? - for the prospect of prospects? It comes down to the classic question of whether any player should be "untouchable." I tend to think no because you're doing a disservice to your team if you don't realistically assess every asset's value, but there is a human side to all of it, too.
JC in NY
12:17
Hi Brian. Well, here we are. Khan and the Brass seemingly have a miracle to try and pull off. Do you also see it that way? I actually am hoping that do NOT see it that way. Just pick good players and be patient at the QB position is what I am hoping for. My only thing is: can you somehow add a day 2 pick and still get your DL with our top pick. Would go a long way. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:20
My sense is the decision-makers don't look at the draft as trying to pull off some miracle scenario to nail X number of positions, as you outline. It's more what you said about simply taking players they have high grades on and hoping to get as many of those as possible. I like that they're doing their homework on some mid-tier DL prospects like Jamaree Caldwell, JJ Pegues and Elijah Roberts with 30 visits.
Mass Fan
12:21
Thinking of the ho hum of Benton. Our biggest need is for him to be a stud. Is that no longer hoped for? Was his (out of) position a factor? Do we need an improvement at his position and he becomes that star at another spot. Are we still wanting DL's to occupy linemen so LB's can make tackles. More depth discussion please sir....
Brian Batko
12:23
I liked the pick at the time and still like the player. But to be fair, he was a second-rounder and a middle-of-the-pack one at that. You're much more likely to get a solid starter than an All-Pro stud at 49 overall. Keeanu Benton has been good enough that you can probably draft any style of D-lineman - let's just say either a Cam Heyward type or Javon Hargrave type - and count on him to play his role well. But not so good that you know exactly where to put him just yet to maximize his talent.
Tim from Canada
12:24
What do you figure we could get for Corlis Waitman?
Brian Batko
12:24
Maybe the No. 8 jersey for Aaron Rodgers?
Pittfan
12:25
Hi Brian. All the rage is how the Eagles have built their roster. We shouldn't forget, they targeted QBs first until they found the right one. Wentz then Hurts and they were fortunate to have Foles. They had a great offensive line and a defense led by an older Fletcher Cox. All this to say is the Steelers are very similar now without the QB. I believe the Steelers need to keep trying to find the QB and worry about the other needs later. The Eagles put together their terrific defense after they found their QB.
Brian Batko
12:28
You got it. They're trying to build the roads and bridges so that a young QB can jump right in the fast lane once they find that guy. But of course that's always a chicken-egg debate, too. Is Jalen Hurts a force multiplier or is he benefiting from the surrounding infrastructure? Did the Chiefs have a perfect garden bed for Patrick Mahomes or would he have bloomed anywhere? Usually the answer is somewhere in the middle.
Eric in TX
12:29
As someone who lives in TX, it's hard not to think about the Hershel Walker trade when reading/thinking about the possibility of trading TJ Watt.  That trade changed the trajectory for the Cowboys for years to come.  Not saying the Steelers could get as much in return for TJ, but shouldn't Super Bowl trophies be more important than losing one person in the middle (as opposed to the end) of their career?
Brian Batko
12:30
Sure but I just don't think a TJ Watt return would be in the same stratosphere given his age, injury history, salary and contract status. Tailing off at the end of last season doesn't really help his estimation either. I'm still not sure what to make of his out-of-the-blue post, but if the goal was to get people talking about him this offseason, mission accomplished.
ErieSteelerGuy
12:32
Brian, I get the frustration with Tomlin but not having a franchise qb is really the issue. If MT had Burrow or Allen, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Andy Reid won nothing with Alex Smith and McNabb.
Brian Batko
12:34
I hear you, Erie. And you seem to be one of the dwindling number of Steelers fans remaining who don't want to throw Tomlin in the lake. Andy Reid coached his tail off in their Super Bowl wins with Mahomes, though. Some of those touchdown passes were all scheme. Gotta give him that.
Gene
12:34
Is the reunion with Cam Sutton over because he isn’t even listed on the roster.
Brian Batko
12:34
Well his contract expired and he hit free agency, so yes, it's over unless they re-sign him.
CoalportKid
12:36
Can you explain the psychology that leads people to so terribly overvalue the draft?  Take next year's comp pick argument.  The four comp picks that OTC gives the Steelers (something like picks 98, 135, 176, 209) have a total value of pick 83, a mid third rounder.  Trading all of these moves pick 21 to pick 17 in the first round by draft value.  How is this a franchise QB strategy?
Brian Batko
12:38
Hope is a dangerous thing, my friend. As for how or why it would be a viable strategy, I imagine the logic is they'll feel good at just about every spot on the roster and won't mind having very little draft capital if they trade a bunch of it to move up for a QB they identify next year.
David
12:39
Hi Brian! The Steelers should trade Watt and Pickens to get draft picks. The Steelers are not going to pay 2 WRs  and Watt 100 million, so what's the big secret here?
Brian Batko
12:39
To the same team! Patriots get TJ and George Pickens, Steelers get every New England draft pick for the next 12 years.
Bubby
12:40
What about bringing in Ryan Tannehill?  He thrived in the AS system and knows it well.
Brian Batko
12:41
That'd be interesting. He took a year off. Don't know how much of that was his own desire vs. lack of interested teams a season ago, but I suppose it's not the worst Plan D/F/G. Also fun fact, he has a son named Steel. Maybe it's meant to be.
Will Howard
12:42
What are the chances I end up in the Steelers' QB room next fall?
Brian Batko
12:43
Hmm let's say 22%
Scott from TX
12:43
If Dart is available at 21 what are odds He is the pick and is this a reach?
Brian Batko
12:43
45% odds, 48% chance it's a reach
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:44
Is Rodgers waiting on the draft to see what the Steelers and other teams do before he makes a decision to play or not and for what team? I think he is hesitating on the Steelers because they are not an Aaron Rodgers away from winning a Super Bowl. Plus, he could be running for his life like Russ was at the end of last year. If I were him, I would not come to the Steelers.
Brian Batko
12:45
I do not know what he's waiting on. Is it a draft-related thing? Is it to miss offseason workouts and minicamp? Is it to wait for the Vikings? For as long as he takes to decide without communicating the reason for the delay, people will speculate.
Silent Bob
12:45
Hi Brian - as much as Najee was durable, he didn't have the home run capability. My hope is they get a more dynamic back in the 3rd - and that the o-line plays up to their draft pedigree and opens holes this year. If that doesn't happen, do you think Gainwell and Warren would make a solid enough backfield?
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