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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 04.29.24
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Brian Batko
1:59
Hey everyone, welcome to our first post-draft chat. Excited to take your questions and comments. We’ll start shortly
Seattle Art
2:02
Hi Brian, I think the Steelers drafted very well to fill obvious needs, especially on the offensive line. I'm still concerned about a slot defensive back and  more quality depth on the defensive line. How do you think they will address those deficiencies prior to the start of training camp?
Brian Batko
2:03
Worried about D-line depth? I think depth is probably the least of the concerns there at this point. They're more likely lacking star power at the top, but it's too late for that. Now you have to love the ones you're with, develop the younger guys and  hope a little bit. I'm with you on the slot position. Still probably another shoe to drop there.
the real guest
2:03
Brian,No matter the final grade on this years draft I think we can agree Omar and company did not play it safe. They could have taken the consensus #1 C at 20 but choose to go with their #2 OT instead. And then while everyone in PGH is saying (screaming maybe) "trade up" Omar waits for Zach to fall to him. Man, that is ballsy. Agree?
Brian Batko
2:05
Eh, yes and no. Troy Fautanu had a higher ranking than Graham Barton on most consensus big boards, I believe. And you could also argue that it would've been gutsy to trade up. They were somewhat patient and conservative remaining where they were. But I agree that Omar Khan and Co. did a great job, no matter how they got there.
Diana Ross
2:07
BB, were prospects with established and/or potential diva-like qualities eliminated from draft board consideration?  A related corollary, did they actually draft a WR who believes that blocking is an important component of the game?  And yes, I'm looking at you, DJ......
Brian Batko
2:09
I highly doubt all players with some attitude or character concerns were entirely removed, but I always say you have to factor that into the thought process to a healthy degree. At WR, I found that to be even more of a positive for this year's pick. Roman Wilson does talk the talk and walk the walk of being willing to block. Hey, nice rhyme. Doesn't mean he's the next Larry Fitzgerald or even Hines Ward, but that's a solid complement to George Pickens, in my view. And a big reason why he was No. 3 on my Steelers-centric WR big board.
Mike from NY
2:10
It seems like the Steelers got a steal picking Payton Wilson in the 3rd round. Reports say other teams passed because of injuries and the fact that he doesn't have an ACL in one knee. I'm no doctor, but if he could play college football with one ACL, why Is it such a concern in pro football? I heard Hines Ward only has one ACL and he had a fine, mostly injury free career
Brian Batko
2:12
Payton Wilson is probably my favorite pick of their draft, given the value, need at his position and the player. I wrote back in February before the combine that Wilson felt like a Steelers ILB to me, much like Jack Campbell last year but at a far cheaper price: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/02/22/diontae-johnso...
Stairway to seventh seed
2:12
Brian:  would you rather have Fautanu at OT and Van Jefferson at WR or Dan Moore at OT and Brian Thomas at WR?  You didn't think Thomas would be available, but he was.
Brian Batko
2:14
You're right, I didn't. I didn't necessarily think Fautanu would be there either, but I also said all along they wouldn't go WR in the first round. On paper, I'm probably taking your second combination, but that's not really an accurate either/or. Van Jefferson is not going to be the No. 2 WR. Roman Wilson would be my guess at this point. So, Fautanu-Wilson or Moore-Thomas? That's closer. Still, it'll be an interesting what-if down the road, assuming Thomas taps into his vast potential.
Tom
2:14
Second year in a row the draft fell pretty well for the Steelers. Will they just improve their team or improve them over others teams in the league?
Brian Batko
2:16
That's what I always try to remind people the week after the draft. Yes, we're all sitting here saying the Steelers improved, upgraded, maybe even made themselves a lot better. But guess what? So did every team, because that's what the draft is for. Odds are, someone out there drafted a QB or a tackle or a corner who's really gonna struggle out of the gate and negatively impact his team. But right now, everyone's flying high!
Joe Friday
2:17
I believe the first 5 picks will all become starters – with the guard replacing Daniels next year. Out of the remaining picks, who do you see as most promising?
Brian Batko
2:18
That only leaves two for me to choose from, Joey. But OK, I'll say Logan Lee, the DL from Iowa.
Gregg from Shaler
2:20
Watched the post draft presser with Tomlin and Khan. MT looked over at OK several times with no eye contact back. They didn’t nod affirmatively when the other spoke. Body language suggests these two are not close. Am I wrong? Might not be a bad thing if they’re not best buds.
Brian Batko
2:21
Gregg, I'd say that's just a setting where both those guys are coming down from a stressful, high-leverage three days of sitting in the draft room making big decisions. Khan, particularly, is probably pretty gassed. Go back and watch their pre-draft presser from a week ago today. Much more jovial and better body language, if you will.
Pat from Ellwood city
2:22
Hi Brian will the steelers still go after a receiver in free agency because I think they still need a #2 receiver
Brian Batko
2:24
Never say never but I'm not sure I agree with all the WR angst I'm seeing here and elsewhere. Maybe I'm higher on Roman Wilson's skill set as an immediate starter than others, I don't know. Between Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson and their NFL experience, plus Calvin Austin III still with some untapped juice, I wouldn't crush them for going into camp with this group.
Oliver Domingo Cortez Mendez Sucho
2:25
Please tell me another WR move is coming down the line?
Brian Batko
2:27
Well that's the thing, do they have two big-time NFL wideouts right now? No, they don't. But how many teams do have two established guys like that? And of those that do, are they going to be a run-based offense like the Steelers? Probably not.
Steel Russel
2:28
Looks like an excellent draft - how many do you expect to be lined up on opening day first team?
Brian Batko
2:28
Too early to say, of course, but I'll go with two
Jay
2:28
Hello Brian, always enjoy your coverage.  Peyton Wilson sounds like a great value pick, but CB is a much bigger need.  I was a bit surprised they passed up TJ Tampa for wilson mainly because of need.  Is that a signal they have a back up solution to CB say Cam Sutton or Peterson?
Brian Batko
2:30
Or it's a signal that they still have a certain level of confidence in Darius Rush/Cory Trice on the outside. My sense is they figured getting TJ Tampa or another rookie in that vein that late isn't a slam dunk to be an upgrade from those two. With that said, I disagree CB was a much bigger need than ILB going in. Patrick Queen is an every-down guy but Elandon Roberts got stretched pretty thin last year and just turned 30, After that, the depth falls off quickly if Cole Holcomb isn't back to 100%.
Troy P.
2:32
Do you see another signing at OLB? A Markus Golden return or someone similar
Brian Batko
2:34
They can probably afford to wait on that. See how Nick Herbig, Ravens waiver claim Jeremiah Moon and UDFA Julius Welschof come along in the spring and even early stages of training camp. Now, we saw last year with Kwon Alexander that Omar Khan won't hesitate to take a good deal if it's there. Maybe even Markus Golden again. But I wouldn't be in a rush to overpay anyone.
Hi Brian -
2:34
They still need to fill the following holes: 4th OLB, quality WR, and nickel back.  Do you agree? And if so, do you see any FAs that could be easy acquisitions w/o giving up future draft picks in a trade?  Thanks
Brian Batko
2:37
I've said my piece on WR. Tyus Bowser, Bud Dupree are a couple vets on the market at OLB beyond Golden. Corner-wise, Patrick Peterson is still out there and the Cam Sutton situation is sensitive but a potential on-field solution for cheap. Chandon Sullivan hasn't signed anywhere either but not sure how much the Steelers were thrilled with his play last year.
62 Stack Monster
2:37
Hi Brian, I really like the Wilson and Wilson picks in Rds 3&4.
Brian Batko
2:38
Hopefully some T-shirt seller in the Strip has already jumped on that one (maybe Wilson, Wilson & Wilson with Russell in there, too)
Jim
2:38
It seems like the draft picks this year are older than usual. Do you think that’s because of their urgency to win now or just how the draft board fell? Thank you
Brian Batko
2:39
Good observation and question, Jim. My guess is it could be some of both, plus the vestiges of the COVID-19 eligibility free year of college football, which will be ending soon.
Jud
2:39
Looks like we are again "paper tigers"... a check in all of the checkboxes, and pundits said we did well...but everything needs to fall in place in order for us to truly make that leap.  What are your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:40
My thoughts are:
R1 - A
R2 - A
R3a - A
R3b - A+
R4 - C
R6a - B
R6b - D
ZO
2:41
Do you believe it is more likely that Cam Sutton or Pat. Pete. is resigned to provide some much needed competent depth in the secondary?
Brian Batko
2:43
Well, that No. 20 jersey is still open for either one of them to come back. Believe it or not, I might go Sutton. I hope it goes without saying that you need to do your due diligence to the utmost in this circumstance, because the initial accusations were disturbing.
KMan
2:44
Hi Brian! Always love your take on Steelers things. The only potential head scratcher in the draft for me was McCormick. In a vacuum this pick makes a ton of sense. (And given Kahn and Weidel's profession of GM & Asst GM and mine as a code monkey, who am I to argue?)  But with needs elsewhere - and after already selecting 2 OL - is this a case where selecting BPA over position of need might have gone too far?
Brian Batko
2:46
Agreed, KMan. The way the draft fell, my guess is they didn't have a real high grade on some of the DL and CBs in that 4th-round range. Given their interest with the pre-draft visit and all, Mason McCormick was probably their highest-rated prospect at 119 and they clearly liked him enough to make the pick. Even if you want to get into the weeds on the eventual need for a new starting guard, it's the RG spot that will open sooner, and McCormick made a million starts at LG in college.
SW Steel
2:46
Hi Brian, Although I'm pretty happy with how the Steelers drafted, I am surprised they didn't draft a DE higher as a potential replacement for Cam.  Do you know what their plans are for backfilling him?
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