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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 06.30.25
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Brian Batko
1:56
Hey everyone, how's it going? To give you a peek behind the curtain, we were going to start this up at 10. And then noon. Now it's almost 2. So we've got pre-trade questions in here, tons of new ones since the Steelers-Dolphins deal went through and surely all sorts of stuff in between. I'll try to sort through as best I can.
SMP
1:57
WTH, I was a big fan of Khan so far but this trade makes no sense. You get rid of an under performing contract with a bigger one. So, now we have Slay as a chess piece or vice versa with Ramsey. Please tell me you agree.
Brian Batko
1:59
The bottom line here is if the Steelers just believe that Jalen Ramsey is much better than Minkah Fitzpatrick right now, this trade makes sense. And perhaps they do. But I don't want to do the thing where we automatically assume the 30-year-old star coming in here is still great and just needs a change of scenery while the 28-year-old guy going out is now washed and won't ever be good again. We'll find out, sure. But both franchises decided to move on and we'll see who's right.
TVC15
2:00
Hi Brian,  Do you have any details on the Jalen Ramsey trade?  Is he still in his prime?
Brian Batko
2:03
That's what they're banking on, right? This is different than the Ravens going out and signing Jaire Alexander for next-to-nothing once he was cut from the Packers. Ramsey still carries a hefty price tag and for all we know they couldn't have acquired him without giving up Minkah, too. And Ramsey is a big personality. Clearly, he was disgruntled in Miami and they were willing to be done with him less than a year after giving him all that new money.
RV
2:03
Obvious questions : who plays where in the secondary now?   Is there another, related, move coming?   Seems like we have an extra corner and now lacking at safety…
Brian Batko
2:05
Yeah, that's where the logic of the trade begins to break down for me, RV. The Steelers have had Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay in place as their outside corners since March. They've been less established at slot corner, but Minkah, DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill have been the safety trio for nearly as long. I can't imagine anyone would want Ramsey to come in here and be anything other than an every-down player, but the where is still to be determined. Mike Tomlin would probably tell you he can line up anywhere and that's why he was attractive to them. There just isn't a lot of safety on his NFL resume.
Sam
2:06
Holy breaking news.  Not sure I fully get a TE logjam, but in the modern NFL corner is much more valuable than safety, especially if you're big budget safety is just "keeping a lid on" the offense.  I have to say my initial instinct is this is a net positive move.
Brian Batko
2:09
Yeah, we haven't even gotten into the Jonnu Smith aspect of the deal. More on him to come as I sift through the Qs, I'm sure. But you hit on something with Minkah that I can't ignore. They pretty much parked him in the post at the start of his tenure career and he thrived. In 2023, they tried moving him around more and the production fell off. Maybe they just decided there were no more solutions to try for Minkah's problem making plays on the ball and that it was just time to cut bait.
Mark in Buffalo
2:10
Now who thought this is the dead time of year in the NFL?!  To ask the obvious questions, what are the pros and cons of the Ramsey trade?  Is the safety position strong enough to allow Minkah to leave, or did Safety take a hit (small or large hit?) to meaningfully improve CB?
Brian Batko
2:11
I had been down on Minkah's play the last couple years for sure but I won't say the safety spot is just fine without him. Juan Thornhill could be OK, but I was always viewing him as a depth/rotational piece than a real starter. It does make you suspect there could be another shoe to drop at that spot.
Joel
2:12
Brian, I’m sure you were getting ready for another same old same old chat on a boring last Monday in June with nothing to discuss. Instead, you’re the only P-G Steelers reporter on hand to deal with Jaylen Ramsay to the Steelers. My question: what do you make of trading Minkah and how do the Steelers man the safety position this year?
Brian Batko
2:14
To be clear, a lot of unanswered questions here, Joel. One of which I just addressed with who plays safety alongside DeShon Elliott. We know how the Steelers feel about Elliott, given the new deal they just gave him. So, connecting the dots, they might think Minkah was the issue last year, in a sense. Another one: Did something happen recently between the Steelers and Minkah that made this relationship untenable? Or it could've been a slow burn of tension over the years with his usage. We know that was the reason for the early end to his time in Miami originally. Very curious that way.
Dr Ohio
2:16
Hey Bats, bring the damn receipts on this Jalen Ramsey blockbuster!!
Brian Batko
2:18
Not entirely sure what Dr Ohio is referring to, but as I always say, I don't speak in absolutes anymore when it comes to potential Steelers moves. I don't know why anyone would. They've been increasingly aggressive, bold and unpredictable each season. They fool us in the local media with some of these decisions at times. They fool the national media with some of their interest at times. There's no shame in not 100% knowing how an organization is operating when it behooves them to operate in a way that catches competitors off-guard. We often have a bead on their thinking but then there are mornings like today where they surprise us, no doubt.
Thecap
2:19
Hi Brian, do you what part of the Ramsey salary is absorbed by Miami vs the Steelers?
Brian Batko
2:22
The financial details are among the nuances we're still working on confirming here. It's not in the Steelers' nature to structure contracts the way some teams do around the league, which is why occasionally you see them rip up a guy's deal and start over with a new one, but we'll see how they finagle the Ramsey money.
Pittfan
2:22
Hi Brian. If you haven’t answered this question many times already, why Ramsey? Again it feels like an overload on defense. Could they possibly be loading up the backend in preparation of trading TJ?
Brian Batko
2:24
So I do think there's an argument to be made for the flexibility that Ramsey gives you as a cover corner and a good run defender. Every move the Steelers make, they need to be thinking about how to beat teams like Baltimore, Buffalo and KC in January. If you don't want linebackers covering slot receivers, you better get to your nickel or dime defense. If you don't want Derrick Henry sticking a foot up your behind in the playoffs, you better be able to stop the run. Trying to problem-solve those super-powered offenses isn't easy and it takes transcendent players, brilliant schemes or both to do it.
A. Carnegie
2:25
I bet that article about Freirmuth and Washington being excited about the offense jinxed it for those two lol. I kid, I know Smith runs a three-TE formation at times.  It could help make up for the lack of a true #2-and no, Calvin Austin is not a #2 WR.  He's a #3 and a PR-we've seen his ceiling and it was last year. Of course, Roman Wilson remains to be seen. Rodgers has always thrown to TEs so this could be an underrated move.  Will they look for another #2 or are they set?
Brian Batko
2:27
My assumption is that next time we hear from Mike Tomlin/Arthur Smith/Omar Khan they'll be talking about how they don't just look at Jonnu Smith as a tight end. He's an offensive weapon and someone who can provide YAC, red zone catches, lead blocking, etc. With that in mind, the need for another WR is lessened. I'd also question which established receivers would even want to come here to such a (seemingly) TE-centric offense with DK Metcalf lining up on one side at all times.
Mr Rooney
2:28
Bummer to see Minkah go.  Felt this year might get him back on track making splash plays again.  What's the plan behind Minkah now that he's leaving?  How comfortable are you with that.
Brian Batko
2:28
There are a lot of Steelers fans out there with No. 39 jerseys who aren't having a great start to their week, I know that much.
KinVA
2:28
I believe the national media is selling the Steelers a little short this season. A perennial playoff team that will be improved on the offensive line and defensive front. If Mr. Rodgers stays healthy and TJ signs and plays his usual game, I think we may even win a playoff game. I have high hopes. What is your take?
Brian Batko
2:32
It's a bleak existence where you're doing all this roster upheaval just to try to win one playoff game (as a goal, not an ultimate objective, of course) but that's life right now in the AFC when you don't have the guy at QB. Don't get me wrong, I'll give them credit and consider it a "successful season" if they do get over that hump. But I won't blame anyone for being critical of an approach that prioritizes putting high-priced pieces around 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers and hoping for the best.
Tim - "All In"
2:33
The recurring reaction I keep seeing in response to recent Steelers moves (Rodgers, Ramsey) that I don't totally buy is "The Steelers are all in!" These all seem like moves to field a quasi-competitive team this year, while leaving the team with flexibility, draft capital, and in a position to get their QB of the future the following year. First, you don't trade George Pickens if you're "all in" this year and leave WR empty behind Metcalf. I view Rodgers as trying something different and rolling the dice that you can catch lightning in a bottle. Minkah had slipped and we likely weren't going to extend him. I just keep coming back to: would a team that is "all in" be entering the season with CAIII as its WR2.
Brian Batko
2:37
I feel like the "all-in" thing is somewhat of a fallacy. You rarely see that in the NFL, save for maybe the "F them picks" Rams (who, coincidentally, sort of made Jalen Ramsey the face of that movement). But the success they had with that, winning the Super Bowl, makes it a popular model to refer to for fans. Still, every team is going to think short-term and long-term most of the time. NFL owners want sustained success, too.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
2:37
How do you like the Jonnu Smith trade?  Do you think he becomes the number one tight end option leaving Pat and Darnell two and three respectively? Are there enough footballs to go around? I don’t think they’re gonna sign off another wide receiver until training camp cuts. Do you agree?
Brian Batko
2:39
Let's just say I wouldn't be thrilled here if I were Pat Freiermuth. Knowing him, I'm sure he'll say all the right things, and this probably has more to do with becoming dynamic at both of the top two TE spots than him. But still, Jonnu Smith is an Arthur Smith favorite. And Freiermuth only played 69% of the snaps last season sans Jonnu in the mix. Little bit of a weird vibe there.
TC in Mooresville NC
2:40
Hi Brian,  are Steelers really high on Thornhill/Killebrew/Castro? Were they not happy with Minkah's production/pricetag?  Seems TE room overloaded, CB room solid now, but how do you view safety room? Confusing unless more moves in the works.
Brian Batko
2:41
Thornhill, perhaps. But Miles Killebrew? Sebastian Castro? Those guys don't do what Minkah does. Not even close. You could argue Minkah no longer does what Minkah did at his peak, but I still was under the assumption they weren't ready to give up on him.
Jersey Steel
2:41
Hi Brian - Was this trade to get stronger at cornerback or because they saw Minkah's play declining or both? I imagine to take on Ramsey's salary - they needed to subtract Minkah's salary
Brian Batko
2:43
Yeah, to be honest, I had a story pre-written on Ramsey coming here. Didn't fully believe it was gonna happen and I wouldn't have bet on it, but I wasn't gonna totally rule it out. However, that was through the lens of simply adding him to an already star-studded secondary with Minkah as the backbone, for better or worse. The Dolphins surely wanted to get rid of him but they weren't gonna get fleeced. They may have demanded Minkah in the trade. Still, Minkah not being untouchable is fascinating in and of itself.
Jake
2:44
So who’s on field for our 3-4 base defense
Brian Batko
2:47
Well, Jake, it's a bit of a misnomer to still refer to the 3-4 as the Steelers' base defense. They have to play more nickel now, as every team does, because of opposing offenses. But if they do come out in the old odd front, I'd say:

Heyward-Benton-Harmon
Highsmith-Queen-Wilson-Watt
Porter-Ramsey-Elliott-Slay

Just because that's your best 11, essentially. Switch it to nickel and I'm taking one of the young DL off the field to sub in Juan Thornhill.
JaxSteelersFan
2:47
Is Ramsey a one or two year player? His cap hit balloons to eat too much later.
Brian Batko
2:49
It's his age-31 season. He got what's an objectively bad extension from Miami last September given that he only played one more season for them. I presume the Steelers are gonna try to go year by year as much as possible once they see what he brings in 2025.
KMan
2:50
If I understand correctly, Ramsey's contract blows up in the following years. Does this have any impact on signing TJ Watt over those same years, and if so, how?
Brian Batko
2:53
But Minkah is off the books, so despite adding yet another big money deal to this defense, I tend to think they can and will find the cash for TJ Watt. Although now Adam Schefter is out here tweeting that teams are calling on Watt, who is unhappy with his contractual situation. Well, we basically knew that last part or else he'd be signed by now. I'm just wondering where this latest Watt leak is coming from - which side - and what it means for how this all plays out. Stay tuned, I suppose.
PGH 9th Ward
2:53
Hi Brian, what do you think of Robert Woods? The more that I learn about this player, the more I come to the realization he that is high-character guy that fans can respect. The way I see it is if he adds some grit and toughness that will be a plus. Then we need the following production from these players; Metcalf-1000 yards, Austin-700 yards, Wilson-500 yards, Muth-600 yards, and for Johnson to have more 15-20 yard runs than Harris had. All doable. What do you think?
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