JotCast | Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat: 3.20.18

Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat: 3.20.18

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BAKE

2:19

I think the Steelers best FA signing was James Farrior. Who do you think Ed?

Ed Bouchette

2:20

There have been a few. Will Wolford, Jeff Hartings, Kimo von Oelhoffen, Kevin Greene. Farrior probably the best

BAKE

2:21

Do you think all the restructured contracts will cause Haden to be a cap casualty next off season?

Ed Bouchette

2:22

Can we talk about this season before we get to the one after this one please

NPG2003

2:22

Ed, what was your favorite moment of the 2018 Steelers season? What was your worst?

Ed Bouchette

2:24

If you mean the 2017 season, the worst was Ryan Shazier's injury. The best was either JuJu's 97-yard TD or that 39-38 victory vs. Ravens

jim

2:24

Do you believe the rumors that if the Steelers sign Burnett they will take Rudolph with their number 1?

Ed Bouchette

2:26

I think they have a better chance drafting Blitzen or Comet

Ike Steelheart

2:26

Hey Ed, by signing Jon Bostic we can assume that unfortunately The Steelers won't bring Timmons back, correct?

Ed Bouchette

2:26

Yes, fortunate or not, it would appear that will be the end of the Lawrence Timmons return to Pittsburgh talk.

Rahn

2:27

If the four ILB options are gone in the first round, where does the team's sights move to?

Ed Bouchette

2:27

I can't imagine four ILBs being drafted before their turn in the first round

Fozzie22

2:27

Your colleague Paul Zeise just wrote an article suggesting the Steelers can now open their Draft prospects to even include a QB early. Do YOU feel Pgh now has that luxury, or is ILB still the most glaring Rd1 need?

Ed Bouchette

2:28

ILB still their biggest need. Why would you draft a QB in the first round if you believe Ben will play at least another 3 years?

Where to start

2:30

Who takes Hubbard’s spot?

Ed Bouchette

2:30

Unless it's Jerald Hawkins, they need to find someone either yet in FA or the draft

Drew

2:31

Is Burnett an immediate upgrade over Mitchell?

Ed Bouchette

2:32

The Steelers believe he is, although he's not necessarily going to play FS. He can play SS, where he has played the past several years in Green Bay.

Grandma Anuskiewicz

2:32

Ed I'm a long-time fan. Ron Cook said in a recent article that the Steelers could have signed Mathieu without taking back the Bell tender. How would that have been possible?

Ed Bouchette

2:32

They would have had to restructure yet another contract if the $7 million, one-year deal were the same

Bo Gray

2:32

Ed- do you think the Steelers will sign anyone else this free agency?

Ed Bouchette

2:33

I think they still need a backup OT

Drizzle

2:33

Hi Ed, will they take a look at the other Pouncey?

Ed Bouchette

2:33

I don't think they have the cap room. They did want to draft him the year after they drifted his brother

Todd - Michigan

2:33

What’s your take the SS FA signing?.. seems like a veteran, but not a career with many take aways?

Ed Bouchette

2:34

He had five interceptions in two consecutive seasons while playing FS, but when moved to SS had just three in the past five seasons.

Bob Saget

2:34

I would like to see another CB round 1. Are they still looking at that as a possibility?

Ed Bouchette

2:35

You can never have enough good corners, although with Cam Sutton and Brian Allen (provided they stay at CB), they do have some youngsters there behind their two starters to develop.

Rick

2:35

Ed, Do you think Bostic and Burnett are legit starters? Packers secondary was worse than the Steelers.

Ed Bouchette

2:35

Yes, provided they don't draft a good ILB high. But then, that's what I expect them to do.

The Standard

2:38

I know it just happened but can we presume Burnett will be slotted to play SS?

Ed Bouchette

2:38

I believe that is possible if they feel moving Sean Davis to free safety is the best thing for him. They are considering it, is my understanding

Kevin in Punxsy

2:38

Steelers could cut Wilcox, save the $3.3 mil and sign Miami Safety Thomas for a lot less. Then draft a safety. Your thoughts?

Ed Bouchette

2:39

They just signed their FA safety. I don't see them signing another FA safety

Kevin in Punxsy

2:42

The Steelers can push money forward because the QB's cost will drop by nearly $20 mil after Ben retires, and Bell's $14.5 will be off the books. Probably a few others, but not as much savings as those two.

Ed Bouchette

2:42

They are $50 million projected under their 2019 cap, according to OverTheCap, but they have just 25 players under contract for 2019

BDenny29

2:43

Cap Question: What would happen to his cap number should Shazier announce his retirement, then unretire if/when he gets back to a place where he can play again?

Ed Bouchette

2:43

He's on the books for that $8.7 M this year.

Danno

2:43

Seals was a pretty good DE signing too.

Ed Bouchette

2:44

Yes, he was. He came from the minor leagues, a real rarity.

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