JotCast | Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat: 4.10.18

Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat: 4.10.18

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Ed Bouchette

2:10

The new one.

Professor Flush

2:11

If you had the #1 overall pick for the Steelers, who would you select? Would you take the best overall player, target a position of need, or go for the next franchise QB? Just curious to hear your thoughts.

Ed Bouchette

2:11

That's tough because at NO. 28, you do not know what the other 27 will do. If there's one of the top ILBs there, I'd go for him, but if those are gone, you probably have to look elsewhere. And forget the QB. That's not going to happen.

Sean

2:12

Any chance we trade up this year for Leighton Vander Esh? We could trade next years #1 and this years #2 and move up to around 17th. Get LVE at 17 and then grab a Safety or OLB at 28. Thoughts?

Ed Bouchette

2:12

I could see them maybe moving a few spots but as far as giving away next year's No. 1, forget it. They haven't done that since Chuck Noll came aboard in 1969 and they're not about to do it now.

Phillip Stewart

2:12

Why is Pittsburgh always over the salary cap each year and why don't they spend money on players

Ed Bouchette

2:14

For one, you can't be over the salary cap. For the other one, they do spend money on players, they're called their OWN players. It's been a long-standing philosophy, or haven't you heard that they will pay Le'Veon Bell at least $14.5 million this year after paying him $12.1 million last year and making Antonio Brown the highest paid WR in the NFl at $17 M per year.

Buzz

2:14

Morning Ed, If a "can't miss" offensive lineman falls to the Steelers do they release Ramon and take him? Ramon is 32 and this is last year of his contract, plus Salary Cap money would then be available.

Ed Bouchette

2:14

Those two don't have to go together. You can draft an OL and still keep Ramon Foster.

Dude_From_Cali

2:14

Ed, 6'5" 320 strong fast men who can't crack the NFL roster on either D or O line, would it be due to lack of quickness, toughness, techniques? What's missing?

Ed Bouchette

2:15

His name?

A Guy

2:15

Say Roquan Smith falls and is available in the 15-20 range, would you be willing to trade a significant amount of our draft capital to move up and get him?

Ed Bouchette

2:15

Dude_From_Cali

2:15

Ed, your thoughts about this upcoming season with LINEMEN can't block with the crown of the helmet? And if a SS leads tackle with crown, he could be EJECTED?? Wow.

Ed Bouchette

2:16

Like everyone else, I'll be curious to see how all of that is officiated and how it affects the game. i've never been one for throwing players out in the middle of a game. if they determine it was egregious, bar him from the next game if you must.

Joe

2:16

I wanted your opinion on the Pats/Rams trade. It was laughed off, realistically, about what team would give up a high pick for Bryant with one year left. Well the Rams gave up a 1st rounder for a guy with 1 year left, who is possibly the same as Bryant talent wise. How?

Ed Bouchette

2:16

No baggage

FlaFan

2:17

Hi Ed, With the Steelers signing 3 O-lineman this week, are they more interested in getting younger than they let on?

Ed Bouchette

2:17

Those fellows were street free agents who were brought in to help fill out the 90-man roster.

SteelHeart

2:17

Ed - Thanks for doing this. I value your opinion. Can you see the Steelers drafting an OLB with the 1st or 2nd if the right ILB or S are not there ? I really do not value Dupree anymore. Thanks

Ed Bouchette

2:18

Yes, I could see that. They are thin at OLB with T.J. Watt the only proven product after his rookie season.

2:18

If they draft a RB on day 1 or 2, will that be a sign that they are done with Bell after this season?

Ed Bouchette

2:18

I think they are done with Bell after the season, but still won't draft one that high.

2:18

Do you think Sensabaugh will make the team?

Ed Bouchette

2:19

They may keep more DBs this year, but he'll have to hold off those young guys like Sutton and Allen and maybe whoever they draft

Dude_From_Cali

2:20

Ed, what's the thinking behind ROSTER BONUS where a player gets $2M before a certain date and work out bonus?

Ed Bouchette

2:22

The roster bonuses are really there to force the team to decide on a player as free agency begins. You're not going to pay someone $2 M in March if you don't think he'll make the club. So, if you release him, he then has a chance to catch on with another team right away instead of waiting until, say, August when he's cut. Like Willie Gay did.

Flipsteeler

2:22

Do you see guaranteed years being the biggest holdup in the Bell negotiations?

Ed Bouchette

2:22

I'm not sure since he now said he wants an average of $17 M a year.

Kevin in Punxsy

2:23

Ed, fans sure are fickle. After the Jags game everyone was yelling.....we need D players, we need D players. Now everyone is yelling......we need a QB, we need a QB. Funny, isn't it?

Ed Bouchette

2:23

Don't let the squeaky wheels fool you, far from everyone is saying that.

jefferson

2:23

Do you think we'll keep Dupree after this year? Assuming he puts out another mediocre season

Ed Bouchette

2:24

I think they should put the fifth-year option on him in May, then let his play determine whether you pay that too him or pull it.

Tony

2:25

Hi Ed. In your opinion, do you think it's realistic that a long term deal with Bell happens this year?

Ed Bouchette

2:25

They've been trying to negotiate that for the past 14 months and gotten nowhere -- although his agent did agree to a deal last year but Bell turned it down. I don't see how talking over the next three months will change that.

2:26

But then, peace was once negotiated in the Middle East.

The Eye in St. Paul

2:26

What's the odds of drafting a running back in the first three rounds?

Ed Bouchette

2:27

I don't believe they are very high. Third round is always a chance but I don't see it in the first two.

The Eye in St. Paul

2:27

How do think the offense may change under Randy Fischner?

Ed Bouchette