Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 04.29.26
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Jeff B
10:52
My question has to do with the Qb position and is multi parts. How long do the Steelers wait of Rodgers and why so much hype for Howard, now Allar when neither has played a down of NFL football. I'm of the mindset NFL football is a huge step up from college.
Gerry Dulac
10:53
You are of the correct mindset, and so are they. They can't -- and won't -- make any decisions on these guys until they see them play in a game.
Leonard
10:53
Hi Gerry! Was disappointed with another 'project' 1st round pick - take a project in the 3rd round or later, your 1st round pick needs to be ready to start, and we've seen how the project O-line 1st round pick thing turns out (B Jones)...am I off base here?
Gerry Dulac
10:56
Not entirely. But I don't think they view Iheanachor as a project. Unless you're a Super Bowl team. your No. 1 pick has to be able to come in and play. Especially if you're a team that hasn't won a playoff game in nine years.
574 Fan
10:56
So many fans going with the "they panic'd" narrative when Philly stole Lemon.  They were surprised, obviously.  But the feeling seems to be that they were so surprised that they all freaked out, set Weidl's draft board on fire and pulled a name out of a hat to make the selection.  Max was the pick at 21 whether Lemon went 20th or 10th, wasn't he?
Gerry Dulac
10:57
It depends if Monroe Freeling or Blake Miller were still on the board. Even Vega Ioane
Ned Ryerson
10:58
Was there any angst amongst the local sports writers that Mel Kiper  - and no one local - correctly predicted the Steelers first pick with Iheanachor?
Gerry Dulac
10:58
None. I didn't know that was his pick
MrSamsonite
10:58
Good morning Gerry. The team seemed less active in signing undrafted FAs this year. Is that because they had so many draft picks? Or was the pool weaker than usual?
Gerry Dulac
10:59
Well, with 10 draft picks, you don't need as many
J D
10:59
Gerry,  are Kaleb Johnson and Roman Wilson products of poor player development or poor selections in the draft or both?
Gerry Dulac
10:59
What I see of the players in practice, I like. I'm willing to give both more time.
Me Ed
11:00
I’m confused about  the Steelers QB plan for this season. Bringing Rodgers back means a focus on  winning in 2026, which means logically you would keep Rudolph as backup since he is a veteran with experience. Cut him and you have a kid who never has taken a regular season snap step in. Assuming they won’t keep 4 do you think it more likely they keep Mason and Howard is most likely to go or more likely they are open to cutting Mason if kids show well in pre season games?
Gerry Dulac
11:07
I'm still hesitant to say what will happen because I could see either happening. But I remember in 2018 when Mike Tomlin kept Josh Dobbs and cut Landry Jones because Dobbs had such an impressive preseason. That was a similar situation because Mason Rudolph was a rookie and Jones, a fourth-round pick in 2013, was the veteran.
Toby III
11:07
Seemingly unlikely but…Assume that AR retires…does Coach Mike significantly change his offensive scheme given our QB room?  Thanks as always.
Gerry Dulac
11:08
I'm sure he knows his young QBs can't do at the line of scrimmage what Rodgers does. Nobody can
Mike
11:08
Don't understand all the reaches on day 3.. Rubio isn't close to Yaya...you will defend of course we didn't much
Gerry Dulac
11:08
No he's not
574 Fan
11:08
Two hybrid players taken on day 3 - a FB/TE and a RB/WR. Neither is a high volume HB like Kaleb Johnson seemed to be when drafted, but both would probably fall into the RB room calculus at cut down time. If both make the team, is Johnson on the wrong side of the cut line?
Gerry Dulac
11:09
No, he will be the third RB. Nowakowski will be the FB. And Wetjen will be a WR
574 Fan
11:09
Golf question - with LIV rumors swirling and the cancellation of the NO event yesterday, will we see Rahm and Bryson on the PGAT next year?
Gerry Dulac
11:09
I hope, but not holding my breath
Ryan
11:09
Gerry what do you think about the draft picks of the Iowa guys also what do you think about the draft pick from navy i think they were good picks considering The Navy guy is from Pittsburgh i think they we’re good picks
Gerry Dulac
11:11
I like both the Iowa guys, especially the guard with the mullet and tatoos. I'll be shocked if Dunkin Donuts doesn't do a commercial with Dunker. As for Heidenreich, the Navy guy, that was a feel-good pick.
yo yo
11:11
New talk of trading Mason since the draft. Mostly by the “Pickett is the answer” and “Howard is the Messiah” websites. If Rodgers shows up would McCarthy go with Allar or Howard as QB backup and third QB with maybe only 3 preseason games under their belts and possibly only one series of the first preseason game played against and with number ones? Is McCarthy that much of a gambler to go with youngbloods that looked good against the B,C and Ds?
Gerry Dulac
11:13
He just might. But, with wanting to take a look at both guys in the preseason and likely splitting snaps, I'm not sure one of them will get enough time to prove they are ready.
Virgil Mincy
11:13
Gerry, please just tell us straight out that the Steelers genuflecting before Rogers (again) is just unprofessional, silly, and makes them look foolish/desparate to the sporting world.
Gerry Dulac
11:14
I don't think that's what they are doing. What they did was a procedural formality that protects their ability to get a comp pick. They are not protecting Rodgers from signing with another team, though they don't believe that is happening anyway
Terry S
11:14
Do the Steelers still plan to go for a franchise QB in 2027. Considering the Steelers didn’t move any draft picks to 2027. They would have to trade players and or give up future picks to do it?
Gerry Dulac
11:14
They haven't even played 2026 yet
Brian
11:14
Lots of talk on about a few the draft picks, but little on the safety from Oklahoma.   What do you see coming from him?
Gerry Dulac
11:15
Speed
Brian
11:15
Would you have rather reached for Omar Cooper, or stay put take tackle and get Germie?
Gerry Dulac
11:16
They obviously had a higher grade on Iheanachor than they did on Cooper. What I would've liked to see is them trading back into the first round to get Cooper, even though I like the Bernard pick
Brian
11:16
Any word why they didn't package picks to move back into the 2nd round?  No trade partner, no interest from the Steelers in doing so or just no one they wanted to go after?
Gerry Dulac
11:16
Probably a little of each
Dave Moody
11:17
Now that the draft is over, who was your favorite/least favorite pick, and when do the Gennings mullet hats go on sale?
Gerry Dulac
11:17
I kinda like Wetjen because of the type of player he can be. Steelers don't have that kind of guy. Least favorite: Not drafting a pass-catching TE
Buddy Dial
11:18
If AR doesn't return, can the steelers play .500 ball with the 3 QBs that are left ?
Gerry Dulac
11:18
Sure
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