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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.04.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:58
Welcome and let's get started.
Darnell
11:58
Hi Ray, what do you think the Steelers would have to give up in a trade for Cooper Kupp?  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
First off, I'm not sure Cooper Kupp will get traded. I think he could get released instead. If you look at his contract, he has a $12.5 million base salary next season, a $4.5 million bonus due in March and a $7.5 million roster bonus. So the acquiring team would have to want to pay him $24.5 million for the 2025 season. That's a lot of money for a receiver who is coming off a season when he was injured as well as  someone who will be 32 this summer. Now maybe the Rams keep him for a few more weeks and pay his $4.5 million bonus so maybe it's $19 million. That's a little more doable for some teams. However, if teams just wait out the Rams they'll be forced to cut him and then they can sign him for their price.
John from Toronto
12:02
Hi Ray. Does George Pickens get a second contract with the Steelers? Or do they let him play out his rookie deal and possibly franchise tag him for one season?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
If I was the GM I would trade him. But if that's not an option I simply let him play out the final year of his deal and then evaluate next January. No way am I committing any long-term money to him after the way he behaved this season and previously.
Ben
12:03
Ray  I know you have been around the steelers a long time.  Dan Rooney was notorious from moving on from aging players maybe a year too soon but since Free Agency was a thing in 90's he always was a step ahead (Lloyd, woodson, kirkland etc etch)   Heck we didn't even offer a qb who got us to a super bowl.  Art just seems to have zero savy when it comes to these moves.   He is more worried about legacy than winning.  What do you thik
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
You are right. The Steelers under Dan Rooney made some cold business decisions. But Dan also said he regretted how Franco Harris ended his career with another team. So the Rooneys from generation to generation value those so-called "one-helmet guys." But to answer your question about aging players on this team, why would they move on from Cam Heyward after an All-Pro season? Even at 36 he's worth the $16 million they'll pay him next season. Unless, of course, he has a season-ending injury. But who can predict that? If you're thinking of T.J. Watt, he's also still playing at a high level. The idea of building a team is to keep the good players and get rid of the bad players. You don't just cut guys or trade guys because they're getting older. You wait until their play falls off before doing that.
Ken
12:06
How can tomlin pound the desk for qb mobility but still like russ?  He has a top 3 athlete at that position in fields and it seems like he doesn't want to go all in.     Go all in with Fields..build an offense around him and see what happens     Maybe you strike gold or maybe you strike out.    What is Russ going to do? 9/10 wins is russ ceiling.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
I agree with pretty much everything you said, but I'll add one thing: if they're bad they get a high draft pick in a draft that is supposed to be much better in terms of QB talent than this year.
Lisa Z.
12:07
Hi Ray,  in your opinion, is the Rooney Rule still effective?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
I think so. Aaron Glenn was hired in this cycle. I am sure some minorities were hired as coordinators too. The idea is for inclusion in the interview process. Maybe an owner or GM will be knocked off their feet by a coach the way the Steelers were back in 2007 when they hired Mike Tomlin. Now, do some teams circumvent the rule or practice it in bad faith? Absolutely. You see all kind of interviews that you know are courtesy interviews. And to the credit of some minority coaches they've turned down those opportunities to interview. I don't blame them. But overall, it's a good rule the NFL should continue to use.
Mike P.
12:11
You always hear of guys in the draft who were originally projected to go later, but after the combine they jump up the board because of "measurables". But it seems to me that if they don't show it in real games in college, why do the measurables even matter? Can you think of a player the Steelers took earlier because of great combine performance when they should have based their decision more on real game performance?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
Measurables do matter to coaches and personnel executives at all levels. Teams always want bigger, faster and stronger because they believe they have coaches who can get the most out of their talent. Teams have certain thresholds for some positions. For example, a CB has to be of a certain height. Or a tackle of guard or center has to have a certain reach. Why? because they have to be able to fend off hard-charging 330-pound defensive tackles. Players with shorter arms are at a disadvantage. Most good evaluators take the tape and then use the measurables as part of the formula. You don't just draft players if they have good measurables, but it certainly makes them more attractive.
Chill Dave
12:14
The last truly good OC the Steelers had was Todd Haley and the last truly good DC was LeBeau. My understanding is that Tomlin didn't choose Haley and he clearly inherited LeBeau. The offense has been bad for six years and this year, the only thing the D could ever really hang its hat on (Sacks) were down.  Do you think that Tomlin recognizes that his subsequent hires (and his own involvement in the defense) haven't really worked out?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
This is a great question. I am not sure he does. I question whether he can hire good assistants or whether he can identify who the good assistants are. Coaching trees tell you a lot about a coach. If someone moves on to a better job it means you are doing your job well and are preparing men to go on to bigger and better things. Tomlin's coaching tree looks like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
Pitt58steel
12:16
Hi Ray! Three-part question. Why do you think Tomlin is so stubborn to make any change on defense (Coordinators)? Also, why do the Steelers play so much zone coverage? Is the talent not good enough to play man? Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
You have to have two good outside corners to play a lot of man-to-man. I think they would like to play more man-to-man, but they haven't had the personnel to do in recent years. Joey Porter can handle the duties, but last season Donte Jackson was better as a zone corner. As for changing coordinators, Teryl Austin is under contract. The team has fired coaches with years left on their contracts, but it doesn't happen all that often. I mean, they kept Matt Canada around until November of the final year of his deal when it was clear he was not very good at his job in his first season.
Teddy Joseph
12:19
Do you think a Tj Watt extension gets done this off-season?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
I do. Watt said he doesn't want to play anywhere else and the Steelers have said they'll work to get that done. When both parties are in agreement like that a deal usually gets done.
Brian in NC
12:19
Enjoyed your article on Pickens.  You mention the option to trade him for a draft pick or two.  What  do you think the Steelers could reasonably expect in draft capital if they go that route?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
He's in the final year of his contract so I'd say a second-rounder. If it's a team like the Chiefs who are going to pick 31st or 32nd that maybe a second and fourth or a fifth, something like that.
Yuri
12:20
Hello Ray.  I am in favor of the Steelers hiring Jerrod Mayo as defensive coordinator and Bobby Slovak as offensive coordinator.  Your thoughts?  Thank you Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
Two fine coaches, but you forgot to mention that Arthur Smith has two years left on his deal and Teryl Austin has a year left on his deal.
Tim
12:21
D line is an absolute need but any chance in your opinion the Steelers grab rb, qb or wr early?We are sorely lacking in offensive skill positions and with d line being a strength in this draft, might we wait a little?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
Yes but only WR in Round 1. They won't use a first-round pick on a QB or RB this year.
Chill Dave
12:22
Hi Ray, this draft is notably bereft of franchise caliber QBs.  I don't think they would have the ammunition to move up but, if they wanted to, does Ward or Sanders fit the profile of QB the Steelers are looking for?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
They're both mobile enough and have good arms. I'm just not really high on any of the QBs in this draft. I guess if I was backed into a corner I'd take Sanders over Ward, but like I said I'm not really high on any of the QBs.
Henry Hill
12:23
In the articles about the 70s/80s Steelers, why are the accompanying photos always black and white?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
Not sure what year we went to color photos in print, but it might have been the 90s.
DaquidoBazzini
12:24
What would be the reason that the Steelers would take soon to be 33 year old Cameron Johnson over 29 year old Corliss Waiitman as their Punter next year? Waitman did some of the best punting the Steelers have had in years.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
Johnston is better? And 33 isn't old for a punter.
jeff
12:25
What do you think is the MAIN reason Rooney doesn't fire Tomlin?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
Well, there is the matter of the contract. And the reason Rooney signed him for $50 million over three years is he believes Tomlin connects with players and can get through to them. He was asked that question a week or two ago and said when he talks to players they tell him Tomlin isn't the problem.
epiballo
12:26
The decision on Pickens seems obvious: trade him and get what you can, use the acquired draft pick to draft a speedy WR to take his place. When he failed to run his route and allowed the opposing safety to move to the middle and intercept a pass should have been the final straw.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
There have probably been about 20 final straws in the past year or so.
Tom
12:27
Hi Ray, what do you think about following plan? Resign Fields, Warren, Roberts, Pierre(ST), and Skowronek (ST). Cut Larry O, Preston Smith, Cole Holcomb. Redo Watts contract. Free Agent targets, Teiar Tart (True NT), Darius Slayton, Byron Murphy, RG Becthton on eagles or let McCormick develop with rest of young line? Sure, there will be other mid level to low level FA pickups. Move Benton to DE. Draft WR and DE in 1st and second round and fill out rest of draft with BPA. By the way Warren could have huge year as starter. Thanks for the chats.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
Not bad. I like the Murphy signing. Bechton looks like hes found a home at guard and will command big money. The reason they drafted McCormick was they didn't want to pay big money to James Daniels so I doubt Bechton is on their free agent radar. When you draft guys you have to develop them and see if they can turn into starters. I think they need to do that with McCormick. If they know he's not the answer after next season that's when you sign a free agent or draft another G.
Ted, Oklahoma City
12:30
Hey Ray, from what I understand, this year’s quarterback class depth isn’t great.  Do you think the Steelers might kick the tires on Wil Howard if he’s available in the 4th round or later?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
I'd be fine with Howard if it's in that range.
34russellhof
12:30
Ray, a Pittsburgh  podcast the other day said the Steelers ought to get a free agent cornerback. Enough with spending  excess money on defense. Don't you think the draft would be better for that position after D line and Wr ?
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