JotCast | Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.20.24

Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.20.24

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Ray Fittipaldo

11:54

Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get it going.

Kenny Powers

11:54

Ray, if you owned the Steelers how long of an extension would you give MT? How many more years of mediocrity would you endure?

Ray Fittipaldo

11:55

Well, now that Arthur Smith is in place as OC, I think a contract through 2025 is fair. Give him two more years. If it's status quo and no playoff wins in the next two seasons then it's probably time to go in another direction.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo

11:55

The Steelers really can't trade for Fields right? He going to demand for at least 30-35 mil a year to extend for a QB with potential but not a track record.

Ray Fittipaldo

11:57

I'm not advocating a trade for Fields, but they wouldn't have to give him a new contract. He has one more year on his rookie contract and the fifth-year option, which is going to be about $25 million. So if they were going to do it they could do it for about $15 million a season over two years. I still wouldn't trade a first- or second-round pick for him, but I'd probably do it for a third. I'm guessing the Bears will get better trade offers. Lots of QB needy teams out there such as the Falcons and Raiders.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo

11:58

If you were Mason, would you resign? You know KP will start the season even though Mason is the better QB right now, but I guess it depends on his market I assume?

Ray Fittipaldo

11:59

I'd tell him to go out and get the most money that's available to him.

Stairway to seventh seed

11:59

Ray: in case you didn't see it, Peter King said the Steelers would be making a "colossal misjudgment" if they stick with Pickett and Rudolph at QB. The Steelers have enjoyed a 50 year "bubble" where the national media has mostly thought that the Steelers were a very well-run franchise. Do you think we are in an era where the Steelers will be considered nationally more like how teams like the Jets, Browns, Jaguars, and Commanders are and if so, will that possibly cause ownership to wake up to the crumbling around them? Or are they just oblivious to this type of outside discussion?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:02

I think the national media is less critical of the Steelers than the local media. So maybe Peter is just catching up. Either way, it's his opinion. I know he's been pushing Russell Wilson on the Steelers. If he thinks Russell Wilson can still be a top QB then I don't know what to say to him. It's been years since he was that guy. And that's what the Steelers are looking for -- a guy who can take them on a playoff run. Russell Wilson isn't that guy.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo

12:03

Do the Steelers draft, trade or try to resign Holcomb and Alexander for their ILB room?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:04

Holcomb is under contract. Alexander is a UFA. Omar Khan will address reporters at the combine a week from today so we might get an update on what they're thinking at ILB. Holcomb declined to speak with reporters on locker cleanout day and Mike Tomlin offered very little about where he is in his rehab. So quite honestly, there is a big unknown there.

Dan

12:04

Any chance we add Tyler Boyd or another FA WR?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:05

I think they'll sign a WR in free agency. Boyd is likely to command $8 million or more a year on a contract so I'm not sure he's their guy. I'm thinking a lower-tier free agent might fit their cap situation better given all of the other positions they need to address.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo

12:05

Who would you go after in the free agent market in the next couple of months knowing that they are up against the cap line?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:07

Depends on what the situations are for Holcomb, Heyward and Peterson.

Jack the maniac

12:07

How long a leash will Kenny have in 2024? He’s pretty much going to be handed the starting job. If there’s a QB competition it won’t be a real one.

Ray Fittipaldo

12:08

I don't know what you would consider a short or long leash, but I think six games is fair. I thought 3 1/2 games for Trubisky was very unfair. But you don't want to wait half a season either especially if you fall behind in the playoff race.

Stubborn Mike

12:08

The players seem to prefer Mason. The fans want Mason. Mason is clearly better than Kenny. So Tomlin is going to hand the keys to Pickett no matter what. Why? Because Kenny is his guy. He makes decisions like this all the time based on the person and not the player. Is that what future Hall of Fame coaches are supposed to do??

Ray Fittipaldo

12:09

Players will support whoever helps them win games. They have a short memory because Mason did exactly that for them late in the season. If KP gets off to a good start all of that will be forgotten.

QBplease

12:09

Ray - do you believe the Steelers can make a deep playoff run with KP or MR at the QB position?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:12

A deep run meaning a conference championship game? Not a strong likelihood given the other QBs in the conference right now. But Ryan Tannehill made it to a title game in 2019 and they won their division again in 2020. Having a great QB gives you a better shot, but it's not impossible to get there with a quality starter. This is Pickett's final chance to show he's a quality starter.

Sunner in Orlando from Lebo

12:12

Wilson and Tannehill would be at most a 1-2 year rental. Do you ever see a scenario where they would sign one of them? I hope not.

Ray Fittipaldo

12:13

Tannehill as the backup is not very far-fetched. He had success with Smith in Tennessee, knows his offense and could mentor Pickett as he transitions to being a backup in the league.

Jack the maniac

12:13

If it takes Tomlin 2.5 years to figure out Canada wasn’t going to work is it going to take 5 years to figure out Kenny’s not going to work out?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:13

Nah. Remember what he said at his season-ending news conference. He said this is a huge year for Pickett.

Steeler Joe

12:14

Hey, Ray -- thanks for the chat. Do you have any insight on whether the Steelers are more likely to draft a RT and move Broderick Jones back to LT, or might they just draft a potential new LT instead? Are both on the table?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:16

I think they'll wait to see who is available in the draft before making a final decision. As for Jones, on locker cleanout day, he told me he's going to prepare for both spots during the offseason. I know fans want to see him at left tackle, but they have the luxury of having a guy who can play both sides so they do have some flexibility in the draft. Also, don't discount Spencer Anderson at right tackle in camp and Jones at left if Moore can't play on the right side. They really liked what Anderson showed them at tackle in training camp last year.

Steeler Joe

12:16

Another site did a mock draft where the Steelers swapped a mess of draft capital to move up to No. 3, dealing with the Patriots (as they have before), and taking a big swing on a QB. In your opinion, is that even on the list of realistic options?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:18

I'd do that for Drake Maye if he was there at No. 3. Probably not for Jayden Daniels. But honestly, that would have to be a Herschel Walker type of trade and the Steelers can't afford to deal away that kind of draft capital in my opinion.

Steve in Iowa

12:18

The good/great Steelers defensive lineman that have been drafted in recent history have been late-bloomers (Aaron Smith and Cam Heyward come to mind). Do you believe that Loudermilk and Leal are just late bloomers and will develop into quality starters, or will they become stagnant to backups at best?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:20

I think Loudermilk's ceiling is quality backup/low-end starter. Leal showed to camp out of shape last year and struggled to make an impact in camp practices. They ran him out there early in the season, but he didn't do much. Then he pretty much rode the bench for the remainder of the season. I have no idea what's going to happen with him. He has talent, but he doesn't seem to have much urgency to develop.

Steeler Joe

12:20

Can the Steelers wait until after the draft to see if they can find a solid young center prospect before signing someone? Or would they miss out and just roll with Mason Cole again if that happens?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:21

Free agency is in March and the draft is in April. Any solid young centers are going to be signed well before the draft.

Lenny from NY

12:22

Good morning Ray. Got a good one for you. Lol. Would you trade Pickens or Johnson and next years one to Washington to get Drake Maye? Might have to throw in another pick next year. Thanks

Ray Fittipaldo

12:22

In a heartbeat.

Guest

12:22

Ray great podcasts and thanks for all the information. Would the Steelers consider trading Dionte since he really doesn’t fit the blocking receivers that we require in the new scheme?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:23

Johnson is one of two starting-caliber receivers on their roster. They aren't dealing from a position of strength there. So unless they are bowled over with a trade offer -- and I'm not sure what team would be clamoring to take on his contract -- then I don't see it happening.

Wattsburg Dan

12:23

Greetings Ray. Aside from QB, do you see the Stillers pursuing any other quality free agents?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:23

CB, ILB, maybe DL depending on what happens with 97 and 99.

Sal

12:24

Thanks for your chats Ray! Is there any news on Mike Sullivan's situation with the team

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