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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.21.23
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
Good afternoon. Let's get started.
CoalportKid
1:54
Was Aaron Curry under contract in Seattle or a 'free agent' so to speak?  Any color as to why he would move? Blocked in Seattle perhaps?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
Curry was a defensive assistant in Seattle. He was not a position coach. So although the Steelers have not yet announced what position he'll be coaching this is a promotion for him. By the way, Curry just tweeted that he is leaving the Seahawks and headed to the Steelers so we should get some clarification in the next day or two about what position group he'll be working with the Steelers.
AK
1:56
What do you think is the most the Steelers should pay to keep Sutton, or should they let him walk?  If he leaves and the Steelers qualify for comp picks, what do you think Sutton would bring as a comp pick in 2024?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
I'm sure they'll have a number they don't want to surpass, but it's hard to say what that number is right now. And the way free agency is, some team could overbid for his services. He played for $4.5 million a year the past two years. I think somewhere in the $10-12 million a year range is fair market value, but we'll see what the ultimate number is.
Jay
1:57
Hello Ray.  When Kevin Colbert says "its a deep draft for XXX," that normally signals they will wait until rounds 2-5 to get that position.  Its a deep draft for CB and Edge, where and whom could you see them target in the middle rounds for CBs and ED?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
So what you say is true. However, if there is a CB with the highest grade on their board at 17 they'd likely take that CB. So it just depends on how the board falls in Round 1. What you'll also see when there is a deep draft at certain positions is a lag in free agency at those same positions. So with such a deep draft for CBs I don't think you'll see the Steelers or any other team overpay for the position in free agency. The same holds true this year for EDGE and TEs and RBs. It's a deep draft for all four of those positions. That could factor into the Zach Gentry negotiations. He's a good No. 2 TE, but with so many good ones coming out in the draft there is no need to overpay in free agency for his services.
Zach
2:01
Will the Steelers make a legitimate upgrade to the offensive line this off season ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Yes and I think the upgrade is likely to come in the draft rather than free agency again.
Tampa Too
2:01
Ray.What  Free agents would you like to see the Steelers pursue in this off-season?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
First and foremost their own because I think Cam Sutton and Larry Ogunjobi are good players.
Bud
2:02
I've read that this is a good class for running backs. Do you think the Steelers might use a late round pick for that position?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
Possibly, but I don't see it happening in the first four rounds. And after that, as of now, they only have two seventh-rounders.
Bama-Steve
2:02
If a top left tackle drops to Steelers and they select him, would moving D Moore to left guard be an upgrade over Dotson or is Moore not a good option at guard?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
Moore played left tackle at Texas A&M and with the Steelers his first two seasons. So while he might be able to move inside I think swing tackle would be in his future if someone like Broderick Jones or Peter Skoronski fell to 17.
Brooklyn Bob
2:04
I make it to about 3 games a year and sit in the upper deck at Acrisure Stadium. Spending 1.4 million to replace the men’s bathroom trough with 96 urinals is laughable. There is a lot more that could be done with tat money. Such as better food choices in upper deck and security so everyone is just not smoking in hallways. I’m sure more toilets for women would be more welcome than men having to urinate in a urinal rather than trough.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
I don't know about everyone else -- and I don't do it very often because I don't attend many sporting events as a fan -- but I find the whole trough thing a bit unsettling.
Steeltree
2:05
Ray - there’s lots of draft chatter about trading pick 17 for extra picks but I believe there should be a really good OT CB or DL available there.   What intrigued me is how much interest will there be for pick 32 since the other 31 teams will have all night  to think about trading up for that one guy they think will be the difference for them.  Do you think pick 32 may garner a premium from hopefully a bidding war.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
In a usual year the No. 32 pick would be coveted because it's the final pick of the first round and all first-rounder come with the fifth-year team option on the rookie contract. But this year, because Miami forfeited its first-round pick, the No, 32 pick is merely the first pick of the second round. Now, it very well might be coveted by another team and some team could offer a nice deal to move into the spot, but not for the reason we usually see with that pick. For instance, back in 2018, Lamar Jackson was the No. 32 pick. The Ravens controlled him for five years instead of four by getting him in the first round.
Dan Mucy
2:08
Hi Ray…love your work both here at the PG and on radio!   Hey a draft question not specifically about who and where.  What differences or different tendencies should we look for in drafting philosophy from the new GM?   I’m thinking it was time for some kind of change, because some of the last few years’ drafts have put us in the spot we are now.   Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
I think that's still to be determined. Omar Khan showed a willingness to trade a starting caliber player in Chase Claypool for a draft pick in November. That's a move we didn't really see from Kevin Colbert. So I think we'll see some changes in the way personnel is evaluated too. If you look at Andy Weidl's track record with the Eagles he loved to build up the trenches. But in two of the years he was in charge of the draft board for the Eagles they selected a receiver in Round 1. So I think it will boil down to the Steelers' needs and how the board stacks.
TV
2:10
Do you think the Steelers will hire an offensive assistant to help out on that side of the ball?  With guys like Leftwich still out there, it seems like a late in the hiring cycle move that the Steelers like to make.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
I won't close the door on the idea, mostly because Art Rooney II didn't close the door on the idea when he met with reporters last month.
Black n Gold Guy
2:11
Ray scratching my head with the Aaron Curry hire. Would think they would value improvement on offense just as much as on defense with another hire .
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
Curry is the first hire of the offseason after they had two on-field coaches leave for other jobs -- Brian Flores and Blaine Stewart. Flores coached the linebackers so I think adding Curry to mix in some capacity with the linebackers makes sense. And it does not preclude them from adding an offensive assistant.
Earnest T Bass
2:12
All are available when the Steelers pick at #17. Skoronski, Addison, Van Ness, and Gonzalez. Which one do you take, or do you trade down?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Skoronski with Gonzalez and Van Ness tied for next in line.
TommyT
2:13
In the case of Leal, and maybe a pick this year, drafting guys around 280 lbs, do the Steelers expect those DE to put on 20 pounds and get into the weight class of Heyward and Tuitt?   They seem to like 6'4'' 300 pounders for those 2 DE spots, Leal has the height, and i think i saw he was over 300.   Like the DE from USC this year, he can bring the heat
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
So I remember asking Leal that very question shortly after he was drafted, and he said the Steelers had no plans of asking him to add weight. And he didn't. He's a tweener and I think the way the NFL is today it's OK to have situational players like Leal. He might never be the prototypical Steelers 3-4 defensive end, but he has versatility to play any position on the line. Think of it like using him as a matchup piece in their defense.
Stash
2:16
Ray, which one of the PG Chat Masters will benefit most from the improved restroom situation at Acrisure? Gracias.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
The press box only has three urinals ! I think we can use more.
Mike from DC
2:16
Hey Ray, what do you make of Skoronskis arm length, can he play left tackle in the NFL?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I think he can because he has such good feet and he's a technician. But there will be some teams that view him as a guard, which is fine. Either way, he's a plug and play starter.
Mike from DC
2:17
Why is ILB not considered as big a need as OL, DL, and CB? I think the Steelers should consider it in the top 3 picks if they can get an impact player.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
I think it's a need, but not a top three need.
Hugh
2:18
Please explain to me why a lot of fans and writers are excited about the possibility of Joey Porter, Jr. becoming a Steeler when he has had one interception during his college career?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
He's 6-2, physical and can play press man at the LOS.
Mike from DC
2:19
Hey Ray, in your mock you had the Steelers picking a safety / slot cb. Why did you pick him over an outside corner that can match up with a guy like Jamarr Chase?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
Because there are sonly so many CBs in this draft with CB1 potential. You might be able to get a starting CB at 32 or 49, but will they ever be a No. 1?
Ryan
2:19
Good afternoon Ray who are players to watch in Indy Joey Porter jr any other names and what did you think about John Mitchell Steelers will miss him so will his former players
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