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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 03.10.20
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Tom
2:14
Should the Steelers just try to get the absolute best player available with the 49th pick? Is a 2nd round TE really going to start over McDonald, WR over Juju (Wash or Dionte), OL over Finney etc.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
They need a difference-maker on offense. I don't really care what position (other than QB). The guy they draft at 49 should be capable of helping the offense this season.
John Strange
2:15
If Big Ben does not play well --- similar to the 3 points he scorched the Patriots last year ---  do the Steelers bench him say midseason? Or is he untouchable?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
He's making $35 million the next two years. What do you think?
Dan Mucy
2:15
Hi Ray...love these chats!   How many contracts do you expect to be restructured to free up cap space?   They've gotta do something in that regard, correct?   Thanks...dan
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
I think Heyward is an obvious one they'll look to do once the CBA situation is resolved. His cap hit right now for 2020 is around $14 million. They can get that way down with a new contract.
RJT
2:16
If a good pass rusher is available when the Steelers pick, but somehow KJ Hamler is still there, who would you take?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
Hamler all day.
Jersey Jay
2:17
Ray, here are my list of needs in order for the Steelers: RB, WR, TE, LB, OG.  How do you see it?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
Take out LB. The other four you mentioned are the top four. I tend to think WR and OL before TE and RB, but wouldn't be surprised at all if TE or RB was the first pick if they really fell in love with one of the prospects at those positions.
mrbig
2:18
Bud has only looked great this past season... is it possible Watt makes Bud look better than he actually is (similar to Harrison/Woodley)? Maybe he's not worth the $ after all-
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
Hard to say. They play on opposite sides. It's not like teams are flipping their tackles in-game to block Watt.
Krugerrand
2:20
Ray, any chance we could get a coordinated AP mock draft where each beat writer picks just for their covered team based on the prior beat writer's choices?  Your input is better for the Steelers than national writers because that's your expertise ... but it's not reasonable to expect you to pick the teams ahead of you correctly.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
A bunch of writers already do that. But it's not something we publish. I think it's more for talk radio than anything else. I do pay attention to what the beat writers are saying when it comes to draft because as you point out they know their team's needs and their tendencies in the draft better than anyone.
Krugerrand
2:21
Looking for another draft pick ... do we have any useless receivers we can trade to the Raiders for the obligatory mid-round pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Yeah that'd be nice, huh?
Scrub
2:21
Hello. If they did not franchise tag Dupree. Which they most likely will. What would be a realistic plan B
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Sign a mid-priced free agent as a stop-gap and draft a guy relatively high.
574Fan
2:22
I would never use my team's highest draft pick on a RB.  Not this year, not ever.  Not even if I needed one and the highest rated one was available when I picked.  If Taylor or another really good back is there at 49, would you consider him?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
I'd consider him if I had a feeling he could be the next Le'Veon Bell, who ran behind basically the same offensive line and had great success, albeit when they were a bit younger. But if he's not projected as a workhorse guy, a three-down back then I wouldn't do it, either.
Nate
2:23
Hi Ray, love the chats!  I've been seeing more and more mock drafts with OLB as early as 3rd round (some even have one in 2nd round).  I figured Steelers would just wait until 2021 to draft an OLB, especially with so many offensive needs.  Are you starting to hear differently, or is this just the national media?  And do you think they should select one or still wait until next year?  Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
Kevin Colbert has commented how this is a deep draft for OLBs. So that has fueled some of the speculation. And I'm not sure it's ideal to go into any year knowing you absolutely have to use your first pick on a player that has to become a starter right away. If there is a guy that's worth developing in the third round, someone that can step in as a starter in 2021, why not do it? It would make some sense if you had a high grade on a prospect like that.
FoolBack
2:25
Ray, do you see the player having any realistic shot at getting a better deal from the owners? Personally, I'm fine with a 16 game season, two byes, and two extra playoff teams.  Since this is all about TV revenue, why not provide rest AND still get more football?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
Of course they can. But I don't think they have enough players willing to fight for it.
dallas fan
2:25
The LSU running back would be a great add.  Yes he is short but his passcatching is superior, he is elusive and he blocks better than most.  Great stats.  Would the Steelers go there in 2 or 3?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
They might. Only question about Clyde Edwards-Helaire is his size and ability to play three downs.
Arthur
2:26
Ray,  Do you think the CBA passes ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
I have a hunch it will.
Jack58
2:27
Despite the company line... the Steelers do not have a top shelf MLB. Can Anfernee Jennings move inside and thus be versatile?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
He's really good at OLB so I don't know why a team would want to move him inside. Would have to see how he runs at 'Bama pro day. He didn't run or do drills at the combine.
John
2:28
Ray, why does Edmunds struggle in coverage? Is it poor technique, not athletic enough, lack of ball skills?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
Sometimes it just takes some time for players to get acclimated to the NFL. He has the athleticism.
Jack58
2:28
I noticed that 4 of 11 players you covered in your mid round pick piece are Utah Utes. Are you scoping them more closely because of info you have from team sources?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
They had something like nine players at the combine, most of them on defense. And it just so happens they play positions the Steelers need.
Nate
2:29
Hi Ray, I know you picked Jalen Reagor for your mock draft.  And I know you like Hamler.  But I'd like to get your thoughts on these 2 WRs - Claypool and Mims.  Do you like them more, less or about the same as guys like Reagor and Hamler?  Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
Different flavors. Mims and Claypool are bigger and ran just as well as Hamler and Reagor. I'd say Reagor and Hamler are more dangerous on all three levels of the field whereas Mims and Claypool are probably better deep targets and red-zone targets due to their size.
Guest
2:31
Are there really any TE worthy of a 2nd round pick?  College football isn't producing much outside of Iowa lately.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
That's true. Iowa seems to pump out the TEs. Maybe Cole Kmet from Notre Dame or Harrison Bryant out of FAU in the second round.
Jack58
2:32
Public Spectacle 2020 Draft closed to public or is Vegas not going to be as cautious as other venues, given the more severe consequences for them?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:33
Still a long ways off. But it seems like leagues are cancelling games every day. The Ivy League canceled their postseason basketball tournaments today.
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