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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 03.29.22
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:16
Unless it's Tuitt, I doubt it.
Desert Steel
2:16
Given the $ WRs are now getting, do the Steelers move on from DJ when he asks for $18-20M per year? Seems the draft is the way to get receivers in today's market.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
Johnson isn't worth $18-20 million a year. I don't care about the silly contracts that were signed in free agency. I think he's worth around $12 million a year, and they should offer him that number in a long-term deal. But you are right. If he wants more than that I could see the Steelers taking two WRs -- one early and one late -- just as insurance in case that happens.
Jim
2:17
If the Steelers take a QB with pick #20, will they still be able to get a quality DL in round 2, or will all the talented DL candidates be gone by then?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
I would think they could get a quality DT at No. 52, but honestly it depends. If there is a run on DTs for whatever reason then it might not happen.
Adam T
2:18
Hey Ray, thanks for taking my question. The Steelers signing of Genard Avery yesterday was a pretty interesting "kick the tires" kind of deal. He was a freak athlete in college that played off-ball linebacker and rushed the passer as well. He's done some of both in the NFL, but looked better to me in a full time rush role in 2018. Do you get the sense the Steelers see him more as an edge player (where he'd have a better shot at playing time) or as a linebacker like the Eagles used him?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Yes I do. Four and a half of his 7 1/2 career sacks came as a rookie in 2018 with the Browns, who used him as an edge rusher. When Philly acquired him he was moved around in their defense. He only had a handful of sacks over the past three seasons. I think with the Steelers you let him compete with Tuszka for the top backup job and see if he can produce like he did when he was a rookie. He's undersized. He has that James Harrison/Ola Adeniyi type of build. He's not a cookie-cutter Steelers OLB, but that's OK.
Quinn
2:21
Good afternoon, Ray, and thank you as always for your great work. What would be your rank of need by position now after FA signings?  SS, WR, DL (youth), CB?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
DL, WR, CB. After that OL and SS. I know people are freaking out because they don't currently have a starter, but they'll find one eventually and that guy doesn't have to be a high pick in the draft.
Jason
2:22
I’ve seen some mock drafts picking Jahan Dotson WR at 20. Do you see this as a good 1st rounder or are you still leaning D?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
Still leaning defense, but Dotson is a good player.
Carl in Carrick
2:23
Hi Ray.  If Pickett, Willis and Ridder are gone by pick #20, do you see the Steelers trading up for an offensive or defensive lineman?  Thanks Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:23
Nope. They'll stay there and pick the best defensive player available.
T.I.H.
2:24
Any news on the GM front?  Are any additional interviews being scheduled?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
I think you'll hear something shortly after the draft.
Scott
2:24
"It wasn't like the receiving corps was lighting the world on fire last season. If he was any good, wouldn't the coaching staff have bumped him to the active roster more often"? Is it possible the coaching staff is the problem? Look at how long they let Witherspoon ride the pine. If Haden would not have missed time Witherspoon would still be an unknown and would not have been re-signed.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
OK... I was just giving you some insight into Tomlin's perspective on Miller. I asked about him He didn't care to answer. Does it mean something? Anything? Who knows. But he was here for most of the season and didn't get much playing time. That ought to tell you something. And by the way, most of the coaching staff remains the same. It's the same OC. There is a different WRs coach so we'll see.
Victor
2:27
Hello Ray.  Do you see Pitt’s Mathis possibly being drafted by the Steelers in a later round?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:27
He posted some crazy numbers at the combine and pro day. Might be worth more than a seventh-round pick. CB is a need so we'll see if they make a move to get him. Maybe sixth round.
Yerfdog76
2:27
Any new insight on which FA lineman will anchor us at center?  Or does k green still have the inside track.?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
When they line up for OTAs, I think you'll see Cole at center. But they have options. Daniels can play there too. Green seems like a longshot at this point. If Tomlin wanted him to play center he would have said that this week. Instead, he said he's open to moving him to guard.
Franco in L.A.
2:30
If the Steelers draft Jordan Davis from Georgia, will the Pittsburgh restaurant industry celebrate?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:30
What if they drafted Davis in the first round and Faalele in the second? Yikes.
TC in CLT
2:31
Do you think we could see the Steelers draft 2 receivers?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:31
I could see that -- one early and one late.
Boiler G Dog
2:32
Ray: Your take on David Bell from Purdue? Not a burner at WR but incredible hands and body control. 40 time at combine will make him 2-3 round. Someone the Steelers might take an interest in?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:32
Mid rounds because of the lack of speed. Third round or after.
Be back in a few minutes to answer many of these questions.
Jacob
2:43
Do we need a slot receiver or a speedster more?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:43
They might need both, but I think they need a slot WR more.
Alex Madison
2:43
Why do people think Witherspoon is good?  He gets smoked a lot, is slow, and nearly SF gave him away last year.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
He's only making $4 million a year, the same contract he played on last season. That's not even a mid-tier contract. That's on the lower end. He's OK. Producing three INTs in 368 defensive snaps is impressive. We'll see what he can do this season if he has a bigger role, which he very well might.
Jacob
2:45
At this point, could you foresee Haskins being the future at all? What would he need to do??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
I don't see that.
Benji
2:45
I think WR in the first round is a real possibility, especially with DJ in the last year of his deal and after the WR market was thrown out of whack with the Kirk deal in Jax. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
I agree it's possible. I wouldn't say likely, but it's possible if the draft falls their way.
Paul VB
2:47
Thanks for the chat Ray. If Davis and the other Georgia DL are off the board, could they take an o-lineman such as a tackle for the first pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:47
It would have to be someone who fell a long way. I think there will be four tackles drafted early. If one of them falls then maybe, but I doubt it.
Paul VB
2:47
Is there any chance they trade up in the first round to get a QB? I hope not but I have seen this being discussed on various forums.
Paulie in AZ
2:48
Greetings from beautiful Scottsdale. Isn’t that new playoff overtime rule the pits! What ever happened to having to play defense too.
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