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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.02.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
That doesn't sound bad to me either. In 2018, the season before his elbow injury, Roethlisberger threw for a career-high 5,129 yards and threw 34 touchdowns. I think the Steelers would sign in blood for that.
Yates
12:25
Ray- considering Steelers needs vs talent in draft and assuming AR signs is there any debate that draft order should be DL then RB then DL?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
I could see a QB before a second Dl, but you are close.
Jim Bow Dean
12:26
Under the first Art Rooney the Steelers were pretty much terrible. Under the first Dan Rooney they were awesome. While not terrible, they certainly are not awesome under the second Art Rooney. When does the second Dan Rooney take over?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
I think it's safe to say within the next five years, but the Steelers have not unveiled a timeline.
Jim Bow Dean
12:27
If Rodgers signs, what do you think of hiring Mike McCarthy as an offensive consultant?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
I think they need to let Arthur Smith run the offense. He's the coordinator.
Bill
12:28
Is safety a surprise 1st round option? All 3 are likely in the last year with the team. Someone like starks could flex to slot corner for year 1 and then move to fs ss depending on fitz or Elliot
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
In Round 1 yes, but I could see them drafting a safety at some point.
John from Toronto
12:29
Hi Ray. Why were the Steelers not more active in the FA market for D-Linemen? Seemed like there wasn't much of a middle market. Big names got big deals, and the Steelers went with inexpensive depth deals. One deal I liked that I thought would have fit well was the Calais Campbell deal: 1 year, $5.5M base, up to $7.5M with incentives. Adding him and a 1st round impact DL would be good business in my view.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
They need to get younger on the defensive line. Campbell is older than Heyward. Plus, this is a deep draft for DL. I think they're going to fill their needs in the draft.
JohnfromBurgh
12:30
Ray, with all this talk about tariffs for foreign imports I wonder if the nfl will tax every Steeler point once they reach their average game score of 19?  I mean any points beyond that are technically foreign to the Steelers; Mike Tomlin and Art smith.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
Good one!
Marnie
12:31
Hi Ray:  Do you know if the Steelers also use private workouts that include on field work - as opposed to a 30 visit which doesn't include on field work (at least my understanding of the 30 visit), to evaluate NFL draft prospects?  From what I understand the NFL doesn't limit how many private workouts a team can have with draft prospects.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
They do, but many of the top prospects nowadays don't want to do them for fear of injury. And I don't blame them. I remember after Javon Hargrave was drafted, DL coach John Mitchell came into the media room and talked about driving to South Carolina to work him out. He was a third-round pick and probably didn't mind doing a private workout because he wanted to increase his chances of getting drafted earlier. I think that still happens, but more with Day2/3 picks as opposed to first-rounders.
JSF
12:35
Why aren't the Steelers looking to trade Fitzpatrick and regain their 2nd round pick.He hasn't been a difference maker for 2 years
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
What's the trade market for an aging safety with a $22 million cap hit? I'll tell you. Nonexistent.
Chill Dave
12:36
Hi Ray, who do you think is the best player/best fit for the Steelers out of Nolen, Grant, and Harmon?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
All three are needed, but Harmon is growing on me. I just wish he was more physical. He should be for his size. A little too much finesse in his game at Oregon.
JohnfromBurgh
12:37
Now that George Pickens’ Daddy is putting stuff out there that his son is in a bad situation (he listed all the QBs he has had) is Georgie going to he even a bigger problem this year bc he won’t have a new contract and DK was a sign to him that he likely won’t get a new contract here?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
If I'm Omar Khan and I can get a second-round pick for Pickens I'd do it in a heartbeat.
RV
12:38
Hi Ray , thanks for chats and your mocks.  Question about those.  I'm guessing that when you do your final mock draft it is your absolute best guess of what will happen.  I'm wondering if your earlier versions are also your best attempt or if they are partly a 'thought exercise' meant to explore different possibilities.  I ask that because in 3 versions this year you have stuck with the D Line as first pick, but different players.  Is there really new info you are reacting to, or more an attempt to educate us on the possibilities?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
There is always new information as we get deeper into the draft process, but yes exploring different scenarios before the Senior Bowl, combine, free agency, etc. is helpful for me and interesting for the readers, I believe.
Ryan
12:40
Good afternoon Ray what do you think about the Steelers bringing back Ben Skrowronek he played good last year on special teams
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
I liked the move. It was announced a week or two.
ago.
Guest
12:40
Hi Ray, I saw the tape of Rodgers and DK Metcalf game of catch. This has to irritate Pickens, wouldn't it?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
I might be wrong on this, but I think Metcalf lives in L.A. at least part of the year. That's where he trains.
dpreble001
12:41
Ray, I don't understand, why Cordorell Patterson or Hayward are still on the roster,  we don't use a fullback in our offense, and Patterson is just a guy at this point, why take up roster spots?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
They're on the roster now, but maybe they won't be in September.
TX Pressure
12:42
We talk about the D line, which is pourous, but the O line wasn't much better last year and this year it's nice having Fautanu back but can he be counted on for a full year and who is a swing tackle that can play starter minutes?  Whoever the QB is will have tough sledding (pun intended) behind this line and needs to be addressed or old Rodgers or rookie will not do well.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
They've addressed it plenty. Time for those draft picks to step up and play better now.
MikeM in Florida
12:43
I thought I read somewhere that the NFL vote was to eliminate the tush-push because of safety reasons, but not all pushing.  Does this mean a lineman running 10 yards down the field at full speed to slam into a group of players to push the pile would still be legal?  It seems to me there is more risk of injury with that than with the tush-push.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
They tabled the discussion until next month. Commissioner Roger Goodell seems in favor of eliminating the pushing and pulling down the field. Art Rooney II also expressed this sentiment. Maybe some version of the rule will change, but they were well short of the needed votes to ban the Tush Push so it seems that's likely to stay, for 2025 at least.
Brian
12:45
Favorite restaurant in the Pittsburgh area?  I need a break from all the QB talk.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
Ranucci's.
Freeze Frame
12:45
Rodgers will turn Skroneck into a play maker in the slot.  He’s a dog, Rodgers will
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
I'm probably in the minority, but I thought they under-utilized him. I know he's on the roster for special teams, but he can play WR too.
Solomon salaam
12:46
Would you rather Aaron rodgers or Joe Milton.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
Rodgers
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