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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.14.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:51
Yes we had a story when he was in for a visit a few weeks ago.
Ken
1:52
Wisdom of bundling this picks to move up for Downs? If you cannot get picks for this might as well take a big swing since all 12 picks will not make the team.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:52
Sure that's a possibility, but so is moving back into next year's draft, which is expected to be much better than this year's.
Turk in MD
1:53
Hi Ray.  Congratulations of the PPG finding a new buyer.  Love your work and couldn't imagine it going away.  

If a must-have player somehow slipped in the draft (e.g., Caleb Downs slides to #10), how high up would the Steelers be willing to move up if a player they really wanted was somehow still available?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:53
Thanks Turk! It' hard to say without knowing the exact grade they have on Downs. If they have him as a top five pick then maybe they'd be willing to give up a little more and move up in order to get him.
1:54
But remember this is a very good draft for safeties. He's not the only good safety who can come in and be a difference-maker.
Tim
1:54
Any tackle prospects in round 1 that they may convert to guard?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
Fano.
Pittfan
1:55
Hi Ray. After Tyson and Lemon is there much separation between the next 3 WRs? Cooper, Jr., Boston and Concepcion?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
I think at that point in the first round teams will have different grades on those guys.
steelmann58
1:56
Hey Ray If the Penn ST Kid fell to 21 do the Steelers race up with the Card?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
Yes I think so.
Tim
1:56
Fano seems like a 12 year Steelers.  Plug and play
Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
He's very good.
Chill Dave
1:56
Hi Ray, if GMs see Fano as an OG, do you think he ranks higher than Ioane?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
I think different teams will have different opinions on both, but Fano's versatility might make him a little more valuable.
Vegas Steeler
1:58
What is your opinion on the direction the team should make regarding the offensive line with the rest of free agency and the draft? Can the Steelers afford to trust in Jones' health (I think is play was trending in the right direction)?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
If I had to guess right now I think they'll take a guard somewhere in the first three rounds and a tackle maybe in the third round but more likely fourth or after.
Kordell Tolls
1:59
Ray is the interest in QB Cole Payton of North Dakota State for real? Seems physically talented but needs at least a year, maybe two, of seasoning and coaching.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
He would certainly have time to develop if Rodgers came back.
The Dude Abides
2:00
With the draft being in Pittsburgh this year and the excitement sure to surround every pick we make, it got me to thinking about who the Steelers hometown draft pick was. Can’t think of many first round picks from the area, other than Pickett or Tom Ricketts from long ago.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
James Conner too. He was from Erie but played at Pitt.
Immaculate Resurrection
2:01
Say the Steelers trade away 4-5-6 picks to move up. They would still have 6+ picks… that is enough picks?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
That's a question for Khan, but I think their sweet spot is probably 7 or 8 picks.
The Dude Abides
2:01
Nice. Forgot about him. What a great story that was!
Immaculate Resurrection
2:02
How did Antonio Brown fall into the 6th round? Who scouted him? And why can’t we draft another/next Puka Nacua?
Do you have a sleeper WR?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
Brown's 40 time was not great. He went to a smaller school, and there were some off-field concerns. Things did not end well, but that was and will always remain a great pic by Kevin Colbert.
Chill Dave
2:03
Hi Ray, I'm surprised the Steelers have not had a visit from Copper Jr. or Serrat.  Does the Cignetti connection make it possible they don't think they need to?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:03
No that has nothing to do with it. They only get 30 visits. I'm sure they'd like to bring in more.
Vegas Steeler
2:04
What does your draft days look like? All you great writers obviously cannot be doing the same thing. I am looking forward to hearing from you, Bats, Gerry and all in your post draft analysis.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
We'll be at the Steelers' South side facility. They'll make Khan and McCarthy available to talk about the No. 1 pick. we'll get the No.1 pick on the phone for an interview. That's Thursday. We usually get coordinators or position coaches to talk about the second- and third-round picks on Friday. We also get them on the phone. Same for Saturday, but we get Khan and McCarthy again to wrap up the entire draft on Saturday night after it's all over.
2:07
OK folks sorry for the early glitch, but I still got to a lot of your questions. We'll do another chat next week too.
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