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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.18.23
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Ray Fittipaldo
2:39
Assuming this was a salary dump by the Rams so a seventh-rounder or late pick in 2024.
A2 Born & Raised
2:40
Ray, Do any insight on why Bryce Ford-Wheaton
,  4.38 40 - 220lbs guy, is not considered higher that 3-4th rd.? I know the Steelers hosted him for a visit. Those measurables are tip-top imo. Is it his hands? There are plenty of guys without a ton of "production" being lauded this year/ every year... Mazi Smith (a no from me). Something else?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:40
Never really put it all together. Those guys typically get drafted late or sign as undrafted free agents.
Jon in NC
2:40
What's your take on the SS position?  Neal on probable run downs, Kazee on probable pass downs?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:41
Yep.
A2 Born & Raised
2:41
Has your Ok. St.source rung you up this pre-draft?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:41
Not yet. I'll have to check in with him before next week.
Big Dawg
2:42
Hi Ray… Do you have a sleeper 1st round pick that will surprise us? Doesn’t have to be a Steelers related pick. Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:42
Has to be a guy with elite athletic traits. Maybe a guy like Keion White or Deonte Banks although Banks has had plenty of buzz in the first round.
Nate in Iowa
2:42
Hi Ray, would you draft Darnell Wright at pick 17 if you were GM?  Or do you consider him a RT, and therefore, possibly be too high with this pick?  Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
17 is not too high for a right tackle, if that's what Wright is.
TV
2:44
Peter King suggested a trade up is in the works - Legit possibility or just a whole lot of nothing?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:44
Lots of rumors this time of the year. I'm not sold on that one.
Steve in Canton
2:45
Who has a higher ceiling as a WR, Anthony Miller or Calvin Austin III?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:45
Hard to say, but Austin is younger and Miller is on his second team.
Steve in Canton
2:46
Do you like when the Steelers have breaking news during your chats?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:46
Today's news happened 45 minutes before the chat. That's much better. Ha ha. But when it does happen during the chat Brian or Gerry steps in to handle.
Guest
2:47
Enjoy that chats Ray and your work covering the Steelers. I really think the Steelers have had a great offseason thus far. They're not boxed into anything in the draft and can kind of see how the board falls without reaching for anything specific. Do you agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:47
I do agree.
Mike from DC
2:48
Ray do you think the Steelers will still take a T early in the draft (top 80) if they don’t get one of the top 4 guys?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:49
I think they'll get an offensive lineman in the top 80.
Mike from DC
2:49
Why would Jones and Johnson have more upside than Wright if he tested so well athletically at the combine? Body type?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:49
They're very good athletes too. Just less on the resume in terms of playing time, refinement, etc.
Westy
2:49
What do you think about Adebawore from North Western as an edge at pick 49?.The guy is only 6'2 but at 280 pounds ran a 4.49 40, 34 inch arms. Great verticle etc. Maybe a James Harrison in the making.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:50
He's a hard player to get a handle on. You'd have to be sold he could thrive.
Mike from DC
2:51
what would you guess Steelers gave up for Robinson?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:51
A 7th this year or a late-round pick in 2024.
Jermandu
2:52
Hi Ray.  Is the fact that the front office has been so active in free agency and trades the past 15 months a sign of how bad the late stages of the prior front office was performing?  The number of resigned draft choices seems remarkably low compared to when Steelers were routinely in the playoffs, and they are filling in gaps with outsiders instead of homegrown talent.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:53
I think it's a sign the new regime wants their own players in place. This happens when new GMs take over. If the Steelers wanted the status quo they would have hired Brandon Hunt, who Colbert's right-hand man on the personnel side. But Khan was the pick, and he hired Andy Weidl to run the personnel side of the building.
OK thanks for all the great questions this week. One more chat next Tuesday before the draft and then we'll have our draft night chats this year too. Also look for my final mock draft at post-gazette.com early next week.
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