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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.22.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:00
Welcome and let's get started.
Aces High
1:00
If the Steelers were to trade down or trade back up into the second round, do you think QB would be the pick? If QB is the pick, do you go with Shough, Howard,  or take a big shot with Milroe. I don't see Sanders making it to round 2.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:01
It would depend on which QBs were available. They've done their homework on all of them. It would have to be the right fit. I will say say this. I don't think they'll trade back with the intent on getting a QB. There are a lot of good players in this draft, and any move to trade back like that would be done with multiple players in mind.
Blount Mel
1:02
Hi Ray, Looking at a few different rankings, it looks like Shadeur Sanders falls below Arch Manning and Iamaleava but above Allar and the rest of the 2026 QB prospects. For Daniel Jeremiah, Sanders is above all of the D Linemen we will be trying to get. Why would we not draft Sanders if he is there at 21? QB is an even bigger, more important position than DL, and we’ve brought in a ton of 2-4th round DL guys for visits, so that looks like our area we’re thinking to draft one.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:03
That's Jeremiah's rankings, not the Steelers. I can't tell you where they rank Sanders, but they liked him enough to bring him in for a visit. And I think we have to be careful about ranking 2026 QBs now. Let's see how they do next fall before we say where they will be in next year's draft. If Drew Allar leads Penn State to a national title I'm willing to be his draft stock would increase significantly.
Matt
1:03
Ray starting to hear whispers about possibly trading down. I think if that option is there it would a huge win for Steelers. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:05
I agree, but Mike Tomlin said today the Steelers rarely trade down because they are so invested in the draft process that invariably they end up really liking a prospect when it's their time to pick in the first round. I get the sense that's the case again this year, but you never know. If ever there was a draft to trade back this was it. Maybe Khan can go back a few spots and they'd be able to land someone they know will be there.
Matt
1:05
Ideal situation, at 21 if Sanders, Hampton and Harmon are there what do they take?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:06
Great question. Maybe that scenario will unfold Thursday night. I'd lean toward Harmon, but Hampton could be the pick. There are some in the draft industry who believe he's every bit as good as Ashton Jeanty.
Jeff B
1:07
At what point does the Aaron Rodgers dilemna end? Surely after the draft and the begining of OTAs? Or can the team actually wait till training camp? My thoughts are that this team needs to gel as a team and the distractions of the almighty Aaron are a detriment to that team building. What say you sir?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:07
I don't get the sense the Steelers have a firm deadline. Ideally, by the time OTAs get here another month from now it would be settled, but I don't think it's a drop-dead date for them.
Matt
1:08
Is trading the 1st round pick and loading up on picks for next year to finally be in position to take a top tier QB even something on their radar?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:08
You still have to build a team for this year, and the Steelers believe this is a very good draft to get quality players.
Aces High
1:08
If the best DL prospects are off the board would S Nick Emmanwori be a sneaky good pick for the Steelers with Minkah getting up there in age and production slipping a bit?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:09
Yes, it could be. It would be a bit of a surprise because they have three safeties on their roster, but he was in for a visit. He'd definitely be one of those Best Player available picks in their mind because they have Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott and Juan Thornhill under contract.
Buckeyes
1:09
Do you project Egbuka, Henderson, Howard, Ty Williams, or Jack Sawyer being selected by the Steelers this weekend?  Talented, winners, good locker room guys and all positions of need.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:10
If I had to pick one or two from that group I'd say Henderson and Howard. They seem to have done the most homework on those guys.
epiballo
1:10
Hey Ray! Thanks for the chats! If the Steelers draft one or two DL, how does that affect Leal and Loudermilk? Will they be viewed as 'busts' and possibly not make the team? Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:11
I don't think the term bust is meant for third- and fourth-round picks, but yes their roster sports could be in jeopardy. My guess is they want to see if Leal can develop more than Loudermilk, but neither would be 100% completely safe.
TX Pressure
1:12
Ray I know you have DL in the first but think O line needs depth.  Jones is not a given and Fautanu is coming off injury and no legit swing tackle on the team.  When do you draft an OT?  Man, this team has alot of holes!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:12
I'm not sure they take an OL at all. They drafted OL with their first-round picks the past two years and they recently signed Calvin Anderson to be their swing tackle. If they draft one it will be on Day 3.
Adam in ATL
1:13
Hey Ray, thanks for the chats. I hope the drop in talent after the first round at   wr and db, combined with the depth at dl and rb, leads the Steelers to snatch up BPA at 21. I don't think that's a qb, but could even be an edge. We're in a great spot to catch someone slipping through the order. Are you as confident as I am in the quality of dl and rb options in rounds 3-5?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:15
Yes, but you don't want to wait too long. D-line is an important spot. I wouldn't want to count on a third- or fourth-round pick to develop into a starter. They've tried that and without much success with Loudermilk and Leal. There are three DL targets in Round 1. If one of them is there at 21 there is a decent chance they'd be the pick. Wild cards are QB Sanders and RB Hampton and maybe Emmanwori, but those are wild cards.
TX Pressure
1:15
What round do you start thinking about drafting a RB?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:15
3 or 4.
epiballo
1:16
Do you feel, as apparently the Steelers do, that Aaron Rodgers is a clear step above Mason Rudolph for QB in 2025? Both are slow but throw a good deep ball (or so it is reported). What don't I see?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:17
They're willing to wait on Aaron Rodgers because he's one of the all-time greats, but they have a lot of confidence in Mason Rudolph. His teammates and coaches have expressed that ever since he came back in March.
TVC15
1:17
Hi Ray, As Tomlin coaches the Steelers for the next 3 years of his inexplicable contract extension is there any hope they will be better than his past 14 totaling 3 playoff wins?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:17
All depends on the QB play, I suppose.
Jeff M
1:18
Hi Ray, How do you rate Alexander from Toledo compared to the 3 most commonly DT linked to the Steelers (Harmon, Nolan & Grant)? I feel like if they trade back they would need to be comfortable Alexander might be the best DT still available to them.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:19
Right I think he's in that next tier of DL. The top three -- Nolen, Harmon and Grant -- are first-round targets.
CT Arr
1:20
Steelers have lacked stars with speed on the offense. DK is a step in right direction. Given that if there’s such a player at 21, do they pull the trigger
Ray Fittipaldo
1:20
I think Hampton and Golden would be those types of guys and I think they'd be in consideration at that point.
The Eman
1:20
Hey Ray - in Thursday’s draft, who will be the first GM to say “I’m amazed (whoever) was still available!”
Ray Fittipaldo
1:22
The Browns or Giants GM. Carter or Hunter is a great consolation prize at No. 3. If you ask me, the Browns can't really go wrong if they pick one of them. I'd go for Hunter because of his ability to play offense and defense, but Carter has the tools to be an All-Pro.
Zamo
1:22
Hey Ray. DL is unusually deep this year and don’t recall a recent draft where there were this many good players/prospects.  With our desperate need to solidify this position and replace cam, isn’t it a huge error NOT to go DL early (and often)?   All this QB talk and other scenarios sound foolish to me. Yes we need a QB but can’t we get someone in rounds 3-6?  Don’t think there is a huge difference among the QBs anyway.  Steelers need to take a top DL or two. Right???
Ray Fittipaldo
1:23
I'm with you, but as I mentioned earlier there are some wild card players that could sway their decision. I don't think they will pick for just need there. If Hampton is a lot higher rated than say a Harmon or Grant on their board I don't think they'd hesitate. RB is a position of need too.
Guest
1:23
It seems clear to me that Rodgers has no interest in playing for the Steelers. Why not just move on at this point?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:23
I don't think that's clear to Rodgers or the Steelers.
Steeler fan in NE
1:24
Ray , help me out . Seems like the buzz is missing around this year’s Steelers  draft . Lack of a real playmaker available. Lack of changes on the coaching staff & with the owner.
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