JotCast | Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.25.23

Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.25.23

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Ray Fittipaldo

1:51

Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get it going.

Drafty

1:52

Judging from the press conference, they seem intent on trading out of pick 32. Do you see that happening even if a player they are high on like Bryan Bresee or Deonte Banks are available, assuming a tackle is taken in the 1st round? Thank you

Ray Fittipaldo

1:53

I wouldn't say they're intent on trading out of the No. 32 pick. I would say they intent to listening to offers. Mike Tomlin mentioned some teams might be willing to give up some picks to get a QB in that spot of one of the top four falls out of the first round. I would imagine if they see a player they love still on the board after Thursday they'll sleep well and know he'll be there. That's the great thing about having the first pick in Round 2. Lots of options.

Value of 32

1:53

According to the Jimmy Johnson value book, what does the first pick of the 2nd round mean in terms of draft capital in return? Would the Steelers trade the pick before Friday to add capital for a possible move up or would they wait until draft day? Also, in your gut feeling, do you think they'll use it to move up in round 1, move down to get more picks, or stay put?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:57

The Steelers have their own trade value chart. They don't publicize it. But there are plenty of trade value charts out there modeled after Jimmy Johnson's original. So I'll give you an example. If the Steelers traded the No. 32 pick back to the Bears they could expect to get in return pick 61 late in the second round, pick 64 (the first pick in the third round) and pick 136 (the first pick in the fifth round). You'd really have to love the depth of this draft to make that move in my opinion. Of course, there are other trade partners to consider. You can look one up and do the math on your own. As for my gut feeling, I think they'd use it to trade down.

Larry

1:57

What say you about a pair of trades: a trade up from 17 to draft one of the top 3 tackles and a trade down from 32 to recoup capital lost in the trade-up?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:58

If there was one takeaway from Monday's presser it was that the Steelers are open for business. So, in a nutshell, anything and everything is on the table.

Stairway to 7th seed

1:58

Ray: If Darnell Wright is the pick, do you think they move Chuks to the left side to compete with Moore or do they think about releasing Chuks and that contract if Wright shows he can start immediately?

Ray Fittipaldo

1:59

I think they would see how Wright fits. If he's not a left tackle then they'd ask Chuks to move to the left side and Dan Moore would become the swing tackle in time.

Stairway to 7th seed

1:59

How would you order Porter, Ringo, Banks, Forbes, Turner, and Brents?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:00

It depends what a team is looking for. My personal opinion would be Porter, Forbes/Banks (it's close) and then Brents, Ringo and Turner in the next group. Ringo and Forbes were supposed to take top-30 visits to the Steelers. Not sure why they didn't happen. Maybe they zoomed instead. But it does make me wonder why they didn't come in.

BBatSG

2:01

Hi Ray, would you agree that most likely and preferred scenario is 1 of the 3 OTs or 3 CBs are available at 17, and that's the pick?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:01

I think that would be a great scenario for the Steelers. Or Van Ness.

Lenny from NY

2:01

Good afternoon Ray. If the top OT’s and CB’s are off the board do you think it’s possible they pick O’Cyrus Torrence with the 17 pick? I know they picked up a couple of guards in free agency but Torrence would be a mauler for years to come. Your thoughts? Thanks

Ray Fittipaldo

2:02

If they did that they'd have to trade James Daniels and his contract. Maybe they've already shopped him. I don't know. But they would have a surplus of starting guards if Torrence was the pick at 17.

DaquidoBazzini

2:02

What do you think of Peter King predicting the Steelers will take WR Smith-Njigba? I can't see it, but King usually has great resources and he's been right with the Steelers in recent years.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:03

And Mel Kiper had the Steelers taking Zay Flowers. I've learned over the years to never rule anything out when it comes to the draft. And I will point out the Eagles took a WR in the first round twice in the three years Andy Weidl ran their personnel department. However, I'd be surprised if the Steelers took Njigba or Flowers.

Steve in Canton

2:04

With Monday's declaration of not drafting a QB this year, does that mean M. Rudolph, Wentz or other unsigned vet will be brought into camp?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:05

I wish I had followed up with Omar about his answer. Part of me thinks he meant they won't draft a QB early. They brought two QBs in for pre-draft visits. They need a No. 3. Why would he declare they absolutely won't take one? But if that is indeed the case then yes they would go out and get a veteran to fill that role and for the league minimum or thereabouts.

Jay

2:05

Hello Ray. For DL do you think we need a true NT like Ika/Smith or more versatile like Bresee or Benton? Thank you as always

Ray Fittipaldo

2:06

Bresee type. Five technique to groom behind Heyward.

Jeff

2:06

Is dawand jones off our radar prior to 49 at this point?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:08

He's another prospect who was scheduled to come in for a visit, and it never happened. There are rumors out there teams are upset that he declined to work out at Ohio State's pro day. The Steelers were there. I'm not sure of the timing for the scheduling of his visit... whether it was before the pro day or after, but there is some context for you in regards to his stock. Basically, you have to believe Jones is the guy who was lights out on the first day of Senior Bowl practices and that he'll be that guy going forward. He didn't practice after that and didn't do much else for the next two months.

Nick Westcoast

2:08

Hi Ray. One of the sneaky needs I've head pundits saying for the Steelers is DLine in the 1st. Do you think it's a need and if so why? If that is the case then who would be a good target for the team?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:08

I've said all along DL is one of the top 3 needs along with OT and CB. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it's a DL at 17.

Steve in Canton

2:09

Will the Steelers deal one of either K. Dotson, M. Cole or J. Daniels between Thursday & the end of the week?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:09

It's possible especially if they draft a center or guard one of those days.

Brian

2:10

Hey Ray - great job with the chars. My question is a 2 parter - first, Coach T and Omar Khan stated the excitement they have because this draft is "deep". Given that, if this draft is so deep - why would we have to trade up? And secondly, whats your take on the idea that we still grab a corner with our first pick? Personally IMO, Joey Porter Jr just seems like too good of a match and a perfect candidate to be taught by PP.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:10

You trade up because you believe there is a player who is special. As for a CB at 17 and JPJ in particular it wouldn't surprise me at all.

Javi

2:11

Hello Ray. Which QB had more expectations coming into 2nd year Big Ben or Pickett?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:11

It would have to be Ben. He led the Steelers to the AFC title game as a rookie. Pickett did some nice things in the second half of the season, but the Steelers didn't even make the playoffs.

Guest

2:11

What's the earliest round you could see the team addressing EDGE and TE in the draft?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:12

2nd for both.

Tom in Dallas

2:13

My position from the day the season ended, with 17, 32 and 48, the Steelers should have three new starters by mid season. I understand all the talk about possibly moving up for that special player, but wouldn't we rather have three starters vs one impact player and one other starter? On D, between TJ, Fitz and Cam, we have 3 that make the splash plays. We need three solid players. If you had to make the call, what would GM Ray do?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:13

I'd probably keep the picks if there was conviction among the scouts I could get three starters in the top 50 picks.

Nick Westcoast

2:14

Hi again Ray. Do you have a later round player 2-4 that seems like a fit for the Steelers? For me it seems clear that Keanu Benton in the 3rd would make sense.

Ray Fittipaldo

2:14

I like Keion White at 32 if no one takes him Thursday. But yes, Benton is on their radar too. They talked with him at the Senior Bowl and he came in for a visit as did White.

Jeff

2:15

Realistically speaking, what player would be your favorite pick to be a steeler in any round?

Ray Fittipaldo

2:15

Van Ness

STEEL72

2:15

Has 3 in the top 50 ever happened before?

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