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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.06.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:57
Welcome and let's get started.
jay
11:57
Thanks for the continued chats Ray. I know there were rumors awhile back that the team may look to move out of the Southside complex because a bigger facility was wanted. Has there been any new info about a possible move at some point?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
The Steelers have five more years on their lease on the South Side at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. They hired David Morehouse a few years ago to help them with future projects with their facilities. Morehouse was instrumental in helping the Penguins move out of the Igloo and into PPG Paints Arena. So Morehouse's expertise in those areas will come in handy in the next couple of years. I would imagine you'll be hearing something in the next year or two on that. They'll have to break ground and build it so it will take some time. The lese at Acrisure Stadium is up in 2030 as well so Morehouse will be involved in that too.
Jim Bow Dean
12:00
The Steelers seemed to go out of their way to say Black is a DE and he’s even listed as that on their website. Then they release Adams who is listed as a DT as is Harmon and Heyward. If they don’t want to call him a NT, Tomlin did say those are dinosaurs, shouldn’t he at least be a DT instead of a DE? Seems weird to me. Also, why is Benton the only player on the roster called a DL?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
Pretty much every defensive lineman on the roster can play more than one spot, including Benton, who moves out over guards and tackles in sub-packages. When Tomlin said nose tackles are dinosaurs he is correct, but they still exist. They just happen to be versatile and can play other positions too. As for the labeling on the web site I wouldn't pay too much attention to that.
Bob
12:02
Hi Ray,  If Aaron Rodger’s decided not to play should the Steelers consider signing Ryan Tannehill?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
Tannehill did not play last season so either he retired or the NFL retired him.
Adam T
12:03
Good morning Ray, assuming Aaron Rodgers signs, the Steelers have done a pretty good job building their roster for 2025...except nickel corner. Mike Hilton is out there, and while aging, still a perfect fit for what they want. Do you think it makes sense to bring him back?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
Looking back they probably should have kept him before he hit free agency and signed with the Bengals. I know he's somewhat limited as a cover corner, but he added so much to the defense with his run support and blitzing ability. But that was years ago. He's older now and there is a reason he remains a free agent. Plus, they have Beanie Bishop on the roster along with Brandin Echols, who signed a two-year deal in free agency.
Jeff M
12:05
Hi Ray, Do you think the Steelers should be concerend with their lack of tackle depth. Can
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
On offense or defense?
12:06
On offense, they re-signed Calvin Anderson. He was the swing tackle last season. They also have Dylan Cook, who spent most of last season on the practice squad but has been on the active roster on occasions as well.
Josh H
12:07
Understandably players do not care to be franchised tagged, but is the franchise tag completely off the table with Pickens after this season?  If Pickens has a great season I think the tag should at least be explored, whether that's tagging him in hopes that he plays in 26-27, or a tag/trade scenario.  I think they won't extend him, but assuming the QB room in 26 is a 1st round rookie, Mason, & Will Howard, you won't have a lot of money tied up in the offense outside of DK. Seems doable, but maybe the Leveon Bell situation has made them weary of the franchise tag usage
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
It's off the table because the price tag would be too high. The franchise tag one-year tender is an average of the top five salaries at the position. So it would be around $30 million a year without looking it up and doing the math in real time. Go get a WR in the draft next year and let some other team deal with Pickens.
Pittfan
12:09
HI Ray. Does labeling a QB a project give you cause for concern? I once heard a QB "expert" say that Kenny Pickett will be the same Kenny Pickett in the NFL that he was in college (nervous in the pocket, bailing to his left, etc.). He believed that held true for most college QBs. Do you believe projects can become franchise QBs?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
I'm sure people said Tom Brady was a project when the Patriots selected him in the sixth round of the draft. I suppose it can happen with the right coaching and in the right situation, but let's be real. Late-round QBs like Brady and Brock Purdy are few and far between. I love the Steelers taking Will Howard when they did. It's low risk and high reward if he pans out.
Rich
12:11
Ray there's no way Pickens makes it to Christmas in a Steelers uniform, agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
What if they're 8-4 or 7-5 at the trade deadline and have a shot at the playoffs? I think he might be in that scenario.
Josh
12:11
Nobody wants to see the Steelers mail it in this season, but could winning a playoff game with Rodgers actually be detrimental to their plan in 2026?  For a team that seems destined to trade up into the upper end of the first round to get their potential franchise QB, the more they win, the more its going to cost to jump up into a spot to be able to draft a top tier guy.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
Right, but they don't think that way. It's not likely, but it is possible to get a franchise QB from that position. After the Chiefs lost to the Steelers in the 2016 AFC divisional round of the playoffs they had the No. 27 pick. They traded that pick and a bunch of other to move up to No. 10 to get Pat Mahomes.
Pat from Ellwood city
12:14
Hi Ray! Just wondering why the steelers didn't get another running back  late round  or updrafted free agent cause I think Patterson was terrible last year
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
How many do you need? They have Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell and Jonathan Ward. I'm sure they'll have two or three more on the camp roster, but those are the guys who have the best shot to be on the 53-man roster and practice squad come fall.
TVC15
12:15
Hi Ray,  Being outscored a combined 73-0 in the 1st quarter of the last 5 playoff games is crazy bad. If the Steelers make the playoffs this year should Tomlin pull a George Costanza and just do the exact opposite of every instinct he has to prepare his team for the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
LOL.
BungFingGer
12:15
I've heard that the Steelers like Yayah as a 3 tech.. does that mean Benton @ nose in ¾ sets..  Say it ain't so Ray!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
That's what DL coach Karl Dunbar said when he spoke to reporters after Black was selected. He actually said he sees him as a 4-technique, which is basically the same thing. The plan, at least in the early going, is for Benton to remain at nose in the base and for Black to push the pocket from over guards and centers.
Steeler Nut
12:16
What does our IOL depth look like?  Is Anderson viable at both guard spots?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:17
Yes he is and Ryan McCollum can play guard as well as center.
Yogi in Yonkers
12:17
Will the Steelers have a 1000 yard rusher this season? Will the Chargers?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
I think the Chargers definitely will because they invested a first-round pick in Omarion Hampton. He'll get the bulk of the carries with Najee Harris backing him up. Not sure if it will be the same situation with the Steelers. I see more of a rotation with Warren and Johnson like they had with Warren and Harris.
Yogi in Yonkers
12:18
Is this Seumalo's last rodeo with the Steelers? Can we expect to draft a guard from the Big 10 number 1 next year? (Never too soon for a draft question.)
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
Seumalo will turn 32 during the season and I haven't heard much about a contract extension for him. I won't rule it out, but my guess is they'll try to get younger there next year in the draft.
Paul from Florida
12:20
In your opinion how realistic is it if Rogers decides to retire that the Steelers pursue another veteran QB via trade?  Heard the rumors of Cousins but could there be another like Levis in Tenn?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
The coaches and players like Mason Rudolph. I actually think that's the most likely scenario in the event Rodgers does retire.
cal from nh
12:21
are the facilities that bad? is it a motel vs a b'n'b when you compare the steelers to the rams or dolphins?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
It's outdated. It was built 25 years ago. The NFL has changed in that time. It was quaint to share a facility with a college team in 2000, but it's an arms race. When you recruit free agents you want to have the amenities that other teams have. Plus, there is literally no space to expand down there. There is the river on one side on the railroad tracks on the other.
Yogi in Yonkers
12:23
What are you hearing about Holcomb? Is he still on the roster?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
Yes he is still on the roster. He was working out late last season and hoped to return if they advanced in the playoffs. We'll see if he can return to form this summer in camp. It's a little crowded in that ILBs room with Queen and Wilson and the newly acquired Malik Harrison, whom they are paying $5 million a season.
Rooney
12:24
How can Jones protect better on the left side, wasn’t very good on the right side. Seems like he needs to lose weight. What do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
Better fundamentals and attention to detail.
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