Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 07.14.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:27
He'll sign soon. It's never an issue.
Yuri Sanchez
11:27
What steps does a guy like Keeanu Benton need to take to maximize his chances at an extension?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:28
I'm not sure he can do anything. I think the Steelers want to see how he fits into the new defense before they make any financial commitments.
Seferg
11:28
With next years crop of supposedly better qb's coming out, do the Steelers have enough draft capital to move up if they need to?  Do you think they will roll with Allar, Rudolph and Howard?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:29
They don't have the comp picks like they had this year, but they can make it happen if they want to make a move up.
JR in SC
11:29
Good morning Ray. Always love your chats. I think they have to keep 4 QBs this year, only because next year they only have 2. AR has stated this is his last and MR is on the last year of his contract. Putting Allar on some type of IR means he won’t get any experience. They have to draft one next year and how high will depend on the growth of both Howard and Allar. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:30
They can place Allar on IR for six weeks and then make a call on Rudolph or Howard after that. If I had to guess that's how I think it plays out. But remember, injuries happen. Fans tend to worry about this stuff far more than coaches and front office people do. It will sort itself out in early September.
Tom
11:30
Hi Ray. Can the Steelers keep 4 QB’s and if not whose the odd man out?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:30
I don't see any way they keep four QBs on the 53-man roster.
Realist
11:31
ESPN had a countdown of the top 10 QBs in the league.  Were Steelers fans outraged that Howard wasn't one of them even though he has yet to take an NFL snap (sarcasm)?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:31
I'm sure some were ha ha
Maryland Steeler
11:32
Ray, a lot of what I read about JPJ and what he believes he is worth and what the Steelers range is, is not the same.  Do they find a happy medium of should we expect a hold in and signs before end of training camp? Last day before opening day signing? or does he play on existing deal and become a free agent?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:32
I think the number will be around $24 or $25 million a year and I think it gets done late in camp or just before the season starts.
Scott via Louisville
11:32
Which qb on the team has the strongest arm?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:33
Aaron Rodgers, or maybe Drew Allar, but I saw Rodgers still sling it in the spring.
Pittsburgh Dan in FL
11:33
Hi Ray! Can you see a significant trade we make before camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:33
No not before camp.
Realist
11:35
Who would you rate as your top 5 Steelers WRs of all time?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:36
Swann, Stallworth, Ward and Brown for sure. We can argue over the fifth. Who you got?
George T
11:36
Ray, I saw a possible trade with Highsmith and Queen going to the 49er’s for Fred Warner would you make this trade.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:37
Sounds like my favorite Styx song: Someone has "Too much time on their hands."
Realist
11:37
Do you see Warren starting the games primarily or Dowdle?  Who will be the 3rd down back?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:38
I don't think it will matter. I expect the touches to be pretty even.
Stairway to seventh seed
11:38
Ray: Is the 2027 CB franchise tag price projected to be $24 million?  If so, isn't it logical for the Steelers to offer Porter about $24m per year (the same as Surtain) and then just be willing to use the tag if he doesn't take it?  Paying him as a top 5 CB after really only 3/4ths of a great season seems premature to me.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:38
I think it's projected to be around $23 million now, but that can change.
Realist
11:38
Swann, Stallworth, Ward and Brown for sure. We can argue over the fifth. Who you got? Sweed?seriously, Thigpen?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:39
Thigpen isn't a bad call.
BH
11:39
I noticed there are very few options under the Sports Columns section and the articles there are quite similar to the rest of the articles in the Sports section.  What is the technical difference that qualifies as a column?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:39
In 2026? Not much.
BH
11:39
Louis Lips?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:39
Another good call.
B. Sure
11:40
Any guess which backup quarterback gets mugged in Paris?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:40
You joke, but teams really are concerned about that when they go to these European cities.
George T
11:41
Ray, I don’t see why we can keep all QB’s on the 53 man roster.  Many years two or three on the 53 never dress for a game.  So why not
Ray Fittipaldo
11:41
Because you need players to run down and cover kicks. Special teams are important and you'd be weakening your team if you did that.
BH
11:41
Does Mark Malone still hold the record for longest TD catch?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:42
90 yards in Seattle! But no, it's since been surpassed. I think Juju did it twice. I think he had a 97-yarder in Denver and maybe a 98-yarder in Detroit.
Jim Bow Dean
11:43
I expect Queen to have a strong season, and I believe Tomlin bears most of the responsibility for the team’s struggles at off-ball linebacker over the past decade. The most recent effective play at the position came from Williams and Shazir, but that was long after LeBeau left. Even Queen commented on the scheme and just looked at how much Spillane improved once he got away from Tomlin. Should they give Queen an extension when he would probably take a discount?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:43
You might be onto something, but there has been no momentum toward Queen signing this summer.
Realist
11:43
Juju had two 97 yard TDs against the teams you mentioned
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