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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 4.16.18
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:55
Welcome to my Steelers chat. Let's get started.
kdog
11:55
Who do you think the Steelers will target in the draft. You have a wish list?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:56
My final seven-round mock draft will publish Thursday. I'll keep you in suspense.
Pa2vaconnection
11:56
How many mock drafts do you look at around this time? I feel like I've read a thousand but only 30% making sense.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:57
I do my own mock drafts. I read a few here and there, but I don't like to have my thoughts clouded by what other people think of these prospects. I generally know where the national analysts are mocking guys, but that's about it.
SD Jones
11:57
It seems like they are bringing in a lot of UDFA type players for visits.  Is this a matter of not tipping their hand, or possibly a trade up scenario?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
Sometimes they draft a lot of the guys they bring in for visits. Other times they don't. Last year only 2 of the 30 prospects they brought in ended up being drafted. You have to remember they spend a lot of time visiting with prospects at the combine and at pro days as well. Sometimes they don;t feel the need to bring a prospect in if they feel like they got a good fell for him in those previous settings. Also, they travel to colleges and work some guys out. Generally, reporters don't find out about those visits.
Bobo
11:59
Do you think Eli Rogers will be brought back before camp if he checks out medically?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
I suppose it's a possibility, but he seemed to fall out of favor with the coaches last season. He went from catching 48 passes in 2016 to catching 18 last year. He was bypassed on the depth chart by JuJu Smith-Schuster. I just feel like the Steelers can do better. Plus, they have to prepare for the future, which is why selecting a receiver in the middle rounds of the draft is a possibility. Not only might they have to replace Rogers this season, but they'll likely have to replace Martavis Bryant in 2019.
Shuli
12:02
If they draft a QB this year, could Josh Dobbs be one year and done?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
Probably, but that's why they're not likely to take a QB. Why waste a fourth-round pick on a QB if you didn't want to try to develop him? They have a plan at QB and my gut instincts tell me it doesn't involve drafting one this year.
Sal Richards
12:03
Is James Conner in any danger of being cut this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
No, but he has to stay healthy if he wants to have a bigger role.
Mehmet
12:03
Is it possible they bypass drafting an inside backer and focus more on they hybrid safety/backer types instead?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
They might not draft an ILB in Round 1 if they don't like any that are available, but they will draft at least one ILB at some point in the draft and likely two. They just don't have a lot of depth there. Vince Williams is entering the final year of his contract. Tyler Matakevich, the top reserve last year, was unable to play defense for the remainder of the season after he injured his shoulder in early December. He had surgery and is expected to be OK for camp, but the point is they need depth in addition to the impact starter they are hoping is available.
Steve Brandano
12:05
Are they going to throw us a curve ball with their first round pick?  Someone like Mike Geiseki or Sony Michel?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
If all four ILBs are gone I truly believe they will take the best player available on their board. They just don't have a huge need anywhere else on their roster. Safety is likely next, but they signed Burnett to a pretty decent contract so it's not like a rookie safety would be guaranteed to start. My wild cards in Round 1 in addition to RB is OL and DL. I don't think they'll take a TE in Round 1.
Fred Norris
12:07
Do you end up at the Steelers facilities for all 3 days of the draft?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
Yes. That's where we cover the draft, do interviews with the draft picks, coaches, GM, etc. It all happens here.
Leaper
12:08
Do you get a sense the Steelers have cooled on Evans? If he, Reid and Bates are all there, who do you think the pick is?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
If all three or four choices are available I'd go with Evans. And I don't have any indication their opinion of him has changed in the past month or so.
dpreble001
12:09
Ray I want to throw out a dark horse name for Steelers at 1,Darin Payne ,when Steelers had Casey Hampton no one ran the ball on Steelers ,it made the linebackers free to roam and less pressure on d's, I know he's a 2 down player but those two downs makes teams one dimensional
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
You read my last mock draft, didn't you? Payne was my pick for the Steelers at No. 28. He might be available, but it always comes back to playing time in the Steelers' defense for interior DL. They'd have to commit to playing him more than their traditional nose tackles.
Benjy
12:10
How is Ryan Shazier's recovery progressing?  I see he was at Ohio State's spring game on Saturday.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
Looks like Ryan is coming along well. I haven't heard any news regarding his recovery though. All I know is that it's a long process.
Jon Hein
12:11
Is there any need to draft a CB this year?  They seem pretty loaded in the defensive backfield now other than maybe another safety.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
They have stockpiled versatile defensive backs in the draft the past few years. That's sort of a trend now. Versatility is big. So while they might not draft a shut-down CB they could take a guy who can play CB, S or the hybrid role in the secondary.
JimiAntoinette
12:12
The Steelers are meeting with a ton of late round players (perceived)... Do you expect a big trade up for Tremaine Edmunds or possibly even Minkah Fitz? I hope so.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
They don't have the assets to do that. Plus, they have some other needs they have to address. Even if they wanted to use a bunch of picks to move up it might not be wise considering the issues in the secondary, the future at WR, the lack of depth along the DL.
Guest
12:13
Do you think the Steelers will honor James Harrison in some way? Or have those bridges been burned?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
Hard to see that happening anytime soon. Time heals all wounds, but I think those wounds are still pretty fresh around these parts. At least with the players. Do I have to remind you what they said about Harrison when he was released? They didn't think he was a good teammate. That's pretty damning when it comes from your peers and the people who are supposed to respect you.
D.M. Indiana
12:15
Hi Ray, well Harrison is playing Retire Part 2.  I lost all my feelings of Harrison as a Steeler when he made his bunghole jump, and then all my respect as a Steeler  left for him when he went to the cheaters !  I sure hope the Rooney's don't lower themselves to sign him for a day so he could retire a Steeler.....since I really don't think he has a Steeler heart or bleeds Black/Gold like Ward, Troy etc., those who retired and STAYED RETIRED.  What say you on your feelings of how he'll go out ?  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
For now, the way he went out today -- a short note on Instagram. I would not expect any kind of retirement news conference for Harrison at the Steelers facility.
talldrinkofwater
12:16
Ray, in your heart, what do you feel would give the Steelers the best chance to win in 2018? Keeping Bell, or using that money in other areas of need.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:17
Keeping Bell. Free agency is pretty much over. Nowhere to spend that money now unless you are talking about long-term extensions with players already on the roster.
JamesinNYC
12:17
I have seen a few times that Rudolf Mason falls to the second round, if there the second time around do they pick him as more of a value?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:17
Maybe, but I don't think he'll last until late in the second round. And I don't think the Steelers would take him there even if he does.
Ryno
12:17
What are the odds McCullers actually makes the team?  I'm guessing slim at best.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
Injuries could happen, but I don't expect McCullers to be on the 53-man roster this year.
Joe P
12:18
Steelers need OL depth.  Do you think they do that draft?  Does someone like Skyler Phillips in round 5 make sense for us?
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