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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 02.22.21
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Brian Batko
1:58
Hi everyone. Hope you all had a nice weekend, one in which you thought up some great questions for the chat. Big Ben, draft possibilities, things that have nothing to do with the Steelers or NFL, it's all on the table. Let's go.
Scrub
1:59
Ben's cap hit is about 20million carried over and 20million cash. He has to take a salary cut to help reduce the 20million cash.  Is that going to happen? And how much if any?
Brian Batko
2:01
Correct. While the $41 million cap hit sounds (and is) exorbitant, about half that is a sunk cost. So the question coming into the offseason was basically whether the Steelers want to pay him $19 million to retain his services, and we found out pretty quickly from Art Rooney II that they do not. As for whether he'll take a pay cut, I still think he will. Do not know how much.
Paul from Sacramento
2:03
Hi Brian,  I really look forward to your chats (and podcasts with Ray).  Do you think they should consider getting a top notch TE (if available) in the draft? We haven't seen an all around steady blocking and catching since Heath Miller. Would that not also help our line blocking? your take?
Brian Batko
2:04
Thanks, Paul. Happy to have fans/readers/listeners in Sac-Town. I've said a few times now I think it's at least worth considering, and I was convinced they were looking TE in last year's draft until they signed Eric Ebron. To me, if Pat Freiermuth from Penn State is on the board at 24, he might make it a tough decision. But I'm most on-board with going RB at this point.
Ryan
2:05
Good afternoon Brian with Vance retiring i would like to see the Steelers take a chance on Tommy tremble the tight end from Notre Dame what do you think
Brian Batko
2:07
Seems like a guy who's gotten rave reviews from the draftniks as they study tape this offseason. And I don't get the sense he'll be a first or even second-round pick, so sure, he could be a prospect worth taking a chance on in the middle rounds. That's where Travis Kelce and George Kittle were found.
No Snow in Florida
2:08
Brian, thank you for your chats and The Northshore Drive Podcast!  (Shameless plug entered for you).  Forget Ben for a moment... The Steelers have question marks all across the offensive line (aside from Dotson) at RB, and TE.  With the desire to improve the running game you would think that Derek Watt would be more involved going forward.  Obviously you can't fill all of the previously mentioned holes in one draft but if you were drafting how would you build the next Era of the Steelers offense?
Brian Batko
2:10
Another plug for the podcast. Always appreciated. Forget Ben for a moment? Actually, thank you, I'd love to. Anyway, if it were me, I'd be too tempted to pass on Najee Harris or Travis Etienne if he's there. You want to say that's too high to pick a RB these days? OK, fine. But TEs aren't usually valued like that either. And interior linemen can be found anywhere, such as, say, the fourth round of the 2020 draft. At that point, it comes down to OT, and while that's certainly a sexy draft position, I'm not willing to write off Chuks Okorafor and/or Zach Banner just yet.
SOMD Panther
2:12
After correctly predicting that the Steelers would take Chase Claypool with last year's first draft pick, who will you be championing in the 2021 draft at #24?
Brian Batko
2:13
Thank you for that recognition, old friend. I'm rarely right, so I must gloat when that happens. So far I'm championing RB with a slight edge over OL, as mentioned above, but only if it's Harris or Etienne. And, much as others are calling Harris the perfect Steelers back, I think I like Etienne just a little better. Coin flip, but that's my guy for now: Travis Etienne of Clemson.
steeltowntim
2:14
Do you think we will address the fact the the defense could not stop the run in the draft. Maybe a DT in 2nd or 3rd round and an other inside backer
Brian Batko
2:15
Yes, and I think you hit the two biggest defensive needs on the head - with one caveat. If the Steelers can't afford to bring back three of Steve Nelson, Joe Haden, Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton, a new CB, whether it's nickel or outside, is top of mind on that side of the ball.
To the Batkomobile
2:16
Hi Brian.  How many of their own FA do the Steelers bring back (after their decision on Ben and restructures) and who?
Brian Batko
2:17
I think someone just asked me to predict this last week, and I did my best with guessing McCloud, Banner, Spillane and Sutton. If y'all just want to keep peppering me with stuff I answered last week, I can really cruise through these next 40 minutes.
David C
2:18
How many more years do you think Colbert has as GM? And do you think that Colbert wants drafting the next franchise QB as part of his legacy, kind of like Ozzie with LJ?
Brian Batko
2:19
Only Colbert knows the answer there, but if I were to hazard a predication, how about just one more after this one? The whole year-to-year thing always signaled to me that he's thinking of getting out sooner than later.
2:20
Oh, and yes, that would likely mean seeing this team through the QB transition and then turning it over to a new GM. Would be kind of a cool way to end it for him.
V. Fontaine
2:21
Any idea the number and round(s) for Steelers compensatory picks?
Brian Batko
2:21
Should find out for sure from the league sometime in March, but the latest projections from the brains at overthecap.com are a fourth-rounder and sixth-rounder for the Steelers.
Carl in Carrick
2:21
Hey Brian, always enjoy the chats.  Teryl Austin was once considered to be a hot candidate for a head coaching position.  Apparently this is not the case any longer.  Do you know if he still has aspirations to be a head coach?
Brian Batko
2:23
Thanks, Carl. Indeed Austin was a fast riser at one point, but it seems the way his last two tenures as DC ended have taken the shine off him a bit. But I've also read stuff from Lions fans who thought he did a nice job in Detroit before that staff was let go. He's only 55, so I would assume he does still have that ambition, and it can't hurt that he has "Senior Defensive Assistant" title with the Steelers, even if that's a step below defensive coordinator.
daniel
2:25
2021 record prediction with Big Ben as QB and MR as QB? I would say BB 10-6, MR 8-8. Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:27
Sheesh, daniel. A bit early for that kinda talk, ain't it? But I don't think it's a crime for me to answer, and it's certainly not a crime to ask. At this moment, meaning it can change, I'll go 8-8 with Ben, 6-10 with MR. So, two games lower than you on both.
Brian in VA
2:27
Hi Brian and thanks for the chats.  Is the arrow pointing up or down on Ben? Also, do you think Ben or Mason Rudolph has the better locker room leadership ability?
Brian Batko
2:28
Not sure how it can't be pointing down after the 1-5 end to the 2021 season and the role his performance played in that. But at this point, 17 years in, he has a much better handle on the locker room leadership thing than a fourth-year QB. Though I imagine Mason has gained some respect off the field lately.
Polovtsian Dance No.2 by Borodin
2:29
Listening to the cast, I don't get the feeling that you're "annoying" Ray at all... You guys seem to have a easy & complimentary rapport.  If I have a complaint about the cast it's that it's too short.
Brian Batko
2:30
Ha, thanks for that. I hope I don't annoy Ray. Never actually got any indications that I do, but he's unflappable, so hard to say. But I'm glad you wish it were longer. Always gotta keep 'em wanting more, right?
In Austin TX
2:30
DeShaun Watson AND JJ Watt in black and gold?
Brian Batko
2:31
Gonna set the chances at none and slim. Slightly higher if the Saints count.
50 yr fan
2:32
Hi Brian, thanks for your time. With the salary cap at $180 mil, won't there be many cap casualties all over the NFL thus depressing the market for free agents?
Brian Batko
2:34
You're welcome. And yes, you could be right about that. More fish in the sea, so to speak, and perhaps this is a year where you see a number of established veterans take shorter-term contracts, maybe even one-year deals, to try to win a ring before the cap goes back up and they can cash in. That's what Arizona Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds predicted in a tweet last week.
DReed
2:35
Brian, Happy Monday and welcome to BenSaga, the new virtual reality game. Anyway, with the news that no QB's drafted from 2009-2016 remain with their original teams: Could it be said that expectations for the QB to "lead the team to a Super Bowl victory" are entirely unrealistic? Seems to me that more emphasis should be on a Super Bowl-capable TEAM than putting the onus on the QB? Time to re-scale the QB compensation formula in relation to the team's overall needs?
Brian Batko
2:37
Yeah I think that's a fair point and a fair way to look at it. Like something of a boom era where teams got way too QB-happy instead of just drafting good players. But it's also not a novel concept to say you better win a Lombardi when your franchise guy is early in his career, well before he gets the big bucks and takes up a large percentage of your cap. That said, which recent Super Bowl winner wasn't an elite player at that position? Nick Foles, late-stage Peyton Manning, but those are two exceptions to the rule.
Polovtsian Dance No.2 by Borodin
2:38
Hi Brian, Deon Cain has signed a "futures contract" with the Ravens. He showed promise in 2019 but never really got any in game work with Ben last season. Can you refresh us on the basics of a futures contract & why with the possible departure of Smith-Schuster they let him go?
Brian Batko
2:40
The basics are that it's basically like signing a guy to a practice squad in the offseason when there's no practice. Basically, it keeps him on your team until OTAs and, if you want, training camp without anyone else being able to poach him. As for why the Steelers didn't bring Cain, I'm not sure. Could be a situation where he and his agent wanted out, too, for a spot with fewer established wideouts. I'd say the Ravens qualify.
Lou
2:40
Hey Brian!  Ben and the Steelers only have a couple weeks to go before he gets another 15 million or something, correct?  I guess we will all know the end of the story before March 10th or something.  Days away!
Brian Batko
2:41
Lou! I can hardly wait, pal. Getting some Ben fatigue over here a bit. Not sure if you all are, too. But yes, the exact date is March 19, for a $15 million roster bonus.
MG
2:42
I know everyone likes Harris and Etienne, but when I watch Trey Sermon play, I see a young Lev Bell. Also, likely available in Rd 2.
Brian Batko
2:43
That's a valid argument for passing on RB in Round 1, but I don't know, Harris and Etienne are just on another level to me. Maybe it's because I watched Etienne run the length of the field against Pitt on the first play of the ACC championship a few years ago as if he were literally shot out of a cannon. Sermon did look good in the CFP though, I'll give yinz that.
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