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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.28.23
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AvatarPost-Gazette sports
1:06
Hi chatters, Ray is on location at the NFL combine where apparently their internet doesn't have the greatest 40 time. He'll hop on as soon as technical issues are fixed!
Need a Count for the Pizza Order
1:45
How much of the Steeler staff attends the combines in addition to the top dawgs?  Do all of the scouts and assistant coaches attend to watch their respective position groups?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:46
Most of the staff will be here although not all at the same time. So for instance, position coaches come for their position's interviews and workouts and then leave. Others stay the whole time.
Jeff M
1:46
Do you think the Steelers would consider O'Cyrus Torrence with the 17th pick? I know IOL are not considered as valuable but some analyst are making him sound like a stud and I doubt the are many regrets about taking DeCastro and Faneca early.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:48
Right, but DeCastro was the No. 24 overall pick. Faneca was No. 26 overall. I think the value for guards is later in the first round and in the second round. At least that's how the NFL thinks. And while Torrence is considered one of the top guard prospects this year this is a deep draft for interior OL.
Justin
1:48
Is WR completely off the board at 17 or 32?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:49
I would think so. Omar Khan said today they wouldn't have traded Chase Claypool if they didn't like the WR room. So while there might not be a lot of household names after Johnson and Pickens the Steelers like some of those young guys such as Calvin Austin, Anthony Miller, etc.
Jeff Lebowski
1:50
I know our ILBs underperformed last year and might be somewhat limited, but isn’t there something to be said for stocking the DL with block eating guys so the LBs can flow? I’m thinking back to our hay day with Hampton, Smith & Co. That said, I’d like to see is spend some draft capital there (earlier the better). Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:51
I think the defensive line is as important as ever, but I'm not so sure block eating linemen are the way to go. You need playmakers, guys who can make a difference with sacks, pushing the pocket, etc. It's a different game now. There are so many athletic QBs now who can play off script. Stopping the run is great. You always want to do that, but you need athletic linemen to chase down QBs too.
Mats
1:52
Hello Ray, would you trade WR Johnson for 2 round draft choice?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:52
Nope.
BuppyKing69
1:53
How do you think the Steelers feel about the O-Line going into next season? Did we see enough growth to keep the unit together? Do we need to add a veteran in FA? Should we invest in early draft pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
I think investing in OL early in the draft is on the table, specifically on the left side of the line.
Jazzmatazz
1:54
How strong of a market is there for Cam Sutton? I feel we need to solidify the D-Line over retaining Cam...With his progress over the last few seasons its a hard decision to make.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:54
Khan wouldn't get into prioritizing the pending free agents, but he made it pretty clear the Steelers value Sutton. I think he's their No. 1 priority. Ogunjobi would be a close second if his health is good.
Mike from DC
1:55
Any surprises in Omar Khans press conference?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
Surprises? Not really. He said negotiations with Cam Sutton are underway and he feels good about those conversations. He also said the Steelers would like to have Mitch Trubisky around beyond this season. He never said that before.
Mike from DC
1:56
Why didn’t Lukas Van Ness start at Iowa?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
I think that's just the way they do it at Iowa. Upperclassmen are given the status of starter. Van Ness played a lot though.
mike
1:56
what do you think about the steelers trading #17 and their 3rd round pick with the eagles at #10 to get one of the top left tackles?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:57
It would depend on the grade they had on one of those tackles. But Khan said today they have options with the draft capital they have acquired.
Harrison
1:57
Are we gonna extend turbisky
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
Khan might have hinted toward that today when he said he could see Trubisky with the Steelers beyond the 2023 season.
DT
1:58
Can we sign our top 3 free agents: Sutton, Edmunds, and Ogunjobi? If so, what do you think their contracts would like? ($/years)
Ray Fittipaldo
2:01
Omar Khan said today cap space is not an issue. So yes, they'll have room to sign players. As for numbers, the Steelers signed Steven Nelson to a three-year, $24 million deal a few years ago. He was cut before the final year of that deal. But still, $8 million a year for a CB four years ago so you'd figure Sutton would be at least a $10 million a year player now. Ogunjobi played for $8 million last season and I could see him getting a small raise. I just worry about his health. And Edmunds, I think he played for around $2 million. He'd be in that same range if he wants to come back. Someone else might be able to or want to pay him more.
Jim Bow Dean
2:01
Thanks for the chat Ray. Why is ILB not mentioned as a need? I could argue it's their biggest need.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
It's a need but I see it as a need after OL, DL and CB.
Al Bundy
2:02
What is it going to take for the Steelers to get back to consistently winning playoff games and competing for titles? It seems like they have been largely irrelevant since 2016.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
Irrelevant is a strong word. They were the No. 2 seed in AFC in 2017 and had the meltdown versus the Jaguars. Defense obviously the culprit there. If you look at their playoff defeats to the Browns (in 2020) and the Chiefs (2021) they gave up a lot of points in those games too. So I think you need to be playing well at the right time of the year and you need your defense to step up in big games. That hasn't happened lately.
STEEL72
2:04
Ray, read a short blurb about Omar Khan being willing to move up in the draft if they really like someone. I don't know if the outlet was credible, but which player do you feel might be 5-10 spots ahead of where the Steelers currently pick and what would it take to move to say... 10th pick? The dominant edges seem to be way higher up the board. Perhaps Skoronski?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
Every GM says they're open for business this time of the year. They all want to see what they might be able to get with their picks. And when he said that today he wasn't speaking with anyone specific in mind I don't think. He was just letting everyone know the Steelers are open to trading.
Mike from Erie,PA
2:06
Hi, what's the chance that the Steelers draft a RT and move Okorofor to LT ?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:06
They could have done that in 2021 and didn't do it. They decided Dan Moore would be the left tackle and Chuks would stay on the right side. So I don't see them doing it now.
Jim Bow Dean
2:06
One of the top 3 LTs, one  of the top 3 CBs, and Bresee are all available at 17. Who are you taking?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
If Skoronski or Broderick Jones is there at 17 I'd be tempted to take one of them.
Guest
2:07
We hear a lot about george pickens and his potential however  he needs to improve his route running. BTW i thought that is what a receivers coach was supposed to help young players LEARN.. Pickens can surely catch and is physical, but he can't make combat catches every time.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Mike Tomlin always says the biggest jump comes between year 1 and year 2. I think we'll see that with Pickens and the other 2022 rookies. It's a good class.
Boiler G Dog
2:08
Ray: Glad you’re in Indy. Do you think the Steelers go CB at 17 and OT with the Bears pick? I question a corner at 32.
Word of advice in Indy from a native: St Elmo’s is overrated. Get an Uber to Sullivan’s Steakhouse at Keystone @ the Crossing. Worth the trip.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
Thanks! It's Harry and Izzy's tonight. I'll keep your recommendation on file for later in the week. It's a deep draft for CBs and IOL. So I think you can find starters there in the top 2-3 rounds. Now you might not be able to get a CB1 at 32 but you can get a quality starter.
Guest
2:10
Luke Van Ness is routinely the highest rated player at 17 every time I do a sim mock. Do you think he’s in play?
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