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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 03.03.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:52
OK let's get the chat started.
Anujdjango
1:52
If I'm Kevin Colbert, I want no part of a long term deal with Bud Dupree.  Because that would mean there won't be enough money for TJ Watt next year.  Ray, how flawed is my logic on this one?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
Well, fitting two highly paid OLBs under the salary cap will be difficult going forward. You are correct about that. Especially with Watt likely to get i the range of $20 million a year on his next deal. But if the Steelers really wanted to do it they could if the cap goes up as much as people are talking about in 2021. If the new CBA is ratified by players the next TV contracts are expected to be much more lucrative than the current ones. That means more $ for the salary cap. But even then it might not make sense to have two of your highest paid players in the same position group.
James
1:55
Hello Ray ...would the Steelers consider signing Eric Ebron if Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper stay with their teams or sign elsewhere?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:56
I doubt it. And Hoope, by the way, is going to hit the open market. Atlanta's GM said that last week at the combine. Ebron didn't finish last season when Indy's GM thought he could have. Not sure the Steelers want a player like that on their roster -- someone who lingers on the injury list. They just went through that with another guy they signed to a bad free agent contract.
Nate
1:56
Hi Ray, thanks again for the chats!  Are you hearing any rumors about who the Steelers may pursue (if anyone) regarding external FA's?  Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:58
It's pretty quiet on that front. And for good reason. The first priority is figuring out what they're going to do with Bud Dupree. They'll tag him by March 12. After that there won't be much room under the cap for outside free agents unless they redo some contracts. And that can only happen if the CBA is ratified by players.
Nate
1:58
Hi Ray, anyone at the combine that caught your attention (good or bad) that you weren't expecting?  Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
Yeah a couple of the tight ends ran well. I put one of them -- Josiah Deguara -- in  my latest mock for the Steelers in the sixth round. I see him as a versatile player that can even line up at fullback. Another one was Dalton Keene of Virginia Tech. After seeing him test I watched some of his games with the Hokies. He's another guy who might make sense in the middle rounds of the draft. And of course, some of the WRs that ran well just confirmed what you saw in college.
Alan in Nashville
2:01
Hey Ray. In my opinion, the Steelers can get a RB or WR through FA or later in the draft. My thought is if they really like a TE, pick him. If not go OL. I rarely criticize the Steelers plans but they’ve had a hard time solidifying this TE position since Heath left. If teams are willing to let guys like Ladarius and Vanimal go because of injuries, those things tend to follow the player.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
If they have the right grade on a TE in the middle of the second round then sure, go ahead and do it. But there are questions about the tight ends in this draft in terms of where they'll fall. I don't think one will go in Round 1. That means some TEs could be there at 49, but you don't reach for one. And you don't pass up a WR with a better grade just for the sake of taking a TE. That wouldn't make a lot of sense.
Heath Miller Fan
2:03
Ray, thanks for the chats. If you were in the room at the Rooney Complex with Art, Colbert & Tomlin what do you really think they are saying about Connor & McDonald?  Would they actually rely on either of these guys theythese injury prone players ruin another season
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
I believe Kevin when he says they're good when healthy. They are. Just look at the tape and the stats from 2018. But you can't really count on them because they've been injured so much. So you have to have backup plans. The Steelers have used mid-round picks on RBs the past two years. They took Jaylen Samuels in the fifth round in 2018 and Benny Snell in the fourth round last year. They used a fifth-round pick on Zach Gentry last year. He's not ready so it looks like they're going to have to draft another one or try to find one in free agency.
Nate
2:05
Hi Ray, I've seen a few mock drafts where they have Steelers selecting an edge rusher (usually Day 3 pick).  Do you think Steelers will select one to potentially replace Dupree next year?  Or (besides DT) are they all in on offensive players only?  Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
People aren't talking much about the defensive needs, but they exist. As you mention they'll need an OLB to replace Dupree in 2021 if he is tagged. I can't see them tagging him again if a long-term deal cannot be accomplished. They need a top backup at safety. They might have a need in 2021 at slot corner because Mike Hilton is an RFA and Cam Sutton is entering the final year of his rookie deal. The Steelers also need a nose tackle with Javon Hargrave likely to leave as an unrestricted free agent.
Utah Jim
2:07
According to Spotrac the Steelers have the least amount of cap space of all the teams in the league, yet they haven’t made the playoffs in two years and have not won a playoff game in four years. Clearly, they are not getting a return on their investment. What gives?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
So you'd rather them spend $60-80 million below the cap like the Browns and other teams do? And not try to compete for the playoffs?
Nick
2:08
Colbert said Ben can come back better than what he was? How realistic is that? Not throwing for a year wouldn't make a setback?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
He was speaking in regards to not having the wear-and-tear from a long NFL season. His legs as well as his right arm should be fresh.
Nick
2:09
Have the steelers applied the franchise tag on Bud?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
They have not, but they are expected to do it by March 12. That's the deadline.
Guest
2:10
Ray looking to the future Bud, Connor, and JuJu could all be gone after the 2020 season. That’s a first second and third round pick hitting free agent market.  With everything else being equal would the Steelers potentially be inline for a couple of third round comp picks in 2022
Ray Fittipaldo
2:10
If those players leave then yes. But I think they'll try to sign JuJu if he has a good year. Remember, they can tag him next year at this time.
Cap cuts
2:10
How likely are Chickillo, Barron, McDonald and Foster likely to be cut? That's 20 Mil in cap savings right there and a minimal loss of talent.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
I think Chickillo and Foster are gone for sure. Barron and McDonald are possibilities, but they still hold some value to the team if they're healthy.
Ryno
2:12
The QB position can be crippling to a lot of teams due to the salary of one player.  Dak may be expecting nearly $40M per year from Dallas.  How could this be fixed?  It's insane what some of these guys make.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
That's what the market bears. If they didn't have that value the NFL would find replacements easily. They can't.
Matt P Venice
2:13
Honest to God, I will say a thought to my Steelers buddies and you write about it shortly after! Your mock draft 2 is spot on. Top needs and value are WR and OLB, those are 2 positions that make our team tick, if Watt gets hurt & Bud leaves next year, we are screwed, NTM last years Brown’s game when 13 and practice squad guys were our top 3 WRs!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Thanks Matt!
MTScott
2:13
What is our best option for replacing Foster - promote Finney, move Feiler or Draft?!  I feel Finney needs to be kept for his versatility at C & G.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
I think Feiler moves inside, and they play Banner or Okorafor at right tackle. Or they draft a right tackle and plug him in there. I like Finney, too. I just think he's going to get a better offer as an unrestricted free agent than what he'll get from the Steelers.
John Strange
2:15
I seem to remember it being kind of lucky that Bill Cowher was able to hire Dick LeBeau away from the Bills to be the Steelers defensive coordinator in 2004 when Mike Mularkey was taking over as head coach of the Bills and Tom Donahoe was the Bills GM. The question is: Do the Steelers make their 3 Super Bowl appearances without Coach LeBeau and his #1 in the entire NFL defenses?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
Great question. The talent was in place, but probably not. The defensive coordinators after Dick left didn't quite have the same success. That's why he's in the Hall of Fame.
John
2:17
What, if anything, have you heard about the Patriots' latest cheating scandal? It seems as though the league is trying to sweep it under the rug.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
I haven't heard much on that to be honest. Maybe they'll announce it after the new league year begins later this month.
MTScott
2:18
Your thoughts on cutting Barron, moving Edmonds to replace Barron & use Sutton or Hilton at Safety.  The other would play slot CB?!  I’d like to see Sutton get more playing time & Edwards might do better in the hybrid role.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
I don't know if they want to do that yet. That would be giving up on a first-round pick after only two years. Well not giving up but lessening his role. Maybe they do that next year if Edmunds has another so-so year at safety.
Nate
2:20
Hi Ray, CBSSports posted Steelers should sign Eric Ebron to one year deal.  I remember I really liked his potential/upside coming out of UNC, but he really underwhelmed with Detroit (better outing with Indy though).  Do you feel that would be a good FA pickup?  Or should Steelers just stick with McDonald (or even a draft pick) instead?  Thanks!
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
No. See answer early in the chat. There were some injury issues in Indy.
Georgia Steeler
2:21
Ray, what's the chances the Steelers cut TE McDonald ? What would be the cap hit ?  thanks
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