You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 03.03.26
powered byJotCast
Ray Fittipaldo
1:00
Welcome and let's get started.
Stairway to seventh seed
1:00
Ray:  in 2018, I often wondered if the Steelers took Edmunds when they almost certainly could have traded down out of the 1st round and still gotten him because they wanted the theatrics of having Ryan Shazier announce the pick.  And in those days I still thought they were a well run organization.  The reason that I bring this up is that in one of the simulations I ran online, the Steelers were offered Miami's 1st round pick in 2027 and 2nd round pick this year to move out of the 1st round.  These simulators offer some unrealistic trades, but wow was this compelling.  Miami could have a top 5 pick in 2027's loaded QB draft, but would the Steelers disappoint 500,000 people on Thursday night and take a deal like this?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:02
Stairway, if Miami is willing to do that sign me up right now! If they're as bad as I think they're going to be you might have the No. 1 pick. Boom, there's your next franchise QB. Even if it's a top 10 pick that's a great trade. I think your instincts are right. Those simulators can be a bit off sometimes. As for your other suggestion about staying in Round 1 only because the draft is in Pittsburgh I don't think Omar Khan will let anyone in that building sway him in that regard. In the end, it's just another draft for the GM and scouts, and they have to treat it that way.
Bob
1:03
Ray, any chance the Steelers pick up the just released Javon Hargrave? He woudl be a great veteran presence in case this is Cam's last year.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:04
One a cheap short-term deal? Why not? He's familiar with the defense and still has many friends on the team like Cam Heyward and TJ Watt. That would also allow Keeanu Benton to move to 3-technique, where he might be a better fit. I would still draft an old-school nose tackle if there is a good one available on Day 2 or Day 3, but Hargrave playing on the cheap sounds good to me.
Gene
1:05
If Gainwell leaves do they draft a RB?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:06
Maybe on Day 3 but not before then. They have Jaylen Warren under contract for two more years, and they just used a third-round pick on Kaleb Johnson. They would need to add another back who can contribute, but I don't think you do that early in the draft. Just look at Gainwell and Warren. Warren was an undrafted free agent.
Sulaiman Jilani
1:06
Hey Ray which wide receiver in free agency or trade do you see as the most realistic the Steelers can get?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:08
I'm writing about some of the best outside free agents who might make sense for the Steelers later in the week, but I'll give you a little preview. One WR who makes sense is Mike Evans. He's an older player and would not command a huge contract. They're going to draft at least one and maybe two receivers in this draft. They would need a good mentor who can show them the NFL ropes. DK Metcalf is a good teammate, but he doesn't strike me as the mentor type.
Art from NC
1:09
Hi Ray- Would it be realistic to think that with the Jones injury issue, along with the amount of quality WR's in this years draft, that the Steelers might go )-line round 1 and WR round 2&3?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:10
I never say never especially the way Khan and Weidl value the trenches, but I feel like Dylan Cook played well enough that you don't need to do that. I'm not saying he should be handed the job if Jones cannot play, but maybe the answer is Cook and a veteran to push him, or be insurance if Cook falters. And you can draft a guy on Day 2 or Day 3 to develop.
Stairway to seventh seed
1:10
Ray:  With Tate running a 4.53 and Fields a 4.61, is it possible that either Tate falls to 21 or Fields falls to the Steelers for one of their third round picks?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:13
Well, slow 40 times for receivers will make GMs and scouts think twice about a player. Usually they have a pretty good idea of what these guys will run so perhaps they're not all that surprised, but I surely was. I remember when the Steelers took James Washington in the second round after he ran a 4.55 at the combine. One of the questions at the time was his speed, or lack thereof. Randy Fichtner came in and talked up Washington and basically said the 40 time doesn't matter because he produced in a big conference blah blah blah. Well, as it turns out, speed was a factor in Washington not sticking in the league for very long. You have to be able to get open, and I'm sure there are some in the NFL who wonder if Tate was always open because of the other great weapons on the Ohio State offense.
Mark
1:13
Is a Minkah Fitzpatrick reunion possible to help shore up the safety position?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:14
He would have to be released. There is an obscure rule in the NFL that a team must wait two years to reacquire a player via trade after he is traded away.
Nico
1:15
With Omar and Coach McCarthy touting Will Howard, I’m wondering if they are seeing something in his offseason workouts or perhaps just a smokescreen to disguise what they intend to do in the draft?  Thanks Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:17
Well Nico, the offseason workouts don't begin until next month. And they're not allowed to be coached on the field until May. So right now McCarthy is watching practice film on Howard and relying on Howard's offseason trainers and QBs to get him ready for the offseason program. That's how it works since the newest CBA was passed in 2011. There is no on-field coaching between the end of the season in January until OTAs.
Skip
1:17
One thing I noticed as a PSU fan is that Drew Allar does not handle pressure situations well. Unlike some QB's who are able to keep their composure when the clock is ticking down and a play needs to be made, Allar panicks and looks overwhelmed -  which brings me to my question. Do you think that is something that can be coached out of a player or is it a DNA thing where you either are cool under pressure or you are not?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:19
Good question, Skip. That seems like a natural instinct that cannot be coached, but every coach in the NFL believes they can make a difference for a traits-based player. Allar certainly is that. He has the size and the arm strength. He just never became a very good college QB. Maybe that had something to do with the coaching at PSU.
Arthur not Art
1:20
Hi Ray - one of the many QB questions you'll probably get. Safe to assume if Rodgers decides to retire or go elsewhere they have Rudolph and Howard compete for QB1 and pick up a cheap vet as a safety net?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:20
I think that's right. And maybe they'd draft a QB to give them four for training camp. Every team takes four to camp. Right now it's only Howard and Rudolph who are under contract.
Jay, Sharpsburg
1:20
Ray, I’ve heard and read that Tate’s draft stock has declined somewhat.  Is he, Lemon, Jordan or Boston a better fit for McCarthy’s offense?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:22
I'm liking Jordan Tyson more and more. I know Omar Cooper is gaining steam in draft circles too. The Steelers also met with him at the combine. Chris Carter did a nice job of compiling all of the interview info. from the combine. We'll reference that when we get to which pro days McCarthy and Khan attend and who they bring in  for top 30 visits. They're all pieces to the puzzle.
Barry in MD
1:22
Any hope on signing Gainwell. Would it be feasible to use the transition tag.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:23
That would be too expensive for a third-down back. I know Gainwell is more than that, but my point is Warren is the starter. Gainwell was 1-A for last season. I wold try to sign him before free agency begins, but he has a chance to see his market value if he waits. Why wouldn't he do that?
Pittfan
1:23
Hi Ray. Do you believe the Steelers are as high on Will Howard as they claim? Is it mostly coach speak? I guess if they sign Malik Willis or draft a QB on day 2 that will speak volumes.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:26
Not necessarily. You have never heard Omar Khan or Mike McCarthy refer to Will Howard as a franchise QB. All they say is they like him. Or he has potential. Or they want to work with him. That's much different than stamping him as a future starter much less a future franchise QB. So they could sign Willis or whomever and still feel the same way about Howard. Did you see how the Justin Fields deal worked out for the Jets last year? Heck, look at the situation in Seattle in 2012. They went out and signed Matt Flynn to a big free agent deal and drafted Russell Wilson in the third round. Wilson won the job and Flynn never saw the field. You're always trying to develop QBs. It's the most important position on the team. You don't stop trying to acquire talent because one guy intrigues you.
Chrissy
1:26
Hi Ray!  What are the chances the Steelers bring back Elandon Roberts?  I thought he played well enough when he was here.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:27
They moved on from Roberts in order to sign Malik Harrison to a two-yer, $10 million deal. Roberts was much cheaper but older. I'm guessing that's why the Steelers went after Harrison.
Rodgers?
1:27
Hey Ray - In your view, assuming our O-Line continues to develop and the running game blossoms (big assumption, I know), is it unreasonable to think that Aaron when healthy (another assumption) could play at a top 10 QB level, let's say along the lines of a Baker Mayfield or Jared Goff? I kind of feel like he's the best option out there at the moment.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:28
I agree he's the best option for the Steelers, but Mayfield and Goff are younger and can move around better at this stage of their respective careers. Rodgers isn't going to move as well as those guys so I think defenses can take advantage of that.
Arthur not Art
1:28
Is their a Puka or AB (without the mental health issues) in this draft that could be a great double dip option on Day 3?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:30
They would love that, wouldn't they? It's always nice landing Hall of Fame-caliber receivers in the late rounds. Makes you look smart. The fact is it's not easy. The draft is a crapshoot. I'm working on some special draft stories leading up to this draft on the top Steelers picks of all-time. How did LC Greenwood last until Round 10? Mike Wagner until Round 11? Mike Webster until the fifth round? It's great looking back at some of the names who were drafted before these great players.
Steeler Joe
1:30
Hey, Ray. Feels to me like people are handicapping this draft season for the Steelers like it's a normal one. This is, in fact, the first draft for McCarthy to put his imprimatur on the roster. I'm wondering if that means a much greater emphasis on offensive playmakers, for an offensive-minded head coach.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:32
Well, they were going to draft a receiver whether it was Mike Tomlin or Mike McCarthy coaching the team. It's been a need and I think the front office is acknowledging that it's maybe overdue. But to your point, maybe the Steelers draft two WRs because McCarthy likes to uses receivers and previous OC Arthur Smith was enamored with TEs. That's where the coaching change will matter.
Steeler Joe
1:32
If Caleb Downs slips down the board -- there are some potential injury red flags that showed up at the combine -- might he be in play at 21 for the Steelers? He's a guy who can be the starting safety and defensive stalwart for a decade.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:34
Yes, but I'm not even sure he's Safety 1 in this draft. I might be wrong, but watch out for Dillon Thieneman from Oregon. Whether Downs goes before him or not, I would not be surprised if he ends up being the better NFL player. And that's not to say Downs will be a bust. I think he'll be good. He's a guy who has a very high floor. He just doesn't have any special traits. Thieneman does. He ran a 4.37 and is explosive. I'll be interested to see who gets drafted first.
Beaver Falls Kid
1:34
The Rooneys remain one of the best owners in the NFL. MIke McCarthy has the same bona fides as Mike Tomlin. The roster remains strong. There is work to be done but why all the angst about the Steelers? We are lucky to have an iconic franchise in this town. End of comment…
Ray Fittipaldo
1:34
Thanks for the comment BFK. I'm sure that will rile up some of the chatters.
Costner
1:35
Heidenreich in the 7th?
Load More Messages
Connecting…