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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 03.23.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:50
Welcome to today's Steelers chat. We'll get started in a few minutes.
V. Fontaine
1:53
Do you create your mock drafts based on what you think the Steelers will do or what you would do if you were the Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:55
It's a combination. No one from the Steelers is going to come out and tell you what they're thinking. As a reporter you have to be able to read the tea leaves and have an understanding of how they operate. You have to look at the team's needs. The mock draft I do at the end of this month will be much different from the one I did at the end of last month. Much has changed with free agency in the past few weeks and there are needs now that were not evident last month.
RJT
1:56
Will Cam Sutton move outside and takeover for Steven Nelson?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
Right now it looks like outside corner because Steven Nelson's departure seems imminent. That could change if they draft an outside corner in the first few rounds next month. That's the great thing about Sutton. He offers great versatility. The Steelers don't have to draft a specific kind of corner next month if they want one. They can draft an outside guy or a slot.
Dave
1:59
Ray, prior to this year I never heard of “voidable years” on NFL contracts.  Is this the first year for this gimmick and is it going to be allowed in future years?  I think it a way to cheat around the salary cap and once a player quits all his dead money should be charged against the cap.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:00
The Satins popularized it with Drew Brees the past few years. I think the Steelers are utilizing it because of the falling cap number. I would expect they'll go back to their normal way of doing business next year once the cap goes back up.
2:02
The Steelers just released Steven Nelson.
David Cos
2:02
Seems like Fournette is worth taking a shot on a one year deal. That's a move that would fit the win now approach they appear to be taking and open up options with their first round pick. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
He was very good with the Jags before some personality conflicts happened with the coach and GM down there. Then he showed he still had something left last year with the Bucs. I wouldn't be totally against that idea at the right price, but then it would kind of limit the Steelers to taking an OL in Round 1 or defense. That would be fine. I just happen to think Etienne or Harris could be there at No. 24 and either of those guys would look good in a Steelers uniform.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
I am making a note to myself to mark down on the calendar when OTA's start. What date is that again?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:05
The Steelers have not announced the dates yet. Probably in a few more weeks we'll know.
DaquidoBazzini
2:05
Hi Ray...Carlos Davis strikes me as a guy that could over achieve. Any chance he can move into the starting spot on the DL.that was vacated by Alualu? What do you think of him?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Davis appeared to move past Isaiah Buggs on the depth chart late last season so he'd be in line to contend for the starting job if camp opened tomorrow. We'll see if they add anyone else in free agency or the draft, but NT is certainly a position of concern after Alualu's departure. Davis is a guy who has athletic ability. We knew that when he was drafted. Now it's about him becoming a player they can count on.
Tall Ed from AZ
2:07
Are tight ends, especially tight ends with blocking skills, available in this draft? How early must the Steelers reach for one in your opinion?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Probably first two rounds. Pat Freiermuth of Penn State and Tommy Tremble of Notre Dame are probably the top two TEs when it comes to their combination of blocking and receiving ability. Freiermuth likely will go in Round 2 and Tremble could go in Round 2 or 3. If all you're looking for is a blocking TE with no upside as a receiver you can probably get a guy like that later in the draft. But as far as guys who can do both it's Freiermuth and Tremble.
Bil
2:09
Would love to see Steelers pick up game changer MLB early in draft. Can you see us going there and who do you think would look good next too Bush?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
It's a pretty decent draft for ILBs. Zaven Collins is probably a first-rounder. He's from Tulsa and is being projected as a late-round pick. Good three-down LB. Nick Bolton from MIssouri is likely a second-rounder. He's another three-down ILB. There are others a bit later in the draft who can be had as well.
iowasteelersfan
2:11
Whats the real story behind why Nelson is asking for a trade - is this team suggested, or his own idea?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
The Steelers likely asked him to take a pay cut. He refused and tried to see if he could find a trading partner. None were out there, so he was released a few minutes ago.
Lenny from NY
2:12
Good afternoon Ray. What is your take in Gilbert. He looked so promising when he  first came. I know he has  been injury prone the last couple of years. But when he came off the IR last year he did’t get much playing time. What do you know or see about him in practice?  Will they keep him on the roster?   Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
2:12
Hard to say, but what's the old saying? You can't make the club from the tub. Gilbert has been injured too much to make any affirmative statements about him.
Retire21
2:13
Explain letting a player seek a trade. Seems the player would be better getting cut and having everyone with a shot at him and no compensation going the other way?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
Nelson would have liked to have made the $8 million that was coming to him. And maybe he'll get that on the open market. Probably not though.
livinthedream
2:13
Ray, If the Steelers were to sign Richard Sherman to a 2yr, 14mil, 100% guaranteed contract payable 1mil in 2021 and 13 mil in 2022 can they  get away with that salary and cap allocation  under the NFL rules? I think only up front bonuses have to be evenly allocated but I am not sure.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:14
Richard Sherman was a great corner, but if I'm calling the shots for the Steelers, I'm not getting older on defense. I'm trying to get younger.
Jeff
2:14
Thanks for the chats Ray.  Assuming Nelson is traded or released any other mid tier FA left?  looks like all the good centers are gone.  ILB?  CB?  I am usually one to trust the system but these last few moves are a little puzzling.  Also any word on Williams signing for less?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:15
Nothing on Williams. He wanted to see what was out there for him. I could see him coming back if his market is soft. And any moves they make in free agency now will be relatively minor ones like the moves they made last week signing Haeg and Killebrew.
Adam T
2:16
Hey Ray, tell me if it's too early to panic here: the only free agent centers left with any starting ability are the Austins, Reiter and Blythe. There aren't really any worthy 1st round centers in this draft and maybe only a couple guys on day 2 who could realistically start in their rookie season. If they don't sign a free agent they're kind of locking themselves into reaching in round 1 or crossing their fingers and praying for someone to be left on day 2, no? BJ Finney was a competent guard for them, but poor during his snaps at center and now is coming off a rough year of bouncing around the league. Have the Steelers set themselves up for a bad season of center play?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
They would be reaching for a center in Round1. But there might be good value on a guy like Creed Humphrey in Round 2. Maybe even Josh Myers of Ohio State in Round 2 or Round 3. Quinn Meinerz is another Round 2-3 option, but he's a Division III player and didn't play last season. I think the Steelers want to take players in the first few rounds that played in the fall. Kevin Colbert said as much in the fall. He said they'd lean toward a player that played in the fall rather than one who didn't. Meinerz didn't opt out. Division IIIs didn't play so it wasn't his decision.
Dr. G
2:19
In the first round, would you draft an OT whom you view as a bonafide 10 yr. starter or a RB who may end up being a 5 yr. rental at that position?  Seems like the Steelers tend to run a back until the wheels fall off, making a second contract less likely.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
I'd go for the 10-year starting tackle. That's a big if though at No. 24 overall. Christian Darrisaw could be that guy. He's from Virginia Tech. Sewell and Slater will be long gone.
Scott from Erie
2:20
The decision to trade/release Nelson is baffling. The most sensible explanation I've seen is because both sides were too far apart on a contract extension to lower his cap hit this year...but if that is true, then why not offer him a new contract similar to Juju (1 year deal with voided years to spread out the cap hit)? If the Steelers goal is to keep the core team together for one final shot at a Super Bowl run under Roethlisberger, then this would seem the more logical move...unless there is another factor in play here?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Nelson struggled when Haden was out late last season when he had to step up and be a No. 1 CB. I just think in their evaluation they saw him as a No. 2 CB who was in decline and not worth the $8 million salary or $14 million cap hit. Now let's see what he gets on the open market. He's a free agent now.
Southside Jimmy
2:22
Ray, do you know if the Steelers have ever permitted a reporter in the draft “war room”?    I think a story on the strategy and opinions on draft day would be fascinating.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
That would be great. I'd love to do it. But they've never allowed that to happen and they won't start now.
Tampa Too
2:22
Ray   I really enjoyed your article last week grading the Steeler's 2015 draft.  I never understand pundits grading the draft the day after it happens.  Seems to me it takes 3 years minimum to see what happens.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
You're right. You definitely have to wait to see how things play out, but people want to read about the new players and what people think of them. I have no problem with them right after the draft. Oftentimes, we're grading them filling a need rather than the type of player they're getting.
Joe Deeee
2:24
Nelson out- what does our cap room look like?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
Saves them $8 million. So they're now $10-11 million under the cap if my math is right.
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