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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.02.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
Welcome and let's get started.
Pittfan
12:00
Hi Ray. I have 2 questions. Who is your highest rated QB after Cam Ward? Would you take him in the 1st round?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
Shedeur Sanders and no. But I think another team will take him before the Steelers pick at No. 21
Steeler Joe
12:00
Hey, Ray! Thanks for the chat. Of the top DL prospects who are in play at Pick 21, which one fits the Steelers' scheme up front the best?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
Honestly, they all are. They need a future replacement for Cam Heyward. They need someone to replace Larry Ogunjobi. And they need a big nose who could become a bigger factor in the run defense.
Hi Ray -
12:02
If the top 3 DL projected to the Steelers are not there at 21, and Pickens is not traded, where would you go?  Dart?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
Trade back!
Pittfan
12:03
Hi Ray. I really like the potential of Tyleik Williams. He's evaluated as more than just a 2 down nose tackle, quick and athletic. He would also allow Benton to move over into the 4 or 5 gap. I don't think he will make it out of the 2nd round. Would you take him in the 1st round if the top 3 or 4 DL are gone by 21?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
Not in the first round. And you're right I doubt he's there in the third round.
Vincent LaGuardia Gambini
12:04
If I see one more person mocks Dart to Steelers at 21 I'm going to get sick. Nobody is good enough to draft at 21. But more importantly, aren't these people paying attention? It's been obvious for awhile that 2025 will be Rodgers, and then they are collecting draft capital to move up and get their QB in 2026 with a much better QB class to chose from. Is this obvious to you as well? I
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
I'm with you, Vincent. I don't see Dart to the Steelers either, but it's going to be speculated upon until Rodgers signs. By the way, I don't see a lot of local writers mocking Dart to the Steelers. It's mostly national people.
@MatthewAlan6621
12:05
Ray, any interest in JK Dobbins? I think he would be cheap now.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
Nah. Draft a RB and have him cheap for four years. Dobbins had a major injury and has some miles on him.
NY Steeler Fan
12:06
A lot has been said about the lack of a second round pick. WR would have been on the table with that pick before trading it away. Do you think they are actually further ahead with a proven star in Metcalf as opposed to hoping a pick turns out to be a long term starter?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
Yes. Metcalf is a very good player. Any WR you take in a draft is an unknown, even the best prospects. There is a certain comfort level in acquiring a player with a proven track record. And they desperately needed a big-time player on the outside.
Brian in NC
12:07
Thanks for doing these. Between Ogunjobi‘s release, no FA starters signed, and trading away their second round pick, aren’t the Steelers essentially forced to draft DL in round one? And then what do they do if the draft doesn’t fall their way and there’s been a run on DL before they pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
I don't know that they're forced, but I think they probably know they can get one they want at No. 21. And if they're all gone they can trade back or take a player who unexpectedly falls to them. They'll have options.
Hi Ray -
12:09
As the Steelers only have six picks, with just two in the top 100, players outside that range are not expected to be major contributors without some luck.  As such, which positions would you try to fill through free agency, or would you wait until roster cuts when teams look to save money?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
At this point you might as well wait until September when the rosters are trimmed.
Jimmy G
12:09
Is Shedeur Sanders the pick if he falls all the way to 21?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
Not for me. And I doubt he falls to 21. He's been all over the place. Some people are convinced he'll fall and others see him going in the top 3.
Hi Ray -
12:11
Under what scenario do you see Pickens coming into camp on time and letting his work product dictate his next contract, without any holdouts or petulant behavior?  Does he not listen to his agent on his market value when he acts like a child?  Clearly, he does not pay heed to Tomlin.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
Tomlin hasn't been able to get through to him, and I'm not sure his agent can either even if good behavior and a good year on the field would do wonders for his bank account.
Mediocre Mikey
12:12
Ray, Please help me understand the end game with Aaron Rodgers. He will be a one year rental. What is the point? Are the Steelers really delusional enough to think they are a 42 year old QB away from the Superbowl? Wouldnt those cap dollars be better spent elsewhere?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
They never punt on a season. That's their rationale. They're always trying to win, for better or worse.
Hi Ray -
12:12
I love Williams from TCU as a huge target down the middle who can play inside and out.  What round do you think he comes off the board?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
Day 2. Second or third round.
Pittfan
12:13
Hi Ray. Bleacher Report lists Darius Alexander as an under the radar week one starter. He's compared to Javon Hargrave in other posts. In staying with my theme on DL today, he is another player who probably won't make it to the Steelers in the 3rd round. Is he and I'm sure I'm missing others worth a 1st round pick provided the top 3 or 4 DL aren't available? My guess is any DL who makes it to the Steelers in the 3rd round would not be Cam's replacement.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
You are correct about that. You won't get Heyward's replacement in Round. You could get a nose tackle though. As for Alexander, he's gained a lot of momentum in the pre-draft process, but I rarely see him in first-round mocks. Maybe he's a darling of the Steelers, but I think in Daniel Jeremiah's latest top 50 list he's somewhere in the early 40s.
John from Toronto
12:15
Hi Ray. What's the ceiling for Logan Lee? He's a 7th round draft pick with similar measurables coming out of college to Brett Keisel, who was also a 7th round pick who turned into a cornerstone of the Steelers defense.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
He spent all of last season on IR so I don't really have a feel for his play style or how he might fit. Big year for him though just as it's a big year for Roman Wilson and other rookies who spent the season on IR.
Guest
12:18
Hi Ray, Any word on  the overall health of the offensive line? Is everyone 100% healed and healthy?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
The only injury I'm aware of is Fautanu, and I think he's expected to take part in practices this spring and summer. They might bring him back slowly, but he said at the end of the season he was felling good.
John from Toronto
12:19
Hi Ray. If the Steelers decided to trade back out of the 21st spot what could they expect in return? Could they trade back near the top of round 2 and pick up another 2nd or 3rd round pick in the process?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
There is something called a trade value chart that you can access on the Google machine. Basically, it depends on how far they trade down, but the chart could give you an idea if you had a certain scenario you were looking at.
Why Not
12:20
I recall Coach T referencing “football justice” back in ‘23 when KP was struggling, citing his commitment and his work ethic to create his own fortune. If there is anyone this year who deserves football justice, it would be Mason.  I hope we pass on Rodger’s and Mason gets his shot.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
A lot of Steelers fans feel that way, but they'll take Rodgers if he wants to come.
Guest
12:21
Hi Ray,  Will the Steelers give Aaron Rodgers jersey number 8 so soon after Kenny Pickett's departure? I guess it is against NFL quarterback jersey rules but I would like to see him get number 21 just like John Hadl.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
I hope you are kidding about Pickett and wow what a reference to John Hadl! what are some other goofy QB numbers? Now you got me thinking.
Lou
12:23
Hey Ray. I’m assuming that AR is going to be a Steeler in 2025. Do you think we are going to get at the very least, a Big Ben quality QB that is somewhere in between just before the elbow and his final season? That doesn’t sound bad to me.
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