Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.21.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:53
OK Mike McCarthy presser at 1 today so let's get the chat started a little early.
Stairway to seventh seed
11:53
Ray: Congratulations on the PG deal.  I am not trying to get you to reveal a "spoiler", but I am curious about how you and Gerry came up with the top 10 draft picks.  The presence of Aaron Smith, Stallworth, Webster, Wagner, Ward, and Greenwood suggest that being a later round steal was a big factor.  Ben and Franco certainly should have gone higher in their draft classes, but were both 1st rounders so I assume made the list due to importance to the franchise.  How did you balance "steal" with "importance"?  2 spots remain and two of the most important players to any franchise ever, Bradshaw and Greene, will have to battle it out with an all time steal in AB with all of his eventual baggage.  Interesting.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:56
Gerry and I did that on the ride home from the combine in March. And yes, later-round choices who became great players were given more consideration. So the thinking was Terry Bradshaw (at No. 1 overall) and Joe Greene (at No. 4 overall) were easy picks to make because they were sure-first top-five picks. We wanted to recognize the importance of scouting and how some great players fell through the cracks. I wrote the one on Hones Ward. I went through all the receivers who were selected before him, and I don't think I recognized half of them. It was a good exercise and only proved what a crapshoot the draft is. Teams put so much money into this, and there are no guarantees. And sometimes, in the cases of Ward and Stallworth and Greenwood and others, the scouting pays off big-time.
Buckeye Fan
11:56
Carter said Steelers should consider trading up for Downs if he falls out of tope 10.  Do you agree and what would that cost?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
Chris and I disagree on this and we've debated on the podcast. I'm not 100% sure Downs is the best safety in the draft. I think Thieneman is close. And Emmanuel McNeil-Warren isn't far behind. So you have those three who are all projected to go in the first round. If you like all three -- and there is reason to believe the Steelers do -- you can sit tight at No. 21 and get one of them if they're still there.
Gus
11:59
Ioane and Omar Cooper are still miraculously on the board when GM Fittipaldo picks. Who ya taking?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
Ioane
Alan in North Carolina
11:59
Morning! As someone who supported Coach Tomlin through thick and thin, even I was starting to have doubts. I feel like this year we’re going to find out one way or another. Either he was the master of one-score games, rock fights and finding a way to squeeze as much as possible from a limited roster OR he was holding them back, not very good at developing talent, not great at game-day management, etc. Will they be 12-5 or 6-11??? Either way, I can’t wait to find out!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
Sometimes change is good. Tomlin might have needed it and I think the Steelers certainly needed it given their struggles in the playoffs the past several years. They're not only losing, but they're losing big. They needed a fresh start. If Rodgers comes back I can't see them going 6-11. I'd be surprised if that happens. But if they have to play Howard for any reason -- Rodgers retiring or an injury -- then a losing record could happen. And it might not be the worst thing in the world. Getting a top 10 pick next year, when the QB class is expected to be very good, could help the franchise move forward in a way it wasn't able to with Tomlin as head coach.
George T
12:02
Hi Ray, I hear WR and OL are biggest needs but if your top ones are off the board what position would you target.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
Defensive back. They were focused on Dbs in the pre-draft process.
George T
12:03
Hi Ray, which round would you take a QB and who would you like it to be.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
Third or fourth. For my final mock draft I chose between Carson Beck and Drew Allar. Both fit the prototype McCarthy wants -- big guys who can play in the elements. I gave the edge to Beck because he led Miami to the title game. Allar got injured so maybe that was a bit unfair, but he struggled more in big games during his college career. If you listen to Omar Khan, leading a team into the playoffs and some big wins is important for him when it comes to the QB position.
Stairway to seventh seed
12:04
Ray: I really enjoyed your mock draft and like you suggest.  Did you do it with just one simulation or did you do it based on probability of being available?  What other names linked to the Steelers did you consider available at 21?  What other QBs were available when you went with Beck?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
I never use a simulator. I just go based off where I think guys have a chance of going. If I'm off by a round so be it. All of these draft analysts and their simulators are sometimes off by the same margin or even more on some of these guys. None of us have the inside info. on injuries or character.
Turk in MD
12:06
Could the safety from Oregon play slot or should they look at someone like Stukes or Kiontae Scott?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
Thineneman and Stukes are versatile and can play slot and safety. I think Scott is more of a slot CB without their versatility, but he's still very good. If you look at the DBs they scouted this spring most of them have position flexibility. I think they'll draft someone with that profile and likely early.
DR9170
12:07
Hi Ray, love the column. Two questions, do you think the there is an actually chance the Steelers trade highsmith this weekend? Would the Steelers then try to extend Herbig?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
No. The Steelers are not going to do that. The only way that happens is if they're bowled over by an outrageous offer, and I don't expect that.
CP
12:08
whos your pick 21. Who would you trade up for?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
I have them taking Denzel Boston at 21. If they move up I think it might be for someone like Makai Lemon, who isn't likely to drop all the way to 21. I don't think you trade up for a guard or a safety.
Spaceace
12:10
I know that the Steelers haven’t won a big game in a long time but I’m happy as a fan that the organization tries to be competitive every year.  Why does the national media always take the stance that we are some lower tier team?  You would think were the Jets or Browns and didn’t actually win our division last year.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
I might not be the right person to ask on this, but I don't sense that at all. I think, at least with Tomlin as head coach, there was this overstating the team's abilities. I always sensed it was the local reporters who were a little more critical of the team and its performance under Tomlin.
Tony
12:11
Over-under # of Steelers games on SNF?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
With the draft and everything I kind of forgot the schedule will be out in mid-May. The Steelers are always popular and the Tomlin connection gives them reason to do it multiple times. I'll say 2-3.
Turk in MD
12:12
You’ve mentioned concern about resigning Washington on a few podcasts.  Is that b/c the team doesn’t want that kind of money tied up with 2 TEs?  Something else?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
I just think it's going to be hard to sign Porter, Benton, Herbig and Washington from that draft class. Just not sure signing all four is realistic. I think they'd like to have Washington on a second contract, but I also know they feel the same way about Herbig. Porter too and they continue to say good things about Benton. Only so much money to go around.
Chuck from Michigan
12:14
Hi Ray, always enjoy your viewpoint.  I say Steelers should trade picks #21, #76, #99 and LB Patrick Queen to the Cardinals, Titans, or Giants, for pick #3 or #4 or #5, and select Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State.  Best player in the draft, HOF potential with the Steelers for years to come.  Your thoughts?  Thank you very much.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
That would be nuts. Really good player, but you better know how to use safeties if you're giving up that much. Even then, I'm not sure it's smart business the way opposing coordinators can take safeties out of the game with their play-calling. We've seen that repeatedly over the years with the Steelers, first with Fitzpatrick and then Ramsey last season. If you're an OC or QB, you can simply not target them and stay away from their side of the field.
George T
12:15
Hi Ray, I keep hearing about the 30 pre-draft visit and how they always draft one of them in the first round.  I would like to know if Ben was one knowing Bill really wanted P Rivers.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
Ha!. I don't have the lists going back that far. Might have to call Bouchette to see if he knows.
George T
12:16
Hi Ray, since 1970 the Steelers have had only two what I would call a franchise QB (Terry and Ben). They have had a number of good QB between them but none I would call a franchise’s QB.  It took Terry 5 years to become the regular starting QB where it only took Ben a few games. As I look back I see a major difference between them.  Ben had a really good team around him where Terry did not.  So to me building a solid team should come first before we invest into a franchise QB.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:17
I think that's what they're doing. There is no chatter about them taking a QB at 21. Art Rooney came out and said that. They are patiently waiting. I know people are tired of hearing this, but the 2027 and 2028 classes are expected to be very good.
RollingRock33
12:18
Hello. Long may you run (Neil Young reference), along with the other PG sports writers. You guys are definitely the best. When you are at a news conference, and someone asks a question such as “ how did the pre-draft interview go with so-and-so” (I think it was asked about Makai Lemon). They are not going to say anything negative. Are there sort of “coded” responses that give some indication how they really feel?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
It's funny you mention that because we were talking about that yesterday after the news conference. In the past, they would always avoid talking about specific players. Good pickup there. They usually try to avoid that type of stuff although if I recall last year Khan said some nice things about Shedeur Sanders. Obviously, it meant nothing because the Steelers didn't pick him and he fell to the fifth round.
Frosty
12:21
Hi Ray.  Your opinion on the Bengals/Giants trade?  Any ripple effect in the draft down to the Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
I applaud the Bengals for doing the deal. I think they relaize they are in a small window with Burrow. Perhaps the sense is he's getting fed up and wants to win now after falling short for the past few years after the Super Bowl appearance early in his career. The way I look at it: Maybe now they'll win 35-31 instead of losing 38-35. It was uncanny how they would lose higher-scoring games last season. The offense is not the problem. Maybe Lawrence is the difference, and the Bengals finally are good enough to make another deep run in the AFC playoffs.
Jim
12:23
Almost have to go O-line 1st, then try to get WR later with the Jones news and needing a guard, right?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
Not necessarily, but I wouldn't be surprised if that happened. Also, I'm not alarmed by the Broderick Jones stuff. The Steelers knew all along it was ging to be a process for him.
Fitz
12:23
Hi Ray! I think the Nbc pregame will go 9-8 and get blown out first round of playoffs
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