Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.05.26
powered byJotCast
This chat is available to members only. Please log in to participate.
Ray Fittipaldo
11:58
Well, you couldn't get rid of me that easy. Glad to be back taking your questions on the Steelers. We will continue to interact with fans on chats like these as the new P-G gets going.
Now post your questions!
Stairway to seventh seed
11:59
Ray: I am thankful that May 3 has passed and we are still chatting.  If I recall correctly, Pickens was traded about this time last year.  Any chance something like that happens?  Highsmith?  Watt?  Porter?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:00
The Steelers do not intend on trading any of their foundational players. And with players such as Porter the hope is signing him to a second contract. I understand there are some questions about how the OLB room will look in 2027, but I think they are committed to having a really strong room in 2026 and then figuring out what comes next after the season ends.
Rooney
12:00
I think the Steelers have a pretty good roster except for QB, with or without Rodgers. They have addressed the OL recently and more DL next year. Do you think the roster compares with other playoff teams?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
I would never say that after a sixth consecutive defeat in the first round of the playoffs. Obviously, other teams are doing things a little better than the Steelers. Some teams a lot better. The Steelers have some talented players on defense, but they were among the worst teams in the league in total defense. Look no further than the playoff game against the Texans. That's what a really talented defense looks like. And that's the challenge for Patrick Graham. He has some pieces. Now he has to fit them together better than his predecessor. Same goes for offense. There are some good players, but the numbers don't like. They were middle of the road or worse in scoring and total offense last season.
Eric Witt
12:04
My Gut tells me Rodgers is running out of time, agree? If so, is Howard really plan B?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
If Rodgers does not play for the Steelers, yes Howard will be given an opportunity to win the job. He'll compete for it. He won't be handed the job. Reading the tea leaves of the whole Rodgers saga, it seems to me McCarthy is fine waiting, but maybe others in the organization want a firm answer sooner rather than later. I don't know if we'll ever get a point where the Steelers move on before Rodgers decides, but it's clear the Steelers expected an answer by now. That doesn't mean Rodgers had to be here for voluntary offseason stuff. I think they just expected an answer by now.
Greenwood
12:07
Ray, I am happy to see you, Gerry, Brian and Chris still onboard. I'm sure I'm not the only one who appreciates the insightful articles and the chats. As to this chat, I figure Rodgers will play this year, but if he doesn't, which of the three QB's currently on the roster do you predict starting game 1?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
I'll go with Howard. I think there is genuine optimism about his potential, and why not find out if he can lead the team? We already know who Mason Rudolph is. I don't think it would make much sense to start him even if it's only for a month or so. But if he does, his tenure would be short-lived.
Silent Bob
12:08
Hi Ray - My disappointment on day 1 is that they didn’t pick a safety when some good ones were still on the board. Once they brought in Pittman and had two 6’4” proven WRs, my thought was that Safety was the weakest unit on the team. Sounds like the OT will be a good pick but did seem like safety was the greater need. What thought process do you think led to the OT pick?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
The uncertainty surrounding Broderick Jones definitely played a role in the Iheanachor pick. If Jones was healthy and playing up to his draft slot they wouldn't have made Iheanachor the pick there. Dillon Thieneman was still on the board. I think he's going to be a really good safety for the Bears. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Mntnr93
12:11
Ray - was the selection of Allar a statement on the Steelers' disbelief in Will Howard's future with the team?  Was all of McCarthy's early praise of Howard just a smokescreen?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
Not at all. I wrote about developing and evaluating two young QBs at the same time today. Check out the story: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2026/05/05/howard-allar-q...
Eric Witt
12:12
Do you feel Rodgers returns? Could Drew Allar win the starting job from Howard if Rodgers doesn't return?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
Anything is possible, but I'd give Howard the edge.
Retire21
12:13
I may be in the minority but I think MT will suck on TV. Lots of people though Hines and Jerome would do well but they just couldn't get the words out in order when the red light went on. MT won't criticize other coaches. What say you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
I always am a little skeptical when players or coaches make this move. I didn't have great expectations for Cowher, but he's been terrific in his role at CBS. I think the most important thing is you have to be invested in it. Look at Tom Brady. He became the highest-paid analyst without ever even doing it. He's better now than when he started, but I don't think he's great. He has one foot in and one foot out, having a stake in the Raiders. The NFL allowing that is another story...
Retire21
12:16
Kevin Colbert once said one way to measure a draft is to count how many picks you give second contracts to.......and in the 2013-2023 period (11 years) only TJ Watt was extended. You buy that?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
I do buy that and I think that's why the Steelers have fallen off a bit, but Watt isn't the only draft pick to sign a second contract in that time. Alex Highsmith (2020 draft) also signed a second deal. Diontae Johnson too though that did not work out in the end... But you're right. When you're a draft and develop team you need your top picks to play well and sign second deals. Jarvis Jones and Artie Burns and Terrell Edmunds did not pan out as first-round picks. Guys like Sean Davis and Chase Claypool didn't work out as second-round picks. Bad luck can sometimes be involved too. Le'Veon Bell was a great pick, but who could have forecast he'd hold out the way he did and miss an entire season? There are some things you just can't predict.
Mike From PH
12:20
Hello Ray - I know for a fact that Rodgers and McCarthy were not even speaking at the end of their GB run and communicated via assistants...I can't help but think AR is setting up his old coach for a fall and he has a history of the same type of "tactics" in other relationships.  Art had to know this and his lack of a hard deadline is Mismanagement 101...agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
Rodgers and McCarthy long ago patched up their relationship. I don't think Rodgers is setting him up for anything.
Jim Bow Dean
12:21
The biggest criticism of their draft that I’ve seen is they took some players too early. If you really like a player what’s wrong with taking him a round or two early to make sure you get him? Especially when you make 10 picks.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
Right. And QBs are always picked a little early. That's just the nature of the beast.
cal from nh in sc
12:22
Will steelers stay out of the Brendan sorsby drama if he gets forced into the supplemental draft? leave that to teams like the browns I hope
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
Yeah that seems like a mess. A gambling addiction can be as crippling as a drug addiction. For that reason, I bet Sorsby doesn't get picked until the sixth or seventh round of the supplemental draft. Why give up a high or even a mid-round pick on someone who has the problem. There is just no way of knowing by July if that stuff is behind him.
George T
12:23
Ray, I see Brock Hoffman being the main backup for the center and guard position for Ryan McCollum is mostly a center.  Are you thinking this what they be thinking since they drafted Gennings Dunker and he looks like a starting guard.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
You don't draft a guard in the third round to be a backup. The Steelers think he has starting potential and maybe sooner rather than later.
cal from nh in sc
12:24
steelers FAs next year are jones Washington herbig Anderson porter and Boswell. how would you rank in terms of priority to resign, and likely to be traded before the deadline?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
I would say Boswell or Porter has to be the No. 1 priority. Boswell will be easier to sign I think so I bet he gets his done before Porter. Getting Herbig would be great, but he knows a big contract could be on his horizon elsewhere. Washington will get a nice deal, but they should be able to fit him into their cap nicely.
Floating around
12:26
Wetjen was said to be a luxury pick. With the new kickoff rules, isn't a quality return man is almost a must?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
I think he's more of a punt returner than a kick returner, but maybe he does that too. I still can't figure what type of returner is best for kickoffs. It seems like burly guys who can put their head down and get a few extra yards might be the best bet there because there is such little room with the way special teams units are aligned now.
cal from nh in sc
12:27
do we have more reasons for optimism for iheanachor than we had for jones because more college starts and a super athlete? or just betting campen is better at developing than Meyers?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
The whole Campen-Meyer dynamic is interesting. It could come down to that, but no one was complaining about Zach Frazier or Troy Fautanu's development. I get it. First-round picks are viewed different and maybe Meyer failed in developing Jones, but sometimes it's on the player too.
RollingRock33
12:29
Good day sir.  What is status of PG YouTube presence?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
We will still be doing videos and podcasts, but we're trying to figure out exactly how it will look. Look for video content from rookie minicamp this weekend.
Alan
12:31
Ray, how do you anticipate MaCarthy will be different than Tomlin both offensively and defensively?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
Yes and especially on offense. That's why he was hired. Art Rooney wants the offense to be more competitive.
epiballo
12:32
Following the QB questions, with two inexperienced QBs on the roster, if Rodgers moves on, doesn't it make sense for Rudolph to be QB1 in order to give the other two a chance to develop? I've seem too many high-end QBs get destroyed in Cleveland because they are thrown in year one before they are ready. Can Rudolph provide mentorship?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
Rudolph can provide mentorship without being the starter. I'm just at the point where I know who he is. I don't know who Allar is so if it's even I'd like to see Howard be the guy. But listen, if Mason Rudolph wins the job he has to be the starter. The players know who deserves to start and who doesn't. You can't fool them.
Load More Messages
Connecting…