Cutting these 5 players can save the Steelers 50 million

Hell, they forced Ward and Troy to retire.

 

Heyward stays but only due to contractual means. Should he leave, that essentially telegraphs Pittsburghs direction in the 2024 Draft along with what they think of Keeanu Benton. That said, I can imagine he is here for one more season.


People tend to rail on DJ both perpetually and hyperbole. That said, beyond George Pickens... he and DJ... are more or less, what you have, as Wide Receivers. Again but thankfully, 2024 is chalk full of tremendous talent. Unlike years prior though, I can find playmakers not just from a scheme transcendent standpoint but also scheme specific. Obviously, the ones that can transcend scheme like Marvin Harrison Jr or Malik Nabers will not fall to Pittsburgh. That said, there is a comical level of talent in Day 2 and some serious gems in Day 3 to look at.


If Diontae is cut to save costs though?! Pittsburgh is gonna have to nab either Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State in Round 1 or Jermaine Burton from Alabama in Round 2. Those two are as plug in play as one will find. Burton may require a trade up however; something I am not too fond of doing given how lean this Center class is UNLESS Pittsburgh elects to select Graham Barton and plug him in behind *gulp* Mason Cole to start the season.


The others I 100% agree with. For that matter, why wait regarding Chuks?! He wants to play somewhere so bad?! Kick his ass out ASAP.

 

They're already thin at WR to cut Diontae, he's in his last year let him walk after next season and get a comp pick.

 

Robinson
Chuks
Peterson
Cole
Trubisky

 

My pleasure. The cap can get complex at times. Happy to shed some light on things.

 

Nothing against Barton, but I'm hesitant at the prospect of using 1.20 on him. I've followed some guys in the past who were billed as versatile Swiss army knife linemen and were touted as first-round talents, but their strength more often came from their versatility rather than their dominance at any one position.

Right now I'm more inclined to see if a Wiggins/Mims/Arnold/Fuaga fall to them in the first, then look at Powers-Johnson or Van Pran at C in the second.

 

I am also hesitant on such an idea. I only bring the prospect up due to the fact that the tape matches up with the talent that he possesses. Granted, I will know more about his arm length at the Senior Bowl given how that is a big question mark.


Even if he can get over 32 inches, he is still best projected to be kicked inside. He is going to play Center at the Senior Bowl but just one game isn't enough to fully answer unanswered questions about the position switch.



Between me and you, as I have been stating since October, Amarius Mims in Round One then Sedrick Van Pran in Round 2. Bring the Bulldogs to the 'Burgh.

 

Groins are overrated except for mine.

 

In my day we would have reattached them with common wood screws and gone back into the game.

 

Six veterans, per spotrac.com, are due roster bonuses from the Steelers with deadlines at varying points in late March -- Larry Ogunjobi ($4.75 million), Chuks Okorafor ($4 million), Diontae Johnson ($3 million), Patrick Peterson ($3 million), Mason Cole ($1.5 million) and Mitch Trubisky ($1 million).

 

One player who is not a free agent but the Steelers must make a formal contract decision on is running back Najee Harris. The Steelers have until May 2 to pick up or decline his fifth-year option for 2025 at a figure projected to be $6.659 million.

 

Can we kick p² to the curb?

 

my guess is the gets that 5th year. he and Warren are a great tandem. Warren will get a nice off-season contract.

and at $6.5M for Harris, cheap IF he is healthy and keeps at it, improving each year. he played better both of the last 2 second halves of the seasons.

 

Mims would be a solid pick, but if a corner like Wiggins fell to them I'd have no problem scooping him up, going Van Pran/Powers-Johnson in the second (the former may have the higher floor, the latter a chance for a higher ceiling), then coming back with a Blake Fisher in the third to fill the RT spot.

Both would be good pickups in the first, but the teams has a significant drop off at corner past JPJ and would be well served to bring in another top caliber CB. Can't have enough corners these days at it is.

 

Keep Diontae and maybe Larry O, the rest of them needs to go.

 

Fair point on the Corners. That all said, our QBs got banged around pretty good this season. Considering the game is now essentially a track meet, let's give Kenny the best protection possible.

 

They certainly ned to upgrade the line; it just comes down to how they leverage that need against other holes on the team If they were to take one of the centers in the second and a solid RT with room to grown in the third I think it good progress while not over-focusing. I also think they could use a new OL coach, and am anticipating the new OC may either feel the same or bring some strategy schematically that will benefit the group.

 

Or do a Ronnie Lott and just cut your finger off

 

True.


However, consider this, as I am sure you know. Cornerback is a premium position; as you had previously noted. You also mentioned Wiggins. He, along with Kool Aid are the two best in the class. That said however, this Corner class, compared to 2023, is poor. For that matter, Wiggins and Kool Aid are cut from the same cloth; instant starter capable rookies. The rest of the class is very, and I mean very, boom or bust applicable.


Denzel Burke from Ohio State and Kamari Lassiter from Georgia both possess superb man cover ability overall. However, their biggest flaws contradict Pittsburghs biggest needs; Burke not being physical enough overall and Lassiter being way too physical against opposing WRs for his own good... even more so than JPJ was. Quinyon Mitchell from Toldeo has the Height/Weight/Speed components down along with rock solid technique while being able to play alongside multiple coverages. However, unlike the other two, hos biggest flaw is magnified arguably worse than the other two; crippling lack of recovery speed.


Kalen King, someone whom I was very high on, has the recovery speed, coverage chops and run support capabilities that the Steelers would love. However, his biggest flaw is bigger receivers literally smashing him into bits. Given how the AFC North has and will continue to have no shortage of those.... probably not the best division for King to be in unless he is used as a Slot CB; Round 2 being the only chance of getting him but overshadowed by needing a Center.


Biggest wildcard for many is Cooper DeJean; one of my favorite overall players in the draft, regardless of position. However, as it was with me regarding Minkah Fitzpatrick coming out or Alabama in 2018, using DeJean as a Corner is a complete waste of his talents. DeJean needs to be around the LOS to the Deep Middle; a PDW (Personnel Defensive Weapon) to be more specific. Now, even including Wiggins, if no other tackle is on the board, Cooper is the player I would want the Steelers to covet. As you said, having even two good corners is no different than attempting to find a needle in a haystack.


However, having two dangerous multi role PDWs in both Minkah and Cooper?!?!? Good luck for such players only come around so often. Personally, I also don't expect DeJean to be within striking distance either. This leads me back to the Offensive Tackles.


Again, as me and both agree, finding two good corners is extremely difficult. However, finding two good bookend tackles?! Much like the PDW question I brought up earlier, good luck. For that matter, look at the remaining playoff teams. With the exception of Kansas City, every single remaining team all have strong cases to field Top 5 Tackle Tandems; the Detriot Lions having the strongest possible argument being number one. The league is now about scoring points. If anything, the Steelers 2023 Draft reflects this via their strategy; smashmouth football. Granted, this is likely subject to change due to the new OC. However, one thing remains constant; the AFC North has arguably the best talent of front seven Defensive Players in the entire NFL.


If Pittsburgh wants to get back to the playoffs, they will need to invest heavily again on the Offensive Line. Step one of said investment?! Ready up Dan Moores walking papers. Step two; return Broderick Jones back to his natural spot at Left Tackle. Step three; either draft or trade up for one of the top Right Tackle Prospects. Again, JC Latham, Amarius Mims, Taliese Fuaga and Kingsley Suamatia. If not these four?! Trade up for Tyler Guyton from Oklahoma.

 

Wow I didn't think Allen Robinson had that big of jump. From $3.0 million to $11.9 million.

I think Calvin Austin really stepped up in the Buffalo game when Robinson went down. I Will be interested to see what Austin does in his "second" year in 2024.

 

Mason Cole would be a good center if he could snap or block.

 

No doubt Cam had a down year. But apparently he had been playing with the injury all year. That injury typically takes 12 weeks to come back from and he came back in six weeks I believe. He looked like himself in the playoff game but that was about it. I think he still adds value if not strictly from a leadership and unity standpoint. If you don’t think that is important look at the offense without any leaders. There is a reason why Najee request more discipline in the locker room. Cam doesn’t see it that way because the defense has discipline and accountability because of him, TJ and Minkah. Najee doesn’t see it that way because they have no leaders on that side. Tomlin has always let the players self govern and unfortunately he needed to fill that void on the offensive side because they have no leadership. I believe Tomlin has learned the error of his ways and he will enforce more discipline on the team as a whole as result. I don’t think it is something he enjoys doing but there is an obvious need for it until they have some guys that step up on the offensive side of the ball.

I would actually extend Cam a Year and just prorate half of his salary over the extended year that way he is taking a pay cut but saving face. I don’t see any desire from him to retire soon so he would probably welcome an extended year.
Larry O is a no brainer. It was a bad extension. I understand why they did it but he is very average and we are paying him as an above average player.Keanu Benton can slide right into Larry O’s position and resign Montravius Adams and Armon Watts as the depth and draft or go get another guy in free agency.
I would try to resign Allen Robinson to a reduced contract. Let him test the free agent market and if he goes elsewhere then pickup a middling free agent for less money. We should draft a wr within the first three rounds for depth and to replace DJ in a year anyway.

Cutting Chunks is a no brainer. Draft a tackle in the first two rounds as a replacement.

DJ - I am not a big fan of DJ but we don’t have the depth to cut him. Let him play out his contract and go elsewhere. Draft his replacement in the first three rounds this year.

Some additional Cuts would be Mitch Trubiscky and Patrick Peterson. Mitch for obvious reasons and Peterson because he doesn’t bring a whole lot of value to the team. He is an aging talent who really isn’t even a leader on the team. He can no longer be an asset as an outside Cb and you can’t play him in the slot or at Safety because he is poor at tackling. My fear is Peterson and Robinson are the exact type of players tomlin likes to hold onto for their veteran presence which I understand can be an asset but when their play on the field has diminished to the extent it is a detriment to the team and their salary is relatively high to their production it is hard to justify those signings and ultimately it is detrimental to the team overall. I would much rather go sign a higher pedigree free agent in their prime or draft a young talent with upside.

Tomlin can’t rely on these veterans to control or stabilize the locker room. He needs to fill that void.

 

I'd be surprised if Powers-Johnson drops to them in the 2nd, unless they trade up for him. Fuaga will probably be gone before #20 too. I can see them nabbing Mims in the 1st though

 

Austin is clearly much better than gunner, glad he is gone

 

I don't know if you noticed but.. this year was a year were Rushing attacks didn't slice and dice us up like a sack of apples (most of the time).

Larry O as a biggest reason for that, Heyward missed a lot of the year but he's also a big reason for that.

Minus those two, look for rushing attacks to kill us again without adequate replacements.


This was also with playing part of the season with ILB's that were unemployed and on the Street, so even more so impressive we weren't killed by rushing attacks.