Trade, sign, cut, extend

You want to get rid of Gainwell, but the team still needs another RB Kaleb Johnson hasn't shown anything yet. Let Trice come to camp he's cheap and this is his last chance. I'm not sure Herbig will want to stick around for another contract with the Steelers there are rumors he wants to be a starter.

 

gainwell will work well in this offense. i think lew nichols could work out better than johnson.

 

Out: Issac Seumalo, Jonnu Smith, MVS, Cory Trice, Conner Heyward, Miles Killebrew(contract is up}

Play it Out: Broderick Jones, Spencer Anderson

Extend: Chris Boswell (high priority) Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton, Asante Samuel (one year deal) Calvin Austin III (one year deal), Darnell Washington on a tight end deal. Joey Porter Jr. Like jeh stated its going to be expensive.

Trade: TJ Watt. The one helmet huge contract mistake. Probably won't be traded though.

Back: Cam" I need to feed my Family" Heyward. As long as he doesn't cry and hold in for more money. I believe he is still chasing down all the running backs that he let run by him at the point of attack. Could still use him as a rotational piece. He is not the future.

Jalen Ramsey: I would look for him to be approached to take a pay cut. If not I would still keep him for 2026. Big dead cap for 2026,

Others:

Kenneth Gainwell. Will look to get a nice fat contact in which he earned. I see him leaving for another team. Already has a Super Bowl ring.

"Run it Back" Rodgers. What's the point? But I wouldn't be surprised. After watching him get beaten continuously and wilt against the Texans was all I needed to see, Time to move forward.

 

I don't "want" to get rid of him.

But I think that his price is going to be high relative to his actual value. Because I assume we'll have multiple WRs to throw to next year.

There's another thread here where it says that his value would be 2 years $3MM/year ($6MM total). At that price, I'd be in.

But if it's more like $6MM/year, I don't think he'll deliver value in whatever the new offense is as the 2nd RB in a committee (maybe not even the first RB in the committee).

I hope Johnson can emerge.

I also think we should take a RB with one of our 3rd or 4th round picks. And I think we should always bring in a UDFA or two at RB because I think it's the position where you're most likely to find a contributor as a UDFA.

I worry that if we sign him for big money (for a RB), he'll be next year's J Smith. Where it's technically possible that he could have a lot more productivity. But there are better options for his touches (particularly the targets...because I assume that MM will want more than one NFL WR on the team).

But again...if it's $3MM / year, I'm in without thinking about it too much.

 

NOTABLE FREE AGENTS: SIGN OR NOT
Aaron Rodgers (QB): SIGN ---------- Only if he agrees to a transition role.

Kenny Gainwell (RB): SIGN ---------- There could be a lot of money involved. I don't want to tie up a bunch of money between him and Warren. I'd rather Draft a 3-down back.

Calvin Austin III (WR): NOT -------- Agree. He's not moved the needle.

Isaac Seumalo (OG): SIGN --------- Age bothers me. Maybe, it depends on the cost.

Miles Killebrew (ST): NOT ------------ Special Teams ace, expendable.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR): NOT ----- Definitely not.

Connor Heyward (TE): SIGN ------ Adds that versatility the McCarthy can use.

Asante Samuel (CB): NOT ------- Disagree. I sign him as long as it isn't a crazy ask. Excellent depth and rotational starter.

Chuck Clark, S Jabril Peppers, S Kyle Dugger, LB Cole Holcomb, WR Scotty Miller, ALL NOT ----- Duggar is the only one I'd even think about.

VETERANS: CUT/KEEP/TRADE?

T.J. Watt (OLB): Trade ------ Trade is impossible. Keep.

Cam Heyward (DL): KEEP ------ He should retire. A reduced role maybe at a good cost.

Jalen Ramsey (CB): KEEP ------- Trade. He did a decent job at Safety but I think it's the beginning of a downfall. Probably wouldn't be able to trade though but I would attempt it.

Patrick Queen (LB): KEEP ----- Probably.
Jonnu Smith (TE): CUT ------- Or trade if possible. I think a lot of his downfall was bad offense design.

EXTEND OR PLAY IT OUT

Chris Boswell (PK): EXTEND ------ as long as he wants!

Broderick Jones (LT): EXTEND/OPTION ---- He might have to fight for a starting spot. That's not bad.

Joey Porter Jr. (CB): EXTEND ---------- Yes, absolutely.

Keeanu Benton (DL): EXTEND --------- Mixed feelings.

Nick Herbig (OLB): EXTEND ------ I think I would. I didn't like letting Spillane walk, we should not let this one go.

Darnell Washington (TE): EXTEND ----- I'd carefully consider this one. He is not a feature TE. If the offense has plans to correctly use him and capitalize off his skills, then he is a nice trick in the bag.

Cory Trice (CB): CUT ---------------- Didn't move the needle.

Spencer Anderson (OL): PLAY IT OUT ------ Not sure he's a fit in the McCarthy offense, maybe. I agree, play it out and prove value.

Overall - Looking to reduce Defense expenditure and get younger on that side of the ball. On offense, increase allocation costs, impact players - 2 legit WR's... if QB cannot happen (a disaster) then focus on Impact players and OL/DL

 

They have too many holes to be drafting another RB in the third or fourth round.

 

I can see this argument.

But currently one of those holes is at RB with only Warren and Johnson under contract.

But this year I think we have 5 picks in the 3rd + 4th.

I'd also be fine getting a RB2 off the UFA scrap heap. There will be cheap guys who can do the job (e.g. Nick Chubb).

I'd bring back Gainwell if the contract is reasonable. But my guess is that someone will pay more than what I think is reasonable for a RB2. And I'd prefer not to overpay (by a fair amount) on a RB.

Again if the projection of $3mm / year is correct I'd be OK bringing him back. But if it's Felt's $6mm / year, I think that's just too much for a RB2 who is unlikely to ever get as much production as he did last year.

 

It's possible they trade up and they will likely have to part with some of those mid round picks.

 

Polamalu wasn't the same player 5 years before his last game. By our last SB he wasn't the same.
Watt has had on down year, and everyone wants him gone. LoL
If he is still here next year , I will love to bring these post back up, and I guarantee, not you, but half the people that said these things will say.....................
, I never said that. LoL
Just like all the Heyward people that said he should retire 4 years ago.

 

They could. And I wouldn't be against it.

But as you say, there are quite a few needs.

If we trade, I'd personally rather do something like flip a 3 this year for a 2 next year.

But that doesn't really feel like a Steelers type move.

 

I was thinking they might like one of those top receivers and they won't be there at #21.

 

I think Watt is still a good player (but has declined from his peak, which was very, very high).

But I also think that we should be looking more toward the medium / long term. And the remainder of Watt's career probably doesn't line up with whenever we're going to be competitive to do more than make the playoffs.

But none of that matters. Because (1) Rooney doesn't want to rebuild and (2) Watt is still the only viable option to be face of the franchise.

I think that means there's close to a 0% chance that we trade him. But I also thought there was almost no way Tomlin wouldn't be our coach next season...so what do I know

 

We certainly need help at WR.

I'd be excited about a trade up like that I think.

 

I would absolutely love for you to be right, and me wrong on this one my friend. TJ Watt is and will always be one of my favorite all time Steelers.

Personally, I think Watt is cooked. The defense played better with Jack Sawyer on the field IMO. You're welcome to bring this back up if I'm wrong.