trade

one name that hasn't really come up in trade talk is DeCastro. would he bring any value in draft picks and relief of the cap number to consider trading him? RG is probably the easiest position to replace on the O-line.

 

Not sure I would trade him away. You are right he hasn't been mentioned, but I believe it is because you didn't hear much about him during the season. Mostly because he was doing his job. I don't know if I'd say RG would be easy to replace. Since our line was not doing so well run blocking, I don't know I would want to lose a foundational piece. It would be easier to keep him in place and add to his support around him. Otherwise it won't matter who we bring in at RB or QB. They will be set up for failure.

 

If RG is the easiest position to replace, why would a team trade for one with a $14.3 million contract? He's still good, but he's not the All-Pro he was.

 

well first hes a top talent even at his age. some teams are looking for veteran linemen and have cap room unlike us. he has value to another team. yes he has value here as well but we are in cap trouble and we need to fix it somehow. adding another piece in our line at this point isn't as big of problem as our cap needs. we are basically revamping the o-line anyway so why not get something in return as we do it. even if we could get a 2nd round pick and lose his cap hit would help. at least its a starting point.

 

I don’t think he has any meaningful trade value with his age and that contract, you might get a late round pick, IDK. If they want him off the books they’ll probably have to cut him and then let him go where he wants.

I’d like him to stay if they can work out the money side via extension but they need to make it clear that his days of earning top of the market money are over.

 

"even if we could get a 2nd round pick and lose his cap hit".-- Not how it works. Teams don't trade top draft picks when they have to take on a burdensome contract. Los Angeles had to toss in 2 firsts and a third, along with a starting qb, for Stafford, and that was primarily because of the qb's ludicrous contract.
I love DeCastro, was ecstatic when he dropped to us in the draft, and if I had to get a new jersey, it would probably be his. But the Steelers can't keep paying contracts for what someone was, instead of their value now.

 

you do know he is only going into his 10th season. he's only played in 8 of his 9 seasons. for an nfl lineman that is not a guy on his last leg by any means. i think he has plenty of value as a tradable player. he just made another pro bowl. hes still one of the best o-linemen in the league. some of you guys have him as a washed up no value player. not true. there are going to have to be some unpopular moves made to be able to field a team this year.

 

With his age, contract, and PERFORMANCE...You answered your own question...We got Kevin Dotson in the 4th round, who played BETTER than DD...Would be nice but, I can't see a team doing it...

 

Hopefully the Steelers are doing some critical thinking
on how to field a better team, if that includes getting rid of a perennial
pro bowl player then so be it. Just curious who would you replace him with?
Will getting rid of him help our team? Lets really talk about the elephant in the room #7
Rooney's need to really make a big decision here.

 

I am not so sure we didn't hear much about DD due to him "doing his job". I saw plenty of evidence to the contrary. I think we didn't hear much because our other OL were much worse than he was and kept the focus off of him. JMO

 

i think its bigger then #7. we need more moves then just his. especially if he and pouncey are returning for one more and they move some of that money around to help this year. decastro has worth and trade value and some of these tough moves are going to have to happen. i saw where they could extend ben and pouncey with voidable years and save some money but we also pay that same amount next year as dead money on both. we still need more though those alone and even with mcdonald don't do it.

 

Have you saw any numbers Rooney's have said they would pay Ben? It sounded to me
that Art Rooney isn't willing to pay #7 too much. I would say the same for Pouncey, They better know their budget on #7 before
we make too many moves. These moves are necessary for us going forward.

 

Any discussion about Ben is going to be contentious because, like me, I don't know what is going on with him. If what we saw was Ben at even close to 100% in the last half of the season, then we are screwed and you're absolutely right in having a big decision to make. If he was hampered by some ailment that severely limited him in what he was able to do, as had been speculated from multiple sources, then he could maybe come back and make things happen. If there is some other alien issue that no one knows about, like what the hell happened between the 1st and 2nd half of the Indy game for instance, that is driving this Greek tragedy of an offense, then it won't matter who is taking the snaps for us. Regarding the OP question, I don't think trading DD would give us anything that ends up making the team better. To me, the OL is like a chain and is only as strong as its weakest link that will be exploited. We have other links to focus on that will have greater positive impact if we address them. OL is a gaping sore spot on this team overall.

 

there is talk of the team being able to do an extension and turning some money into a signing bonus. the years are voidable past this season. the move for pouncey and ben would amount to 14.34 for ben and 5.4 million for pouncey this year and next for the two. we would only have them for this year, then next year becomes the dead money hit without them. this alone even with mcdonald retiring and his 5.2 million still won't do what we need but it would help this season. we still have to field 53 players and a PS, not to mention draft picks and keep some money for in season moves. we also rolled over about 4 million in unused money from last season. still need more so some moves will have to be made.

 

it's not all about just making the offensive line better but not missing out on players that are younger and the future like juju, hilton and sutton. you have to look at where you can find some value to do a trade to help the cap so other moves can be made past just this year. sure we can say we will just bring banner back and sign one of sutton or hilton but we are in negative numbers at this point and we couldn't sign anyone right now even if they came in for a dollar. we could draft, use coyle, walton or leglue as a guard, or bring in a much cheaper player like isidora back at a much smaller hit then decastro. no they won't be as good but we need the money for other things as well. ie, sutton, hilton, banner, juju a TE to replace mcdonald.

 

IF we dont intend to run the ball then he should and could be a straight up consideration... He is a Power guy a straight up get out in space and create a hole for the run game player...If the scheme is to remain drop back and catch guys to protect the QB then by all means consider any and all trades...

On the flip side if we intend to really dedicate to the run then I would put a much higher value on him..Almost tothe point he would be untradeable,,unless its a ton in return..

 

Oh there will be major purge, this why we really need to know Ben's figure. It is going to
turn out bad either way see Troy Harrison, Faneca, you get my drift) Plus TJ Watt mega deal.
I look for major roster overhaul, some names Conner, Hayden, JuJu others, we just can't keep them all.

 

conner is a FA and not even in the equation at this point. juju either.

 

Pretty much hit it head on. The O line performed poorly as a unit, the key is deciding who and why. DD may have not been his best, but look at the play of those beside him (especially in the run game) and I think you start your decision making from there. The reports were Pouncey was ready to retire (take the reports for what they are worth), then supposedly Ben makes a plea and Mike says he is reconsidering. So now is the time for Rooney and Colbert to do the hard thing they have had to do in the past, Hines, Troy, it is not you decision..retire or we cut you..now update the names for this year.

 

I think we keep DeCastro and let him finish out contract. Lots of new faces could be on OL next year, if Steelers choose to draft that way. Need a solid vet for the new guys to learn from.

 

as of now we are 35 million in the red, with the top 51 under contract. with that said many of those top 51 include practice squad players and futures pickups. that doesn't include the two other guys to make a complete 53 man unit. they would come from PS and futures pickups as well. we have to add their 660,000 minimum for each, so another 1million added to the 35 million we are in the red.

even if the cap raises from 180 million to 190 million, we are still 26 million in the red.

there is talk of ben and pouncey coming back and manipulating their contracts to gain us about 19 million for this year but it also costs us 19 million next year too without them. so that's two more guys to add. even with the 19 million savings this year (if they do the deal) we are still 7 million in the red with the same players currently on the roster. add the 5 million for mcdonald retiring and we are still 2 million in the red with a roster full of PS and futures picks.

we usually carry 2-3 million into the season for injuries. we dont have that we are stll 2 mil. over the cap remember. we also have to sign draft picks and pay for a practice squad. remember our PS players from last year are making up our 53 man roster right now. these dreams of signing anyone right now are not possible unless we make some real tough decisions. right now we are already in a much worse position then most realize. all this talk of bringing back one of hilton or sutton or signing a budget TE any other move is BS at this point. we have what we have right now and still can't just draft a position we need. we don't have the money for anything right now. we are not even cap compliant at this point with some of the moves they are talking about. others have to be made and it could be some of our better player like it or not.

 

DeCastro is worth a 2nd Round Pick at this stage of his career due to his position. Only major Offensive Guard I can think of that would warrant a First is Quenton Nelson. Heck, Chris Ballard might ask for more!

 

not sure what you are disagreeing with blast. the numbers are there to see.

 

How can you say this, are they or aren't they in the Steelers plan? Until Ben says what he is willing to accept,
then we can't go forward.

 

they are not under contract as of now.