Any HOT TAKES? Day 2

Tonight it’s likely or expected the Steelers make some moves out of the draft order with some trades.

Any predictions? Wild or sensible…?

I have a wild one - As much as I really like the guy, I think we might be a little rich in the TE department and Muth has had some injuries that make me think he’s physically (not mentally) a little fragile for the gig.

Could trade him to to move or add in one of these rounds 2 or 3.


I know I’ll get dragged for this and I even understand why. I get it…

 

JPJ in the 2nd and Tahj Washington in the 3rd

not hot takes just predictions I guess

 

Frazier will be off the board for GB.

 

I don't think Day 2 could have gone any better for the Steelers. Every pick seemed to be a player that should not have been there for the Steelers to take.

 

A very good 2nd day, lets finish strong on last day. We have improved alot just at the center position.

 

Seems like the story of the draft so far... every player we got should have been taken earlier.

 

We certainly filled needs now it will ultimately come down to how they play. Every team likes their picks otherwise they wouldn’t take them. It’s like after finishing a fantasy draft….you love it everytime!

 

Not exactly a 'hot take', but we clearly are drafting for need rather than necessarily BPA. Like someone else said, it really just depends on how quickly the new guys adjust to the NFL. Always excited for the start of a new season..... hoping for a season something better than mediocre 9-8 seasons.

 

You have to draft for value, not BPA or need. Value combines the two, who's there plus what you need. Hell, Spencer Rattler might be the BPA at 119, but we don't need a QB, so it would be stupid to take him. (My apologies for those of you pulling for us to take Rattler in the first, third, or sixth).

 

I think a lot of people are going to agree that it seems the Steelers are well on their way to filling their many holes with some great value players and that by season start, the front office with have some key free agents to make the team as solid as we could realistically and possible hope for. Except for possibly SS, I’m g be eating that position is kind of an afterthought for upgrade.

So, the success of this season will ultimately come down to two of the most common things - 1) The coaching and game planning to maximize the skills of the player around them and for the designed scheme. If they maximize that, then we could have a very exciting season. Maybe not the ultimate greatest success but exciting development in a tantalizing direction. 2) Quarterback play. Pretty straight forward there and that we be obvious.

If the character of the individuals and collective team is string like our 2005 and 2008 like squads then we are set up for something great.

Hot take! - Talent is CHEAP! Lots of talented athletes at home and working as highschool coaches or construction jobs. The hardest working and players working at maximum fitness and knowing the play book and buying into the system playing their roll to best of their abilities can have major success.

Work Ethic > Talent

 

I mean....


After Round 1, you have to evaluate the needs of the team then draft based off of BPA of those needs. Pick the players... not the positions. Teams that pick need over BPA often see themselves back within the Top 10; Atlanta being my personal incumbent. Michael Penix Jr's selection, on its own, seems sound. A 35 Year Old QB coming off of a devastating Achilles Injury (something Med. Science is still trying to improve upon after decades upon decades of research) isn't something I would be comfortable with given those circumstances. My problem isn't with the fact that Michael Penix Jr was selected.. for he is worthy of a First Round selection. My issue stems from Terry Fontenot stating that Penix could sit four to five seasons. Penix would be 29-30 to start out with; a massive waste of time and resources. For two, Penix is arguably the most Pro Ready of the QBs selected; Bo Nix included. Most of all, for three, how does this help Atlanta do anything in 2024?! Banking on Cousins alone, even with the Weapons that Atlanta has (their underrated Offensive Line no less) isn't going to aid their Defensive woes. Yes, Raheem Morris is a Defensive HC but that alone isn't going to cut it. Beyond Jessie Bates and AJ Terrell... who else exactly?! Atlanta isnt the only team that does this.


However, as far as the 2024 NFL Draft goes... whomever is reaching for the stars greater than Atlanta clearly isn't reaching high enough.

 

This.


Pick players, not positions.

 

The depth at WR helped us, but something Cowherd said this week (not much he usually says sticks, lol) really struck. He said 76% of 1st round WR picks do not re-sign with their original teams. That does not mean they are all busts, but drafting one high is not necessarily going to work in your favor. The amount of talent we see in that position from later rounds, the targeting (per haps) of these guys to work in certain packages and systems really can be success for them and the team.

 

When GB drafted Rodgers and Love, there was a long term goal in mind. The QB's did not like it, but the management saw a near future need addressed it. Drafting Pennix is not like that, unless they feel spending 100 million guaranteed on Kirk is really not something they truly believe in. Either way they have created a QB room with mistrust moving forward, and possibly a cancer that grows out of control in a very short period if Kirk's injury forces the change early.

 

If there is an actual hot take to make, I have two; one that isn't Steelers related but will affect the entire AFC and one that does effect the Steelers directly.


1.) The Tennessee Titans have the talent both to win the AFC South and field a Top 3 team in the conference:

Mind you, this isn't to say that this will happen but the Titans are gonna shock a lot of people. Quite a bit of talent over there in Tennessee and Will Levis now has all he needs to make the second year jump. Given how Bill Callahan oversaw the likes of Joe Burrow's development, while not nearly as polished, Levis has far more athletic traits and tools for Bill to work with; a more diverse offense no less.


2.) Cincinnati will finish third in the division again despite Joe Burrow playing a full season:


Having Joe cool back is big. Having him complete a full season?! Even bigger. The rest of the Division getting much better though?! Not ideal for a QB who is still behind an Offensive Line that has been in constant shuffle since 2020. Add the fact that Bill Callahan is no longer there along with several FA losses and the Bengals may likely be battling it out with Cleveland for third place.



Again.. just my two cents

 

Yep. Massive difference on two accounts. Aaron Rodgers was still an MVP Level player at the time when Love was drafted is the first. The second is that Love was younger than Penix Jr coming out; 21 at the time of coming out compared to Penix being 23 but turning 24 very soon.


This isn't accounting for the fact that, unlike Love, Penix is ready to play. Dude has arguably the best overall Arm Talent of any QB in the class; Caleb Williams included. It isn't the super freak level type of arm that Williams possesses mind you but Penix's passing capability is the most consistent in the class.