You don’t take a QB in this year’s draft.

Here’s why.
Use our first four picks in this season’s draft to get a TE, RB, OL and DL

Cut Ben, Pouncey and McDonald.
Extend Haden and Nelson These moves can cut 45-50 million off the cap

I believe we can restructure Tuitt to save some more money if needed.

Retain Sutton, Banner, Dupree and Alualu. Maybe Hilton and Wormley. Backload the deals and hope the salary cap goes up over the next few years.

We can easily make the cap Work

Start Rudolph, it’s a win-win situation.
If Rudolph does well then you found your quarterback for the near future. If he doesn’t do well then we more than likely we have a draft position that allows us to go get a top quarterback in the next years draft.

 

I wouldn't take a QB this year either. The cap situation isn't as dire as it is being made out. There is a solid core here on the defensive side of the ball. Offense needs rebuilt. I would go with Mason for a year, draft and stud RB, and focus on improving the O-line.

 

Agree mostly. Disagree on the draft positions overall. Offensive Lineman has to be first and foremost. Protecting the QB is the top priority; Ben, Mason or otherwise.


If Pouncey does indeed end up retiring, make that two major needs on that side of the ball. I do indeed hope that the team can keep Cameron Sutton as that would help a great deal overall.


Here is my order;



Round One: Offensive Tackle


Round Two: Offensive Center


Round Three: Running Back/Tight End (whichever is rated higher first)


Round Four: Whichever position between Tight End and Running Back was not picked in Round Three.

 

From what I hear on 93.7, sounds like Haden gonna b gone

 

can’t take a post serious when you say to cut a retiring player.

 

Dupree is a pipe dream. He's going to sign a one-year prove it deal, and we don't have the cap space for that. It's essentially a franchise tag. He's gone, Highsmith was drafted to replace him.

Also, what is your starting OL? Gonna lose Feiler, Villy, Pouncey, maybe Banner.

 

For how long? One year? Not another franchise tag! And he will want to get paid so I feel he moves on. Highsmith will do just fine.

I believe he is a priority.

 

I would like to keep them all, but realistically Hilton and Cam will test the market, and I believe Hilton get's a bigger payday than we can afford. Wormley, meh, would rather focus on Williamson or Spillane..neither are spectacular but have shown that they can fill in (when the rest of the D is healthy)...strictly depth which we really need. The one thing you missed...got to lock up TJ, and that will not be cheap.

Also feel there just might be room to trade down out first a few spots if someone is looking...not far, but if you can get a 4th out of it you get a chance at quality depth for DL or OL. Form a rebuild starts there, the more drafts picks in rounds 3 and 4 (up to a point) can make you a contender much faster.

As for Bud he will get an offer from someone, but he may not be ready until midyear, for those saying franchise remember a 2nd tag will cost around 22 million plus, just cannot be done.

 

Its all a crap shoot, but 8-8 gets you a more realistic chance of moving up, besides MT will still have a non losing season! (note sarcasm)

 

I’m tired of mid-round RBs not panning out. Snell, Samuel, Archer, Rainey, McFarland (it’s early but has shown nothing yet) and Conner (average to below average).

Either go get a high round stud or a proven FA. No more projects

 

Don’t forget they are due a compensatory pick for Hargrave as well, probably a fourth or maybe even a third if they are lucky. Not sure when they’ll know for sure. I’d agree with the draft needs, offensive line, running back, tight end, depth needed everywhere.

Personally I’d prefer if Ben just retired and they focus 2021 on purging the cap and fixing the OLine and rebuilding the pieces on that offence. Yes Ben was great, and yes there was a barren 20 years between Bradshaw and Ben, but he’s not that guy any more. He is too static in the pocket and the offence is too one dimensional with him in there, and he costs a fortune on top of that. It’s time, even if it means 2021 is an ugly 6-10

I would not be comfortable with Rudolph as the full time starter, get a veteran in free agency to compete with Mason, or trade for Darnold

 

Agree about the Running Backs overall. For me personally, I am a bigger fan of the athletic type backs rather than the throwback ones who have stellar tape but not much else. SaQuon was such a rare exception as he has both.


That said, our Offensive Line is long in the tooth. There remains a major reason as to why Running Backs like Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry are doing so well; the big men up front. For that matter, compare their abilities to a Top Five pick in SaQuon Barkley and what Pittsburgh did to him in Week One.



Running Back wise?! SaQuon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey are all in a league of their own. That said, they all have varying degrees of success because of one factor; the Offensive Line. Heck, look at Najee Harris and how well he performed behind that Offensive Line.



Get that Offensive Line fixed first. Once that happens, look for the results to arrive soon thereafter.

 

Agree. There are outliers like Aaron Jones but most of the best rushers in the league were taken in the early rounds. This idea that you don’t need to invest in the position is largely a myth.

That said, getting your line right is a bigger priority and I’d invest there first

 

I don't see how you think Ben would ever be cut. If he decides to retire on his own, then that will be fine with the Rooneys and they will deal with the cap hit. If he decides to stay Art II will welcome that as well. No way Tomlin tells him he is going to cut him.

They are not cutting a 2 time SB Champion QB.

 

Have to rebuild the OL this year, likely with multiple picks. Otherwise it will not matter who is added at QB or RB since they'll just get killed.

 

If a Trey Lance or Mac Jones falls the Steelers, you take him. Ideally I'd be looking for best player available whether it's OL/TE/RB and in that order. Frankly Id hope that Najee drops to the 2nd round and we trade up to the 33rd or 34th spot and pick him. But frankly, I'd doubt he would even drop the the 24th.

 

I say you watch Malik Willis of Liberty highlights and we could get him in late rounds

 

agreed. And just like that I feel good about the future

 

If we draft Mac Jones, we'd also better draft Najee, Smith,Waddle, the OL, and hire Sark to call plays.

Otherwise, we already have him on the roster, goes by the name of "Randolph" or something.

 

We don't seem to scout them very well. None of our guys know how to set up blocks or hit smaller holes. Bell was brilliant at it. Najee could be, too. If they want to try to win it all next year, Najee could have an instant impact.

 

U need to draft a high end running back higher than the third round.. Conner and Snell were 3rd and 4th round picks and it hasn't worked

 

They sure were.... and they did not have a quality Offensive Line either. Need that for any Running Back to succeed. For a good reference, see SaQuon Barkley.

 

I'd say go o line first round then running back second round if there's a good one. I believe lev bell was a second rounder