Offense or Defense

What do we need to draft for in the first few rounds to improve this team?

Even though we have the highest paid defense it is top heavy with a lot of it invested in Heyward, Watt and Minkah. With that being said and our potential cap space next year when you factor in cutting players like Witherspoon and Trubiscky we should be in a good position to pay some of our own free agents like a Highsmith and Sutton and still add a couple really solid Free Agents.

From a team building perspective I believe we are in a solid place if Pickett continues to grow as he has been. Here is my breakdown on Offense and Defense and how I feel we should build the team based on the strength of the draft, free agency and our team needs.

Team Needs:
Offense: Left Guard, Left tackle, Slot Receiver, Back Up QB.
Defense: Outside CB, Slot CB, DT/DE, MLB, Edge Depth

Free Agency is strong at the DL position. There is some value at CB as well. But the draft is loaded with CB’s this year and it is weak at DL with the exception of the top few. Regarding OL there are some decent ones but they always come at a very high price. I believe there is enough depth in the draft of OL talent to target the OL i the draft instead of Free Agency.

I would lean toward resigning Cam Sutton as he is one of the better free agent CB's and go after Deron Payne or possibly Javon Hargrave. Hargrave makes a lot of sense he has been here. He has ties to the front office and Tomlin, but he is getting up there in age. Finally I would secure Highsmith as he has proven his worth this year, he is highly reliable, stays healthy and has gotten better each year.

Draft: My draft focus would be to secure a top tier CB and OL in the first two rounds with the second pick in round two going to best available player. The areas where I am struggling to fill are Slot WR, Edge depth and MLB. I don’t want to commit to drafting edge depth in the first three rounds because we have other more pressing needs. I also struggle to really figure out who and what type of MLB player to target both in free agency and the draft for this team as it seems what Tomlin requires of that position isn’t really available unless the guy has an S on his chest with a cape.

My Ideal Draft:
1. Joey Porter Jr CB (Huge Wingspan, Fast and Physical - A lot of upside to be #1CB)
2. O’cyrus Torrence G (Mauler at 350 LBS)
3. J.L Skinner S/LB (Huge Box Safety could play a rover role and replace Bush on passing downs)
4. OT
5. Edge or WR
6. Edge or WR
7. Developmental OT or DT

Free agency:
Drop Trubiscky
Drop Witherspoon
Drop Gunner
Drop Montravius Adams
Let Ogunjobi Walk
Let Alualu retire
Resign Highsmith
Resign Sutton
Resign T. Edmunds
Resign Chris Wormley
Resign CB William Jackson III (1 Year prove it deal)
Resign Busch (one year prove it deal)
Resign Steven Sims
Resign Miles Boykin
Resign Kazee (move him to Slot)
Splash Sign D. Payne DL
Sign a veteran backup QB

So my only reservations with this is will Busch comeback under 1 year?
Did I do enough for the DL in this equation?
Did I leave the MLB position vulnerable not really drafting anyone or signing depth in free agency?
Did I do enough for the pass defense for the slot, middle of the field short to medium crossing patterns, etc.?

My thinking is a J.L. Skinner could be somebody that is a hybrid Safety/MLB and could also kick over to the slot or cover Tight Ends. The guy is big enough at 6’5” 220 lbs to hold up as a MLB today with better coverage skills than anyone we currently have at the MLB position.

In addition with a Deron Payne and Cam Heyward manning the middle I think we will have a strong interior push and certainly more formidable against the run than what we have with Cam and Ogunjobi. I though about a Sika NT type guy in the draft but that just isn’t the type of player we draft anymore.

The main thing coming out of this draft is we have to beef up the OL, DL and CB position. If we have a defensive line that can stop the run and put pressure on the QB it just makes it that much easier on the back end in coverage. Then you add in some athletes with pedigree on the back end made up of William Jackson, Cam Sutton, Levi Wallace and Joey Porter Jr. along with Fitzpatrick, Edmonds, Kazee and J.L. Skinner I could see it really being a dynamic defense.

Hopefully in that scenario the MLB’s are in a better position to focus on the run and playing downhill and attacking the line of scrimmage.

Adding some blue chippers on the OL would hopefully add more stability to the growth we have seen this year. The main thing is the penalties by both Moore and Dotson and the sacks those two seem to give up. We seem to have some stability at Center and the right side of the line. Decreasing the penalties and sacks will only assist in Picketts growth and development plus imagine having a big mauler at LG to pave the way for our run game.

Scheming Pickens and Friermuth into the passing game more is a necessity moving forward. We also have Calvin Austin which it seems they aren’t sure how to scheme in correctly but if he can get an offseason of wethglifting in and we can use him 1/10th of the way Tyreek Hill has been used in KC or Miami we could have another weapon. If he doesn’t pan out we need to find a third WR preferably with speed to stretch the field and create chunk plays.

Based on my assumptions if our draft picks and free agent acquisitions panned out next year under this scenario we would be in a great position to draft for MLB, DL (groom someone under Cam) and WR to buildout the team to be where I think we would need to be to be competitive with the KC’s and Buffaloes of the NFL.

Just my thoughts. I would love to hear if people agree, disagree and why?

 

CB in the 1st is all I care.
I let T. Edmunds go....unless He comes back on such a team friendly deal that You could bring in someone else also.
Keep Mason as a backup, and bring in a UDFA as 3rd string.
I'm really worried about the D.
We need ILB, CBs, SS, DL.
So that's a major need at every level of the Defense.

 

I really don’t think they will be using early draft picks on the o-line. I can easily see them looking toward the future and drafting replacements for Cam, Alualu, Wormley etc

 

I agree with you. This Draft Class is loaded with CB’s. However I hope we don’t have the mindset since it is loaded we can wait to get one in later rounds.I feel they will pick at least one lineman in the top two rounds. They could go with a LT and move Dan Moore to guard or they could go with a LG. I think they really like Moore. He has improved this year but he still commits a lot of penalties and he struggles with outside speed rushers. Perhaps moving him to Guard would improve his play.

 

I don’t know Omar Khan and the guy second in command we got from Philadelphia are both very heavy on building the trenches on both sides. We definitely need to get younger on the Defensive line and add another Blue Chip player there. On offense we need to solidify the left side of the line. We have three to four drives a game that stall out because either Moore or Dotson committed a penalty or gave up a sack. I would take a Defensive Lineman in the first two rounds of the draft but we also need a CB and OL. If free agency is heavy on the DL my feeling is you go shopping for that in free agency which opens you up to be more flexible on draft day.

 

This will be OK’s first draft as a general manager. We don’t know what his beliefs are.

 

round 1 - BPA at LT, ILB, CB, DL (if starter wasn't acquired in FA)
round 2a - whatever wasn't drafted at #1 BPA
round 2b - BPA at remaining position of need

 

Very true. Only quote I saw is something about placing a high priority on guys that get to the QB and guys that protect the QB. I am assuming that means the DL and OL.

 

I couldn’t agree more with the exception I wouldn’t mind including guard on that needs list. In addition I don’t know if there is a ILB truly worthy of a 1st round pick.

 

Yes, if there is a Faneca in the top 50 picks, I would draft a guard.

 

O’Cyrus Torrence, G from Florida, is the guy I'm keeping my eye on. Dude seems to be having a rising draft stock. And if we're drafting between 12 and 16, I'm giving him a very long look. Even though some has him as a late 1st/early 2nd, I just don't see him being there at 33. With him, you can move McDaniels to LG and have Daniels help chip for Moore. I think this will be the OL direction Khan and Weidl goes based upon the Steelers history of building their OLines from the middle-> out. I don't know if Torrence is Faneca per say, but he's certainly a truck.

But I'm putting Joey Porter Jr. as a pick the Steelers will likely make if he's still on the board. I just can't see the Steelers passing on a legacy guy especially at a position of need. I'm sure someone that wants him badly would likely trade above us to get him. But could be wrong.

 

I think you are spot on with this whole post.

 

Edmunds - You mean like this year? Edmunds is one of the biggest bargains this year. No brainer if they can bring him back even with a raise.

Mason - He is an UFA, why would he come back?

 

Pittsburgh is currently drafting 14th as of Week 15. Due to the amount teams lumped together with records around .500 they could end up drafting as high as 2 (if they lose out with help) and as low as 18 (If they win out with help).

IF they somehow won out and made the playoffs, they would fall into picks 19-32 depending on when/if they were eliminated.

Also of note, Miami has no 1st round pick this year due to trying to pay Flores to tank. They currently sit at pick 23. So there are only 31 first round picks in 2023, meaning that the 2nd round pick from the Bears is actually 1 pick better no matter where it ends up.

 

Edmunds makes 4 plays a year,and now He's good.
I will say this only one time more. Edmunds tried very hard to leave last year....Like Myself....the rest of the league sees Him for what He is, and nobody....let me repeat that nobody wanted Him....So.....He crawled back here for peanuts. If He wants to sign the same kind of deal......Yes keep Him....if not.....Get someone else.
As far as Mason...for money.....that's why He may comeback. Why would anyone comeback???

 

Edmunds is an average starter on defense. He’s not a star, but he’s not a bench player either. I have said this many times, if Edmunds was a 3rd or 4th round pick, no one would have an issue with his performance.

I think Mason would rather be a backup somewhere else.

 

We have too many other needs in the off-season. I think if we can resign Edmunds at a fair price we do it thus allowing us to focus on other bigger positions of need. We can always draft and groom his replacement over the next few years.

 

If they bring Edmunds and Kazee back, let them rotate. Maybe even draft someone in the 3rd or 4th round.

 

Agree, BUT this highlights the lack of talent n depth across the team. Reaching for shinny things n telegraphing their pucks vs scouting better n taking FOOTBALL players

If they took a stud in round 1 n blue chippers in 2 n 3, w Edmunds in the 3rd or 4th. That's a quality draft, vs panicking n reaching/forcing a pick at the position of need, etc.

Just my .02

 

I don't disagree but it’s no Edmunds fault where he was drafted.

Also, there are 11 players on defense, someone has to be the 11th best.

 

The left side of the line has been my focus lately, I never gave a thought about moving Moore. A FA LT (of any value) is going to cost a mint, but doing what you said and getting either a top rookie or decent FA could really elevate the entire O. The core guys are there, this O can be competitive with a real professional OC.

 

i'm not for drafting a LT at this point. trent scott actually looked pretty good in preseason. better than i thought he would. i don't believe he gave up a sack and held his own on the left side. he's been in meyers system for awhile too. i keep him as the backup.

i wouldn't mind seeing cole moved to LG and a center taken. not rd. 1 necessarily though.

ILB or safety should be the pick i think.

not sure there is a 1st rounder at ILB that i like.

i don't think there is a can't miss D-Lineman in the first either but we should get one at some point.

corner- i hate to see them try to find one early in the draft. i'd prefer a free agent if one is out there or see what jackson will sign for at a reduced rate. we also have some young talent sitting here. dawson and mark gilbert.

this may sound strange and more of a luxury pick but the TE from ND, if he fell in our laps would be a great pickup, even with Muth. that would be a great two TE situation. blocks well and can be a huge target in the pass game. helps KP and muth and the run game. win, win, win.

 

there is no signing Jackson at a reduced rate as he’s already under contract for another year. They could extend him kicking part of his cap hit down the road. However, I’m not sure that’s the smart play. Back injuries are tricky and we haven’t seen him play. Granted he was a terrible scheme fit in Washington, but that doesn’t mean his skill set hasn’t diminished.

 

i agree but they have taken bigger risks. maybe it works out and maybe not. isn't there a way that his former team pays part of his next years salary? i thought i read that somewhere. it would have to be at a lower risk for us and a reduced rate somehow to keep him but risk and reward would have to factor in. or look elsewhere.

 

another guy i like and would like to see more of is elijah riley. i think this kid has some game to build on. can he play SS? i'd keep he and kazee and killebrew around if we let edmunds walk. doesn'tt mean we can't add a draft pick.