2019 Free Agent Class

[Ice]

If it's someone like Moseley, who we basically don't need, I'm fine with standing pat. The "big splashes" equate with belly flops pretty regularly.

[stillcajun]

This just in. Seems that KC is offering Dee Ford for a 2nd round pick. You can pay him Bell's money or less an instantly upgrade our pass rush. Assuming he can line up onsides....

KC says he's miscast for a 4-3 and would be a better fit for a 3-4.

[jewelsongs]

This just in. Seems that KC is offering Dee Ford for a 2nd round pick. You can pay him Bell's money or less an instantly upgrade our pass rush. Assuming he can line up onsides....

KC says he's miscast for a 4-3 and would be a better fit for a 3-4.

I would do it. Then release Dupree, whose $9M pays for most of Ford.

[DP39]

This just in. Seems that KC is offering Dee Ford for a 2nd round pick. You can pay him Bell's money or less an instantly upgrade our pass rush. Assuming he can line up onsides....

KC says he's miscast for a 4-3 and would be a better fit for a 3-4.

Saw that. If true, I would seriously consider sending our second, signing him to a long-term deal and cutting bait with Bud - while using part of his '19 money to cover Ford's '19 cap hit. Addition by subtraction. Constant pressure from Ford and Watt would go a long way to improving our secondary, as well.

Then, trade AB for a 1st and spend our 1 and 1T on the best ILB and WR you can get.

[DP39]

This just in. Seems that KC is offering Dee Ford for a 2nd round pick. You can pay him Bell's money or less an instantly upgrade our pass rush. Assuming he can line up onsides....

KC says he's miscast for a 4-3 and would be a better fit for a 3-4.

I would do it. Then release Dupree, whose $9M pays for most of Ford.

Great minds....beat me to it.

[DP39]

Ravens just released S Eric Weddle...hmmm. He and Ben are very close friends....hmmm. One year contract for an aging yet effective S???

[bradshaw2ben]

Dee Ford is so much better suited to be a 4-3 weakside DE. Super straighline. Line him up as a wide 9 and let him rip.

Would look foolish as a stand up 3-4OLB with coverage and run fit responsibilities.

[bradshaw2ben]

I'm gonna say this one time, so everyone has a chance to hear:

Bud Dupree is a better 3-4 OLB in the Steelers scheme than Dee Ford would be.

<mic drop>

[Steelperch]

Cut Burnett, save $3 million, give that money to Weddle. No hit to the cap. Better player.

[Ice]

I'll second Weddle. Sacks hasn't been our problem for a while now. Generating turnovers off of them and not giving up big plays on 3rd downs in the secondary has been.

[steelmann58]

Yes he is but he still not worth the money he stealing here.

[bradshaw2ben]

Yes, but don't forget you are paying a premium to have the right to have him completely off the books next year if he doesn't continue to improve.

However, I think they will sign him to a multi-year deal that spreads it out, gives them an out .

[steelmann58]

Ravens just released S Eric Weddle...hmmm. He and Ben are very close friends....hmmm. One year contract for an aging yet effective S???

Sorry he had his one shot and he passed us over to go to the ravens and that when he was a few years younger.

[Orangesteel]

Listen kids...All you're doing is setting yourself up for disappointment

The Steelers are not making a splash into free agency...They will sign a few lower level FA's to fill out the roster

Awesome...can’t wait for the last years of Ben’s career. I don’t see how we remain competitive in the AFC if we don’t bring in a few notable FAs. If this is the approach that Tombert are going to take, well then fuck them even more than I’ve said fuck them in the past.

We have lost too much talent on this team and we have a bunch of JAGs. We can’t draft DBs for shit. If we don’t bring in talent we are going to be a .500 team.

[steelmann58]

If they going to be a 500 might as well be under maybe then we can see Tomlin fired.

[Ice]

Ravens just released S Eric Weddle...hmmm. He and Ben are very close friends....hmmm. One year contract for an aging yet effective S???

Sorry he had his one shot and he passed us over to go to the ravens and that when he was a few years younger.

Aging, but effective. How many of our crop would you hang "effective" on?

[Orangesteel]

With AB gone, there are 5-6 rosters in the AFC stronger than ours.

- Pats
- KC
- Colts
- Houston
- San Diego

OK, maybe 5. No way I put Cleveland ahead of us, BUT, a whole lot of their roster is better than ours.

With Flacco, I’d say Denver might be pretty good as well.

Point is, this not the time or place to be doing bullshit according to the “Steelers way”; news flash, that has not been working. They need to get creative and don’t be afraid to send some dudes packing. If Hunter and DHB are even in training camp I’m going to be livid.

[Ice]

I'd disagree with Denver. I'm not sure Flacco's even an upgrade over Keenum at this point. Cleveland is certainly improving. I'm not sure I'd put the Patriots roster that far ahead. Brown was talented. Bell was talented, too. James Conner and Juju Smith Schuster weren't Pro Bowl players in their 2nd years for no reason. Arguably (easily) better than any WR/RB combo on KC, NE, Ind, Houston, Denver, San Diego or Cleveland. If Hunt comes back like gangbusters, Cleveland might actually be closest, followed by San Diego with Gordon and Allen.

Scoring won't be a huge problem. Yards likely won't. Spreading the balls around will take care of a lot of those ills. It's when Ben is his most effective. I'm guessing turnovers drop, too.

Defense, on 3rd downs and scoring will be an issue. The weakness down the middle needs fixed, and WR and RB depth needs addressed. I'll still throw TE and DL in there, too. The cupboard isn't totally bare.

[steelmann58]

The steelers need to change their FA ways especially with some extra cash.The steelers have a very small window and need to act in FA.

[stillcajun]

This just in. Seems that KC is offering Dee Ford for a 2nd round pick. You can pay him Bell's money or less an instantly upgrade our pass rush. Assuming he can line up onsides....

KC says he's miscast for a 4-3 and would be a better fit for a 3-4.

Saw that. If true, I would seriously consider sending our second, signing him to a long-term deal and cutting bait with Bud - while using part of his '19 money to cover Ford's '19 cap hit. Addition by subtraction. Constant pressure from Ford and Watt would go a long way to improving our secondary, as well.

Then, trade AB for a 1st and spend our 1 and 1T on the best ILB and WR you can get.

WR and CB (Williams, Murphy both could be available)

[stillcajun]

I'll second Weddle. Sacks hasn't been our problem for a while now. Generating turnovers off of them and not giving up big plays on 3rd downs in the secondary has been.

Sacks haven't but edge pressure has been on the left side. Would like Weddle but I don't really think he wants to play for Tomlin. Had a chance before when he chose Balt. I believe the Steelers offered him a comparable contract. Can't see him jumping to a division rival unless he really wants to stick it to Balt.

[steelmann58]

They have to act early and add a playmaker.

[bradshaw2ben]

I'll second Weddle. Sacks hasn't been our problem for a while now. Generating turnovers off of them and not giving up big plays on 3rd downs in the secondary has been.

Sacks haven't but edge pressure has been on the left side. Would like Weddle but I don't really think he wants to play for Tomlin. Had a chance before when he chose Balt. I believe the Steelers offered him a comparable contract. Can't see him jumping to a division rival unless he really wants to stick it to Balt.

Sorry, gotta call BS. Dupree had a lot of pressure last year. Steelers led the NFL in pressures and sacks the past two years, and it wasn't all Watt.

[CASTEELER]

Listen kids...All you're doing is setting yourself up for disappointment

The Steelers are not making a splash into free agency...They will sign a few lower level FA's to fill out the roster

Bingo Listen to da man people FC nailed it!!

[Steelafan77]

I'd disagree with Denver. I'm not sure Flacco's even an upgrade over Keenum at this point. Cleveland is certainly improving. I'm not sure I'd put the Patriots roster that far ahead. Brown was talented. Bell was talented, too. James Conner and Juju Smith Schuster weren't Pro Bowl players in their 2nd years for no reason. Arguably (easily) better than any WR/RB combo on KC, NE, Ind, Houston, Denver, San Diego or Cleveland. If Hunt comes back like gangbusters, Cleveland might actually be closest, followed by San Diego with Gordon and Allen.

Scoring won't be a huge problem. Yards likely won't. Spreading the balls around will take care of a lot of those ills. It's when Ben is his most effective. I'm guessing turnovers drop, too.

Defense, on 3rd downs and scoring will be an issue. The weakness down the middle needs fixed, and WR and RB depth needs addressed. I'll still throw TE and DL in there, too. The cupboard isn't totally bare.

This. DLine needs depth. Walton and Alualu are very upgradeable and since this draft is real deep at DLine talent I hope they draft someone good. As far as offense goes. I fully agree with the skill positions being a wash. Brown could easily be replaced with a vet WR like Funchess. RB is also an easy one to fill through FA. With DE David Irving being suspended for violating the NFL substance policy unfortunately he's off the board for vet DLine depth. I wrote earlier in another post if I'm the Steelers I look to target WR Funchess, ILB Hicks and CB Darby. Add a vet RB and they're good. DLine, perhaps FA [49'ers] DE Julian Taylor would be a worthy prospect. DT Danny Shelton?

[Jobu]

Brown could easily be replaced with a vet WR like Funchess.

C’mon now. AB is a delusional narcissistic knucklehead, that needs to be shown the door ASAP, but let’s not minimize what he is on the field. While I’d be all for bringing in Funchess, he isn’t easily replacing Brown. There isn’t any single player, FA or draftee, replacing Antonio Brown. This guy is the best WR in the game today, one of the best ever. He’s a sure fire first ballot HoFer. His time in Pittsburgh is over, but he’s arguably one of the 5 best players to ever wear the black and gold. His production is going to be missed.

[Ice]

I'll give you that "replaced" is an overstatement, JR, and that maybe phrasing it more along the lines of "compensated for within a more diversified offensive scheme" might be a little more appropriate.

I'll give you that if you could retract "arguably top 5 Steeler of All Time. Or, at the very least, send some of those crazy pills my way for Friday night. He's put up excellent numbers, but fifteen years from now, when Steelers fans discuss top Steelers, just at the WR position, he'll be closer to Roy Jefferson than he will to Stallworth and Swannie. I'll still want to debate overall career with Hines Ward, before I even get to the two HOFers.

[Jobu]

I'll give you that "replaced" is an overstatement, JR, and that maybe phrasing it more along the lines of "compensated for within a more diversified offensive scheme" might be a little more appropriate.

I'll give you that if you could retract "arguably top 5 Steeler of All Time. Or, at the very least, send some of those crazy pills my way for Friday night. He's put up excellent numbers, but fifteen years from now, when Steelers fans discuss top Steelers, just at the WR position, he'll be closer to Roy Jefferson than he will to Stallworth and Swannie. I'll still want to debate overall career with Hines Ward, before I even get to the two HOFers.

OK...top 10. I know you’re going to bring up the “rings” argument, and that’s fair But I’m talking pure football playing ability, without all the other intangibles that go with it.
Again, we are in the comparing different era arguments, but IMO, replace Swann with AB, and the Steelers are still a 4 Super Bowl dynasty. Love Swann and Stalls, but I believe that AB is a better pure WR...just my opinion. And Ward isn’t in the conversation...sorry, he just isn’t. AB is going in to the HoF 5 years after he retires. Ward is going in 5 minutes after he buys a ticket.

OK...that’s my thoughts on AB, and I’m through defending the guy because it makes me feel kind of dirty...if you know what I mean. But the guy is a great football player. A giant piece of crap, but a great football player. And four months ago, that’s how everyone here would have described him. Just saying.

[bradshaw2ben]

The underrated part of bringing in Weddle is the off-field and locker room part of it. He buys-in to winning culture, no bullshit. He believes in Ben. He adds another voice of reason. I could see him helping to create some cohesion and positivity and be one of those locker room guys who doesn't need the coach's permission to keep guys in line.

He has to be better than Morgan Burntnett, who was apparently none of those things and could get on the field, either.

[meanjustinbarlow]

The underrated part of bringing in Weddle is the off-field and locker room part of it. He buys-in to winning culture, no bullshit. He believes in Ben. He adds another voice of reason. I could see him helping to create some cohesion and positivity and be one of those locker room guys who doesn't need the coach's permission to keep guys in line.

He has to be better than Morgan Burntnett, who was apparently none of those things and could get on the field, either.

I would be all for this if Weddle hasn’t deteriorated. I suspect the roomies in this years class have more to offer on the field.

I do agree that we need the right vets to stabilize the locker room.... maybe the Cardinals give us Larry Fitz and their 2nd rounder for Brown? Allow me this dream