On Diontae

[bradshaw2ben]

Things to consider:

- If the Steelers hadn't dealt DJ, we'd have a giant hole at #2 CB right now. People are focusing on the lack of depth at WR, but CB was also a massive issue heading into the offseason.

- The Holmes trade is tough to compare since Ward and Mike Wallace were on the roster at the time.

- I agree 100% that what Mark Madden was saying 4 months ago was 'foolish'

They could have and perhaps would have taken a CB instead of another slot WR at 3.84. Although, they could just as easily have selected Khyree Jackson at that spot. Also, if my Aunt had wheels, she'd be a bike.

[stillthere]

I don’t so much follow the money, but was he due to make $18mil this years? I wasn’t suggesting new contract for him, rather just letting him play out his contract year, as should have happened with santonio in ‘10.

I will add if you were going to trade for a corner then that guy should at least be able to sniff the field which I don't think is going to be the case.

[bradshaw2ben]

Donte Jackson was a perfectly good #2 outside CB. He'd be about average. I'm pretty sure he'll see the field unless one of the developmental guys takes a big step forward.

[Deebo]

Donte Jackson was a perfectly good #2 outside CB. He'd be about average. I'm pretty sure he'll see the field unless one of the developmental guys takes a big step forward.

Yea this is where I'm at: I expect late career Joe Haden level of play from Jackson. Not great, but acceptable enough from a CB2. Maybe a tick of an upgrade from last year. But they need to find reinforcements the next offseason

[cop1211]

Draft a WR in the first or second next year and sign another one in free agency.
The bad thing is they’re in the same position with Pickens as they were with Johnson, he’s also a major league asshole.
They should trade him this year if the team is sucking.
He’s going to demand a crazy amount of money if they keep him to the end of his contract then they will end up with only a comp pick.

1.WR
2.DT
3a.WR
3b.RB (Pickens trade, let Harris walk)
4.DT
5.OT
6.S
7.OLB
Let Heyward walk, sign a good DT, and CB. Start to rebuild with young players who are not assholes, until you can find a QB.

[bradshaw2ben]

Ok fellas about a week away from the start of training camp where I HOPE to see this WR mess get sorted out.

Sure

it's a problem

Maybe even a big problem

But

If you even glance at rosters around the league, even the contenders have holes on their roster.

The Bills have WR issues too.
Have you seen the Chiefs OT's?
Lose that dad bod, Pat. You're going to be runnin more than you're used to.

In our own division, the Ravens have questions on their OL and WR room.

Anyway, I didn't like the return on the DJ trade, but always have to expect a lower return when trading a hostage.

That said, if Donte Jackson (DJ?) plays above JAG level I'll call it a win.

Like some of you I'd love to see a trade for at minimum a WR2, but at what price?

I love baseball, it fills a sports void, but still way too much down time in the offseason for the imagination to run amuck.

It's fun to daydream about Brandon Aiyuk, CeeDee Lamb, DK Metcalf etc but those don't appear to be realistic, cost efficient options.

It's not often a Pro Bowl caliber player is simply released at the start of camp like a Joe Haden.

Omar needs to pay close attention to that waiver wire because Van Jefferson AIN'T IT.

Dude sucks goat balls.

I hate to pin my hopes on an undersized 3rd round rookie, but I think the flyin' Hawaiian Roman Wilson is your defacto #2 until another option presents itself.

Dig him

BUT

Damn I wish he were bigger.

A lot off topic but I'll tell you who is bigger, fellow Hawaiian Tetairoa McMillan, a 6'5 WR currently playing for this year's BIG 12 Champion Arizona Wildcats.

NHALS will have to die for Omar to land that stud.

I'm WAY too optimistic about these 2024 Steelers for THAT to happen.

Go Russ!
Go Najee!!
Go Skenes!!!
GO LIVVY!!!!

Oh Charlie Brown holding the football.. so cute!

[bradshaw2ben]

Draft a WR in the first or second next year and sign another one in free agency.
The bad thing is they’re in the same position with Pickens as they were with Johnson, he’s also a major league asshole.
They should trade him this year if the team is sucking.
He’s going to demand a crazy amount of money if they keep him to the end of his contract then they will end up with only a comp pick.

1.WR
2.DT
3a.WR
3b.RB (Pickens trade, let Harris walk)
4.DT
5.OT
6.S
7.OLB
Let Heyward walk, sign a good DT, and CB. Start to rebuild with young players who are not assholes, until you can find a QB.

Who exactly plays QB and how much are you going to be paying them?

[Jobu]

GO LIVVY!!!!

Who or what the fuck is LIVVY?

[Jobu]

Draft a WR in the first or second next year and sign another one in free agency.
The bad thing is they’re in the same position with Pickens as they were with Johnson, he’s also a major league asshole.
They should trade him this year if the team is sucking.
He’s going to demand a crazy amount of money if they keep him to the end of his contract then they will end up with only a comp pick.

1.WR
2.DT
3a.WR
3b.RB (Pickens trade, let Harris walk)
4.DT
5.OT
6.S
7.OLB
Let Heyward walk, sign a good DT, and CB. Start to rebuild with young players who are not assholes, until you can find a QB.

Who exactly plays QB and how much are you going to be paying them?

QB? We don’t need no stinking QB!

[tbsteel]

Draft a WR in the first or second next year and sign another one in free agency.
The bad thing is they’re in the same position with Pickens as they were with Johnson, he’s also a major league asshole.
They should trade him this year if the team is sucking.
He’s going to demand a crazy amount of money if they keep him to the end of his contract then they will end up with only a comp pick.

1.WR
2.DT
3a.WR
3b.RB (Pickens trade, let Harris walk)
4.DT
5.OT
6.S
7.OLB
Let Heyward walk, sign a good DT, and CB. Start to rebuild with young players who are not assholes, until you can find a QB.

Who exactly plays QB and how much are you going to be paying them?

I feel like I'm living in a bizarro world. It seems like most Steelers fans just have their head buried in the sand about the QB position, and it's absolute insanity to me.

To me, the far and away pressing goal, the thing that should be keeping Omar Khan from getting a good night's sleep, is finding the next franchise QB (and he ain't on the roster today). Everything we do now and going forward until it's done should be geared to that. Scouting, resources, both short and long-term strategy.... all of it should essentially solely be devoted to finding the next franchise QB.

All this talk of trading for and giving $30M to Aiyuk... we need a QB. WE NEED A QB. Nothing else matters.

[Thrillsseeker]

Draft a WR in the first or second next year and sign another one in free agency.
The bad thing is they’re in the same position with Pickens as they were with Johnson, he’s also a major league asshole.
They should trade him this year if the team is sucking.
He’s going to demand a crazy amount of money if they keep him to the end of his contract then they will end up with only a comp pick.

1.WR
2.DT
3a.WR
3b.RB (Pickens trade, let Harris walk)
4.DT
5.OT
6.S
7.OLB
Let Heyward walk, sign a good DT, and CB. Start to rebuild with young players who are not assholes, until you can find a QB.

Who exactly plays QB and how much are you going to be paying them?

I feel like I'm living in a bizarro world. It seems like most Steelers fans just have their head buried in the sand about the QB position, and it's absolute insanity to me.

To me, the far and away pressing goal, the thing that should be keeping Omar Khan from getting a good night's sleep, is finding the next franchise QB (and he ain't on the roster today). Everything we do now and going forward until it's done should be geared to that. Scouting, resources, both short and long-term strategy.... all of it should essentially solely be devoted to finding the next franchise QB.

All this talk of trading for and giving $30M to Aiyuk... we need a QB. WE NEED A QB. Nothing else matters.

That opinion isn’t horrible at all, but some people’s opinion is: build the team with the missing pieces (while finding out what you have in the 2QB’s currently on roster) once missing pieces are plugged in the QB steps in(preferably a drafted QB) as the missing piece.

Get a solid team built then your QB has the best chance to succeed.

[Steel Bingo]

Get a solid team built then your QB has the best chance to succeed.

It absolutely worked out that way with Big Ben Roethlisberger!

Personally, I am psyched about Russell Wilson. Guy is a proven winner who looks motivated.

[stillthere]

That opinion isn’t horrible at all, but some people’s opinion is: build the team with the missing pieces (while finding out what you have in the 2QB’s currently on roster) once missing pieces are plugged in the QB steps in(preferably a drafted QB) as the missing piece.

Get a solid team built then your QB has the best chance to succeed.

The Ole Bill Cowher Strategy.

[Thrillsseeker]

Get a solid team built then your QB has the best chance to succeed.

It absolutely worked out that way with Big Ben Roethlisberger!

Personally, I am psyched about Russell Wilson. Guy is a proven winner who looks motivated.

Yeah me too. He’s been a winner in the league. Something really weird about him that I cant put my finger on. Maybe he’s needy? IDK. I’m optimistic that Fields can develop into our future QB but I’m not holding my breath on that one.

I’m probably more exited to see if Wilson has anything left more than I’m psyched.

[stillthere]

Get a solid team built then your QB has the best chance to succeed.

It absolutely worked out that way with Big Ben Roethlisberger!

Personally, I am psyched about Russell Wilson. Guy is a proven winner who looks motivated.

I hope he is good. I think Fields is going to be the guy by the end of the season. I think other than experience Fields brings more to the table and team chemistry. I know Fields throws picks a plenty but maybe George can make some freaky plays and save some ints.

[Mick]

I guess question 1: “is your passing offense functional enough that you would be able to tell if the qb you drafted was capable?” (I.e., to avoid the “time to give up on this Drew Brees guy. Just doesn’t have NFL tools.” scenario)

Question 2: “is your roster structured such that if you happened to draft an elite QB, you would be positioned to win a championship within ~3 years?” (to avoid “completely waste Justin Herbert’s cheap C1 years” scenario. Sorry to pick on the Chargers.)

If one of those answers is ‘no’, you shouldn’t be drafting a QB high.

[gojira5150]

Get a solid team built then your QB has the best chance to succeed.

It absolutely worked out that way with Big Ben Roethlisberger!

Personally, I am psyched about Russell Wilson. Guy is a proven winner who looks motivated.

I hope he is good. I think Fields is going to be the guy by the end of the season. I think other than experience Fields brings more to the table and team chemistry. I know Fields throws picks a plenty but maybe George can make some freaky plays and save some ints.

I agree. I want to see Fields start. Need to see what we have in him. He had NO help in Chicago until he got DJ Moore. They were so desperate to get Fields some help they traded for crappy Claypool. Fields had no running game or O-Line. He was running for his life. He will have actual talent here with a rebuilt o-Line.

Eldon Roberts even said he's scary back there. If you blitz and he breaks containment, it's 60 yards to the house. He's the closets to LJ (who I wanted the Steelers to draft). Roberts also said he's scary in the pocket. Has a Rocket Launcher arm. Let him start.

[cop1211]

For the QB you suck it up and suck to be in position to draft one, or you move up with a big trade if you can.
It is what it is.I personally hate giving up a lot of draft picks, so put me in the boat to suck, and get a high enough draft slot to get one.
If that ends up this year cool, I’m smelling another 9-7 season.

[bradshaw2ben]

I guess question 1: “is your passing offense functional enough that you would be able to tell if the qb you drafted was capable?” (I.e., to avoid the “time to give up on this Drew Brees guy. Just doesn’t have NFL tools.” scenario)

Question 2: “is your roster structured such that if you happened to draft an elite QB, you would be positioned to win a championship within ~3 years?” (to avoid “completely waste Justin Herbert’s cheap C1 years” scenario. Sorry to pick on the Chargers.)

If one of those answers is ‘no’, you shouldn’t be drafting a QB high.

THIS times a lot

I 100% agree that every move you make right now is geared to either answering the questions "How do we get the next franchise, difference-maker QB?" and/or "What can I do to provide a quality enough environment for whomever the next QB is so that I can evaluate the position?"

This is why I say, hey, make a deal for Aiyuk, but don't give up a first and maybe swap out some veteran pieces elsewhere that you'd have to pay more than they're worth, anyway (Dan Moore, Daniels, Najee).

[bradshaw2ben]

It absolutely worked out that way with Big Ben Roethlisberger!

Personally, I am psyched about Russell Wilson. Guy is a proven winner who looks motivated.

I hope he is good. I think Fields is going to be the guy by the end of the season. I think other than experience Fields brings more to the table and team chemistry. I know Fields throws picks a plenty but maybe George can make some freaky plays and save some ints.

I agree. I want to see Fields start. Need to see what we have in him. He had NO help in Chicago until he got DJ Moore. They were so desperate to get Fields some help they traded for crappy Claypool. Fields had no running game or O-Line. He was running for his life. He will have actual talent here with a rebuilt o-Line.

Eldon Roberts even said he's scary back there. If you blitz and he breaks containment, it's 60 yards to the house. He's the closets to LJ (who I wanted the Steelers to draft). Roberts also said he's scary in the pocket. Has a Rocket Launcher arm. Let him start.

I actually agree with you, only because I'm pretty sure Fields will prove once and for all that he's not the answer. I would like to find this out BEFORE they pay him a massive contract that ties the team to him for years.

[gojira5150]

I hope he is good. I think Fields is going to be the guy by the end of the season. I think other than experience Fields brings more to the table and team chemistry. I know Fields throws picks a plenty but maybe George can make some freaky plays and save some ints.

I agree. I want to see Fields start. Need to see what we have in him. He had NO help in Chicago until he got DJ Moore. They were so desperate to get Fields some help they traded for crappy Claypool. Fields had no running game or O-Line. He was running for his life. He will have actual talent here with a rebuilt o-Line.

Eldon Roberts even said he's scary back there. If you blitz and he breaks containment, it's 60 yards to the house. He's the closets to LJ (who I wanted the Steelers to draft). Roberts also said he's scary in the pocket. Has a Rocket Launcher arm. Let him start.

I actually agree with you, only because I'm pretty sure Fields will prove once and for all that he's not the answer. I would like to find this out BEFORE they pay him a massive contract that ties the team to him for years.

You make a good point. It's sink or swim. Let's see what Fields can do.

[Ice]

It will certainly be a less boring 9-8 season with Fields starting than Wilson, so there's that.

[W&M_Steeler]

It absolutely worked out that way with Big Ben Roethlisberger!

Personally, I am psyched about Russell Wilson. Guy is a proven winner who looks motivated.

I hope he is good. I think Fields is going to be the guy by the end of the season. I think other than experience Fields brings more to the table and team chemistry. I know Fields throws picks a plenty but maybe George can make some freaky plays and save some ints.

I agree. I want to see Fields start. Need to see what we have in him. He had NO help in Chicago until he got DJ Moore. They were so desperate to get Fields some help they traded for crappy Claypool. Fields had no running game or O-Line. He was running for his life. He will have actual talent here with a rebuilt o-Line.

We heard the same things about Mitch Trubisky- "Chicago is a QB graveyard, bereft of talent, he had no chance there, just wait until he plays for a real team like the Steelers". Mitch did worse with the Steelers than he did with the Bears. Pittsburgh isn't magical, and Tomlin is certainly no QB whisperer. I am very skeptical of Justin Fields. He has great athletic talent and a super strong arm, which are probably the two least important factors to QB success. If he can't process quickly, dissect a defense, and throw accurately, then he's not going to amount to much no matter how fast he is and how far he can throw the football. Him wearing the Black and Gold won't change that.

I have more hope that Russ Wilson will have a second wind here and play well enough to cement his HoF induction, like Kurt Warner with the Cardinals. I don't think it's likely, but a Wilson resurgence is the only realistic path to the Super Bowl I see for the Steelers anytime soon.

[Orangesteel]

Tomlin is the opposite of a QB whisperer. That’s why he needs to get gone before the next era begins. This is just the in between era which tends to suck. We made the playoffs last season and faired OK on the road in Buffalo. If Wilson can revive the magic we should be watchable the next few years. Fields is just a package QB; could work for some big plays this year if he’s schemed correctly.

[Deebo]

I hope he is good. I think Fields is going to be the guy by the end of the season. I think other than experience Fields brings more to the table and team chemistry. I know Fields throws picks a plenty but maybe George can make some freaky plays and save some ints.

I agree. I want to see Fields start. Need to see what we have in him. He had NO help in Chicago until he got DJ Moore. They were so desperate to get Fields some help they traded for crappy Claypool. Fields had no running game or O-Line. He was running for his life. He will have actual talent here with a rebuilt o-Line.

We heard the same things about Mitch Trubisky- "Chicago is a QB graveyard, bereft of talent, he had no chance there, just wait until he plays for a real team like the Steelers". Mitch did worse with the Steelers than he did with the Bears. Pittsburgh isn't magical, and Tomlin is certainly no QB whisperer. I am very skeptical of Justin Fields. He has great athletic talent and a super strong arm, which are probably the two least important factors to QB success. If he can't process quickly, dissect a defense, and throw accurately, then he's not going to amount to much no matter how fast he is and how far he can throw the football. Him wearing the Black and Gold won't change that.

I have more hope that Russ Wilson will have a second wind here and play well enough to cement his HoF induction, like Kurt Warner with the Cardinals. I don't think it's likely, but a Wilson resurgence is the only realistic path to the Super Bowl I see for the Steelers anytime soon.

Well stated.
Pittsburgh USED to be the magical place where we got a ton of FA what I call "Value".

Think of James Farrior who was an ok to good player with the Jets. The Steelers identified he'd be perfect at ILB on a 3-4.
Similar to KVO. Decent player with the Bungs, but really found his niche and made an impact with the Steelers. Jeff Hartings, etc. I can go on like this.

In the last 5 years can you think of anyone via FA or trade where you went: that team was an idiot for releasing X player and he's been way better for us?

[Stosh-67]

Get a solid team built then your QB has the best chance to succeed.

It absolutely worked out that way with Big Ben Roethlisberger!

Personally, I am psyched about Russell Wilson. Guy is a proven winner who looks motivated.

Yeah me too. He’s been a winner in the league. Something really weird about him that I cant put my finger on. Maybe he’s needy? IDK. I’m optimistic that Fields can develop into our future QB but I’m not holding my breath on that one.

I’m probably more exited to see if Wilson has anything left more than I’m psyched.

where i'm at as well Thrill

[Thrillsseeker]

It absolutely worked out that way with Big Ben Roethlisberger!

Personally, I am psyched about Russell Wilson. Guy is a proven winner who looks motivated.

Yeah me too. He’s been a winner in the league. Something really weird about him that I cant put my finger on. Maybe he’s needy? IDK. I’m optimistic that Fields can develop into our future QB but I’m not holding my breath on that one.

I’m probably more exited to see if Wilson has anything left more than I’m psyched.

where i'm at as well Thrill

Needy, nerdy I don’t know. Something just seems off but hey he’s a Steeler and I hope he lights it up or at the very least can duplicate similar #’s he had last year in this offense. The more I read and listen to podcasts on camp and Arthur Smith the more excited I get for our offense. (Fully knowing that my homerism is in full effect this time of year)

Here’s to hoping

[swissvale72]

Time to raise again just how fuckin stupid the DJ trade was.

[K_C_]

Time to raise again just how fuckin stupid the DJ trade was.

I thought the receivers looked really good vs the Texans. Austin had 2 catches for 49 yards. Scott Miller had 3 for 47. Dez Fitzpatrick had 1 for 34. Pickens had 2 for 25 and Van Jefferson had 1 catch for 20 yards.

I thought they were a pleasant surprise.

If you want something to worry about, focus on the o-line (specifically Broderick Jones) and the QB position. Friermuth and the TE's aren't exactly world beaters either.

Diontae Johnson and his stupidity have moved on.

[anpsteel]

Time to raise again just how fuckin stupid the DJ trade was.

He dropped an easy TD already

I Haven’t seen anything else, but I’m still 100% clear this is addition by subtraction


Remove a head case, negative influence, and the opportunity cost of having him on the field