Best trade of the season? Look to Pittsburgh (from NY Times)

[steelheadtrout]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/spor ... elers.html

If paywalled, I can paste the text here if that's permitted.

[Texas Black & Gold]

I hope he continues to enjoy playing in Pittsburgh and his ego does not become inflated. But so far he is well worth the trade.

[Pabst]

All reports about Fitzpatrick prior to the draft said he was a hard worker who loved football. I would imagine he hated playing for a crap organization that was blatantly trying to tank, especially after coming from Alabama. He won't get that in Pittsburgh.

[955876]

Key now is keeping this defense together.

As a former basher of Bud Dupree even I feel he is a must keep at this point.

I say allocate cap dollars to keeping this D together while spending draft capital predominantly on the offense.

[Texas Black & Gold]

All reports about Fitzpatrick prior to the draft said he was a hard worker who loved football. I would imagine he hated playing for a crap organization that was blatantly trying to tank, especially after coming from Alabama. He won't get that in Pittsburgh.

That sounds great. I am just a little leery about good/great players wanting to leave Pittsburgh (Bell, AB, others etc.) after a couple a years. It is getting harder and harder to get "attached" to a player. But it is what it is.

[Jobu]

All reports about Fitzpatrick prior to the draft said he was a hard worker who loved football. I would imagine he hated playing for a crap organization that was blatantly trying to tank, especially after coming from Alabama. He won't get that in Pittsburgh.

That sounds great. I am just a little leery about good/great players wanting to leave Pittsburgh (Bell, AB, others etc.) after a couple a years. It is getting harder and harder to get "attached" to a player. But it is what it is.

Well, Bell and AB were exceptional cases, for different reasons the Steelers were never going to satisfy what they wanted, and AB played in Pittsburgh for 10 years. Then you have Ben, Pouncey, DeCastro, Foster, Heyward, Vince...
You love to be able to keep all your good to great players, but sometimes you need to pick and choose. Overall, the Steelers do a pretty good job at keeping their guys.

[blu]

Is the NyTimes correct - that Minkah entered the NFL draft after just 2 years at Alabama & then was still picked 11th in the 2018 draft. He is just turned 23 yr old. Then if he would have entered the draft as a senior in 2020 probably in the top 5 if not higher. Miami thought they were getting a 2020 top 5 draft pick when they traded Minkah to the Steelers. Instead we got the top 5 pick. Put me in line to get a Fitzburgh t-shirt.

[Pabst]

Is the NyTimes correct - that Minkah entered the NFL draft after just 2 years at Alabama & then was still picked 11th in the 2018 draft. He is just turned 23 yr old. Then if he would have entered the draft as a senior in 2020 probably in the top 5 if not higher. Miami thought they were getting a 2020 top 5 draft pick when they traded Minkah to the Steelers. Instead we got the top 5 pick. Put me in line to get a Fitzburgh t-shirt.

I didn't read the article (paywall), but Minkah played 3 years at Alabama. Left after his Junior year.

[JackLambert58]

My favorite current Steeler. Can't say enough about Minkah Fitzpatrick.

[Texas Black & Gold]

Is the NyTimes correct - that Minkah entered the NFL draft after just 2 years at Alabama & then was still picked 11th in the 2018 draft. He is just turned 23 yr old. Then if he would have entered the draft as a senior in 2020 probably in the top 5 if not higher. Miami thought they were getting a 2020 top 5 draft pick when they traded Minkah to the Steelers. Instead we got the top 5 pick. Put me in line to get a Fitzburgh t-shirt.

My understanding was that he left Alabama after his junior year. So that would be 3 years in college.

[Texas Black & Gold]

Is the NyTimes correct - that Minkah entered the NFL draft after just 2 years at Alabama & then was still picked 11th in the 2018 draft. He is just turned 23 yr old. Then if he would have entered the draft as a senior in 2020 probably in the top 5 if not higher. Miami thought they were getting a 2020 top 5 draft pick when they traded Minkah to the Steelers. Instead we got the top 5 pick. Put me in line to get a Fitzburgh t-shirt.

I didn't read the article (paywall), but Minkah played 3 years at Alabama. Left after his Junior year.

I responded to the post before I read yours. That is what I read and understood too.

[Texas Black & Gold]

My favorite current Steeler. Can't say enough about Minkah Fitzpatrick.

I still have Ben as my favorite and then Villanueva. I still need to get a T.J. Watt and JuJu shirt bc they are close behind. But I do like Minkah too.