2023 - Completing the Rebuild

[SteelerDayTrader]

I can’t avoid taking Ika at 32 if he’s there

I think he’s a cog for years to come

Just my 2 cents

[jewelsongs]

Edmunds and Branch play two different positions. Branch is going to be Mike Hilton in the NFL.

Wasn’t Mike Hilton an UDFA? There is absolutely no way on earth we draft a slot corner at #17. I don’t think think we’ll take an outside corner either, even though a shut down corner would be nice. It’ll be an ILB or OT. Edge rusher and WR could be a surprise pick very high.

He is not a slot corner, he is a safety who can also play the slot. He is the best defensive back in the draft, and if we are going to face the really good QBs in the AFC, we need a strong defensive backfield. There are other solutions to that problem, but I am very high on Branch. Branch is 6" 193 lbs and can get bigger compared to Hilton's 5'8. He is going to be way better than Hilton ever was.

[bradshaw2ben]

Edmunds and Branch play two different positions. Branch is going to be Mike Hilton in the NFL.

Wasn’t Mike Hilton an UDFA? There is absolutely no way on earth we draft a slot corner at #17. I don’t think think we’ll take an outside corner either, even though a shut down corner would be nice. It’ll be an ILB or OT. Edge rusher and WR could be a surprise pick very high.

A safety who can play the slot and be e a playmaker there is light years above "CB who is too small or slow to play outside". Hilton should have been drafted in round 2, based on his career.

[K_C_]

Edmunds and Branch play two different positions. Branch is going to be Mike Hilton in the NFL.

Wasn’t Mike Hilton an UDFA? There is absolutely no way on earth we draft a slot corner at #17. I don’t think think we’ll take an outside corner either, even though a shut down corner would be nice. It’ll be an ILB or OT. Edge rusher and WR could be a surprise pick very high.

A safety who can play the slot and be e a playmaker there is light years above "CB who is too small or slow to play outside". Hilton should have been drafted in round 2, based on his career.

I'll be shocked if we took a safety in round 1 or a DB of any kind, frankly, in round 1. They'll go in the trenches or ILB before they do that.

I also still don't understand how "Branch is going to be Mike Hilton in the NFL" means he'll be a safety/playmaker who can play the slot, instead of a CB (I'm guessing you mean Hilton) who is too small or too slow to play outside. Sounds like Branch and Hilton have very different skill sets.

Possibly one of the round 2 picks for a playmaker who can cover slot receivers, if they value that type of player as much as you think they do. I just find it odd that Arthur Maulet (who I also believe was undrafted) plays in that role presently.

I just don't see a first rounder being used in that role.

[K_C_]

The Branch pick is interesting though for sure.

If they took him in the first, they would need almost certainly go NT and ILB with their next 2 picks.

....and everyone will still be bitching about needing help on the o-line, at WR and depth at OLB.

They need to hit a few home runs in this draft and free agency for sure and to put it simply, Kenny Pickett needs more weapons.

[Ice]

It'd be slightly odd, anachronistic asset allocation to go D for the top three picks while simultaneously having the highest paid defense in an offensive league, but we do what we do, obviously.

Some weapons on O would help.

[SteelerDayTrader]

If the Steelers can use a 1st on David fuckin DeCastro they can spend it on any position

[jewelsongs]

It'd be slightly odd, anachronistic asset allocation to go D for the top three picks while simultaneously having the highest paid defense in an offensive league, but we do what we do, obviously.

Some weapons on O would help.

Actually my first 2 picks were defense and then offense for the next 3. I had to look up the word anachronistic, but now that I understand, let me give you my logic for my draft. I think we are in bed with Pickett as QB for the foreseeable future. I think he can be a top 12 QB (maybe Neil O'Donnell or slightly better. I don't think we can win many shootouts with him as QB. The AFC is full of young QBs who are very talented. To beat them, I think we need an over the top defense. If we have J Wobble, Cam, Tj and Alex rushing, they will be tough to block. If you have a defensive backfield that includes Sutton, Fitz, Kazee, Dean, Branch and Edmunds (basically playing linebacker), that is going to be tough to throw against, especially in the time you have before getting sacked. That is why I would spend additional money on the defense. But our third and fourth picks are on the O Line, helping our running game.

[Ice]

It's definitely all in on the Tomlin philosophy, so maybe more likely than not, but another dynamic weapon wouldn't hurt the points and chunks-challenged offense, or the young QB's development. O'Donnell got us to SB30 running a difficult to cover 5-wide set featuring a few nice pieces at WR.

[K_C_]

It's definitely all in on the Tomlin philosophy, so maybe more likely than not, but another dynamic weapon wouldn't hurt the points and chunks-challenged offense, or the young QB's development. O'Donnell got us to SB30 running a difficult to cover 5-wide set featuring a few nice pieces at WR.

They desperately need another dynamic weapon at WR or TE if Pickett is going to be able to expand his game. Maybe Calvin Austin III becomes that guy but Diontae Johnson is simply too unreliable a player. Christ, even just for depth, what happens to this team if anything happens to Pickens? Jesus....the season would be over.

[K_C_]

If the Steelers can use a 1st on David fuckin DeCastro they can spend it on any position

David Decastro was a 2 time All Pro and a 6 time Pro Bowler.

Dafuq are you talking about?

[fractalsteel]

Again, the last 2 drafts the Steelers have used 5 of their 6 premium picks on offense. When you have 3 All Pros on D you are going to have one of the highest paid units in the league.
Doesn't mean you ignore the D with early picks.

[K_C_]

Again, the last 2 drafts the Steelers have used 5 of their 6 premium picks on offense. When you have 3 All Pros on D you are going to have one of the highest paid units in the league.
Doesn't mean you ignore the D with early picks.

I believe 2 of the first 3 picks will absolutely, positively be on the defensive side of the ball. I didn't expect a safety, but if B2B and Perch are correct and Branch is the pick at 17, they absolutely must find a NT in the second round. They also desperately need an ILB.

Outside corner should probably be pushed to next year once they re-sign Sutton, but where does that leave finding more weapons for Pickett and reinforcing the o-line? Trading those later draft picks looks idiotic right now.

[Baltostiller]

If the Steelers can use a 1st on David fuckin DeCastro they can spend it on any position

David Decastro was a 2 time All Pro and a 6 time Pro Bowler.

Dafuq are you talking about?

You beat me to it FC. He was also a 2nd team all pro once. That on top of being a 9 year starter makes his pick at #24 a great one.

[steelmann58]

I think the Steelers will target 2 spots in Fa and get those spots secured. Does anyone know about Carson Strong is he healthy? I would not be shocked if the Steelers move down in this draft and no way you bring Jackson back at that salary

[kramer]

Our 2022 season is over, so how do we complete the rebuild and get back on track to winning a Super Bowl. I think it can be done. After we welcome our new Offensive Coordinator (sorry to all the Tomlin haters, he stays), we focus on the roster. The salary cap is going to be a record high in 2023, and we are currently about $13M to $17M under depending on which site you use. So we start by clearing some players. I cut the following:

Trubisky - $8M
Jackson - $12M
Witherspoon - $4M
Olszewski - $2M
Killebrew - $2M
Maulet - $1.8M
Riley - $1M
Merritt - $1M
Green - $900K
Platel - $750K

This saves an additional $33.5M. Now Omar goes to work. The Steelers are a defense dominant team, but we are getting old. Nothing that free agency and a good draft can’t fix. Most posters on this site think we need help (in no particular order) at ILB, DL, OL, and CB. We start by signing two priority free agents. I think Ogunjobi was a great pickup, but he will be more expensive to sign. I sign J Wobble. He will cost more, but with a signing bonus and guaranteed money, we can keep his cap manageable in the short term. (Back up plan is to keep Larry). Then we sign CB Jamel Dean from Tampa Bay. He can be the shut down corner we need. Next we draft. I pick the following:

1st - Brian Branch, S, Alabama
2nd - Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
2nd - Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
3rd - Steven Avila, OG/C, TCU
4th - John Emery Jr, RB, LSU
7th - Jake Andrews, C/OG, Troy
7th - Shaka Heyward, LB, Duke (you can’t have enough Heywards)

Branch is the best defensive back in the draft, and can play slot immediately. Sanders puts Spillane back as a backup. Jones takes Okorafor’s place eventually, moving him to swing tackle. Avila does the same with Dotson. The rest of the draft improves depth.

Because we have lost Rudolph and Trubisky, we need backup QBs. We sign Drew Lock (or another similar name), and in a tip of the cap to B2B, Cole Kelley. We also go to work to sign several of our own free agents such as Sutton, Edmunds, Kazee, etc.

So now our roster looks like this:

QB - Pickett, Free Agent (Drew Lock), Free Agent (Cole Kelley)
RB - Harris, Warren, McFarland, Draft (John Emery Jr, Round 4), Watt
TE - Freiermuth, Gentry, Heyward
WR - Pickens, Johnson, Austin, Sims, Boykin, Miller
C - Cole, Hassenauer, Draft (Jake Andrews, Round 7)
G - Daniels, Dotson, Draft (Steven Avila, Round 3)
T - Moore, Okorafor, Draft (Dawand Jones, 48th Pick)
K - Boswell
LS - Kuntz

D Line - Heyward, Leal, Adams, Marshall, Loudermilk, Free Agent (J Wobble)
OLB - Watt, Highsmith, Jones, Reed
ILB - Robinson, Spillane, Draft (Drew Sanders 32nd Pick), Draft (Shaka Heyward, Round 7)
CB - Wallace, Sutton, Pierre, Gilbert, Free Agent (Jamel Dean)
S - Fitzpatrick, Edmunds, Kazee, Norwood, Draft (Brian Branch, 17th Pick)
P - Harvin

Our average age is about 25, and we have a roster that can continue to improve, a defense that can shut down teams, a young offense with a decent coordinator.

In advance, I know the comments will be as long as we have NHALS we still won’t win, so no need to post those. If he doesn’t win with this roster we can replace him and keep the roster. Any other comments are welcome.

Neutron Bomb. Blow up everything

[cop1211]

Add free agent LT Lewan ,Wynn, Cam Robinson. DT Tomlinson, ILB Edmunds. Resign Sutton, Kazee, Ogonjobi.

1.WR Addison USC
2a.OT Wright Tenn
2b.CB Jaelon Jones Texas AM
3.OG/OC Steve Avila TCU
4.OLB Viliami Fehoko San Jose State
7a.QB Clayton Tune Houston
7b.RB Roshon Johnson Texas

[punum123]

Top 3 priorities...

Get rid of Clank Johnson and his contract.

Re-sign Larry O

Re-sign Kazee

I would also get rid of Trubisky and Shank Harvin.

I'd draft another bad MF'er WR up high. We have to start scoring points. Our defense is good if not great, but we gotta start scoring some godamn fuckin points. Clank isn't going to help here. Get rid of him by any means necessary.

GET RID OF BUSH!!!!

[Pickett's Platoon]

He's already gone,

[bradshaw2ben]

It'd be slightly odd, anachronistic asset allocation to go D for the top three picks while simultaneously having the highest paid defense in an offensive league, but we do what we do, obviously.

Some weapons on O would help.

I think they have to do that considering what they want to do and are doing on offense. If they don't have a dominating defense, they have no chance.

[Ice]

It'd be slightly odd, anachronistic asset allocation to go D for the top three picks while simultaneously having the highest paid defense in an offensive league, but we do what we do, obviously.

Some weapons on O would help.

I think they have to do that considering what they want to do and are doing on offense. If they don't have a dominating defense, they have no chance.

Be nice to support it with some quick strike ability, though.

[bradshaw2ben]

Quick strike offense for them is: creating turnovers on defense.

[Jizz Mop]

Diontae Johnson in a trade would get us a high to mid 2nd, is that reasonable?

[jewelsongs]

"it looks like the Steelers will be rolling over $4,707,146 in unused salary cap space from 2022 to 2023." Steeler Depot

[Mick]

Diontae Johnson in a trade would get us a high to mid 2nd, is that reasonable?

if you think “WR1 Sims // WR2 Practice squadder // WR3 Practice Squadder “

Looks like a nice depth chart for us for a hypothetical Pickens IR stint, sure, that’s reasonable. Except for the part where we would get a 2nd rounder.

[Jizz Mop]

Diontae Johnson in a trade would get us a high to mid 2nd, is that reasonable?

if you think “WR1 Sims // WR2 Practice squadder // WR3 Practice Squadder “

Looks like a nice depth chart for us for a hypothetical Pickens IR stint, sure, that’s reasonable. Except for the part where we would get a 2nd rounder.

Ok, so what does DJ get us in a trade?

[Professor Half Wit]

Diontae Johnson in a trade would get us a high to mid 2nd, is that reasonable?

if you think “WR1 Sims // WR2 Practice squadder // WR3 Practice Squadder “

Looks like a nice depth chart for us for a hypothetical Pickens IR stint, sure, that’s reasonable. Except for the part where we would get a 2nd rounder.

Ok, so what does DJ get us in a trade?

You have to keep DJ unless something in FA falls in your lap. The guy is infuriating, but the WR room without him is Pickens and pure dread otherwise.

[Steel Bingo]

Doesn't make sense to shuck Diontae, imo. Despite his maddening nature at times, he has experience as the #1 option in Pittsburgh.

Kenny averaged @ 32 attempts per game started. Multiply that over the course of a 17gm season and it equals @ 550 attempts.

Even if you increase Pickens and Freiermuth's targets to 125 next season, and give Warren / Harris another 100 combined, that leaves 200 passes to spread amongst the following; Sims, CAIII, Heyward, et al. That's in an ideal scenario where no one gets injured or misses time.

Doesn't come off as sound strategy to elevate the target volume for all those younger players, while taking away the veteran guy who has the most experience and has been the primary target. Doesn't add up for the players themselves, and doesn't doo Pickett any favors in his progression.

I agree with the idea of building the defense to be elite, and would definitely approve of 2 out of the first 3 picks being used on that side of the ball.

Siaki Ika, yes That'll be 2 bones for that 1 dog.

[Pabst]

You have to keep DJ unless something in FA falls in your lap. The guy is infuriating, but the WR room without him is Pickens and pure dread otherwise.

I've noticed the Bengals being brought up as a comparison to develop Joe Burrow, but there's one key piece that's being left out.

The Bengals franchised AJ Green during Burrow's rookie season and he was flat out terrible (he was 32 and coming off a major injury). They kept him because the WR room was filled with Tyler Boyd and a bunch of scrubs otherwise.

Assuming you trade DJ for a high 2nd and draft his replacement, you're going into next year with a 2nd year player, a fringe NFL receiver, and 2 guys who have never played an NFL snap. Bad idea.

[jewelsongs]

The Steelers played a 6 DB defense last year against teams with good passing attacks. Cleveland had Garret playing a "pick the pigeon" defense where he moved up and down the line, picking the hole to line up in. Imagine if the Steelers used Leal in place of TJ as the as the OLB and had TJ playing the middle linebacker in the 6 DB defense. He could play "pick the pigeon." How could any team block that?