The Steelers offseason

Even though the Steelers offseason began way too early, it already feels like its time for the draft. Alas its hasn't even been 3 weeks, and the Steelers have already had a full offseason of drama and to think it is still just starting. Going to be a long offseason, hopefully the drama is limited to Bell and AB.

Anyways, its extremely early but if people are putting out mock drafts already we can put out free agent wish lists. (Mine is without regard for the salary cap and in no particular order)

1. DeMarcus Lawrence
2. CJ Mosley
3. Frank Clark
4. Dee Ford
5. Ronald Darby
6. Bradley Roby
And my surprise (and highly unlikely) addition:
7. Terrell Suggs

Of these, I expect 1,2,7 to resign with their current teams provided they have the cap space. Still any one of those I feel would be an upgrade over what they currently have. Based on the very quick look around that I took, doesn't appear to be a strong WR FA class, with Golden Tate being the best available. Definitely could be wrong about that, I really didn't research much at all.

 

Ford or Mosely would be my top two with either one being an upgrade. Suggs brings leadership with a great work ethic and attitude. Of course, age would be the downside so that would make him a stopgap at this point. ACL injury for Darby is scary but he could be cheap. Still, he would be on the pup list early.

I actually feel pretty good anout the WR position for the Steelers. I believe in JuJu as a 1 wr despite the "Brown draws the coverage talk". Washington has all the talent in the world and with Rogers and Switzer, there's depth.

We'll see what happens. The Steeler's biggest problem is a toxic locker room. They need a culture change more than they need a talent infusion.

 

1/2/7 will re-sign with their current teams. Ford/Clark/Darby should be of strong interest and would be better pursuits.

 

Armchair GM offseason plan.......

Trade AB to Bears for Kyle Fuller (contract year) and their 2nd round pick. Cut Burns/Boswell/Burnett/Gilbert and EXTEND Fuller immediately.

Draft ILB D. White or M. Wilson in 1st round at #20 provided their combines are solid (they will be), go WR/LB/DB in 2nd and 3rd rounds (3 picks), draft depth rest of way.

Sign 3rd down scat back to go with Conner/Samuels tandem, bring L-Fitz back home for one year for cheap ($5 mil?) as #3 like Cotchery was the one year he caught 12 tds in his twilight and to work with the youngsters......sign Earl Thomas as top free agent signing.

I'd like to see them move on from Alvin Dupree (doesnt play well enough to command ANY NICKNAME from anybody), but looks like he'll be around for his 5th year option.......another injury excuse. Guy just never will be what they hoped and counted on. The busts/injury of 1st round picks in successive years of Jones/Shazier/Dupree/Burns have just KILLED the development of our defense and from becoming a dominant unit again. Can you imagine if DuPree were another Woodley before he got fat and paid, Shazier didn't have his career derailed, and Burns just another D.Townsend or solid William Gay-like how differently we'd be talking about the defense today?

Move on.....roll forward. Purge the knuckleheads.

Plan B......trade AB to Raiders for late 1st and CB G. Conley. Use draft capital to try and draft BOTH WHITE AND WILSON......so we can have TWO 3-down linebackers in the middle and help make our backers a playmaking unit again instead of a liability. Trade up if you have to.

 

I like plan A and love plan B. Don't think they cut Boswell, as I believe the dead money hit is substantial if he is cut pre-June 1. Don't think they want to add on to the dead money hit they're going to take for AB, and if they're going to designate Boz a post June 1 cut then might as well bring him to TC to see if he can get back to 2017 form.

As for Dupree, he wasn't bad this year. Certainly not $9 million good but he was pretty solid. Didn't put up the sacks, but he was a lot more visible in a positive way this year than in previous years. If he wasn't a 1st round pick, he'd be a guy I think a lot of people would want re-signed. Burns, bring him to camp see if Austin can salvage anything. Remember Ike Taylor and Keenan Lewis were late bloomers too. If by the end of camp he is still struggling, he will be in danger of being cut.

 

I think Devin Bush will be the better player over Mack Wilson....I think trading AB for a lower 1st round pick and getting a player in return would be a great deal...I would also pick up the option on Dupree as he is a capable starter

 

The option on Dupree has already been picked up and guaranteed for injury.....which didn't happen. Only decision now for team brass is whether to cut him by March 3rd and try to save $9.2 mil in cap space and upgrade the position via draft or free agency.

 

Yeah, and Rooney pretty much said he'll be back...like I said, he had a good season, not a $9 million a year season, but that's looking like what he going to be making next year.

 

Well Kiper agrees with you about Bush, so that guarantees he's a bust
https://steelersdepot.com/2019/01/2019-nfl-draft-player-profiles-alabama-lb-mack-wilson/
Like what I see from Mack Wilson though. I've only looked at Wilson and White, haven't looked at Bush yet. But the Tribune wrote that he was also Shazier-like.

 

I like beloved blackngoldbad’s mindset henceforth:

#FireColbert
#HireBlackngoldbad

 

#TeamChemistry

 

Of the free agent list: (they probably won’t sign any of them but I’ll play)

1. Lawrence - doesn’t he play DE in a 4-3? What would be the plan for him in Pittsburgh? OLB?

2. Mosley - yes please, he would make an immediate improvement on that defense.

4. Ford - see Mosley

6. Roby - definitely better than anything they have opposite of Haden but our beloveds need an ILB(s) and/or an outside pass rusher opposite of Watt more than they need a CB.

7. Suggs - no way, if it was 3-4 years ago maybe but they would be wasting time with him at this point of his career.

Don’t know enough about Clark & Darby hence no comment.

 

1. Yes he''d become the pass rushing specialist at OLB imo. Even if that was all he did was rush the passer, him and Watt would terrorize defenses. Might not be a great scheme fit, but his pass rushing skills are awesome.

6. True, they were ok with Sensabaugh but Roby has better ball skills (not saying much, Sensabaugh has slim to none) so it would lead to turnovers.

7. Suggs would be more of a culture signing. Wouldn't sign him based on production on the field, more as a locker room tone setter. He had a good year, and would probably still be an upgrade, but I fully expect him to be back with the Ravens to finish out his career.

 

Well, after Ford was invisible in today’s game other than that bonehead lining up offsides that negated a KC game clinching INT, I no longer have the warm and fuzzies on him.

 

Ford is useless in our defense. We can't have OLB that are liabilities in two facets of the game (in Ford's case vs the run and in coverage). He's another one trick pony and even then he isn't a dominant pass rusher that gets pressure enough. And he'll cost $5-6 million more per year than Dupree does. If Dupree stays, they aren't shopping elsewhere in free agency.

We really need another OLB to compliment Watt. If we had two of HIM instead of just him and a Dupree, our D would be a lot better overall.

 

Sounds like all the Pro Bowlers want AB back. Could just be what the PR office wants them to say, so far Juju, Pouncey, and Heyward all have said they want him back when asked at the Pro Bowl practices. Ben, Villanueva, Vince Williams, Nix, and Foster have all publicly said they want him back. Even AR2 has left the door open. Ball currently sits in Brown's court. He needs to man up and open a line of communication. Not on social media, not in an interview, but call the owner and have a sit down and see if its even possible for AB to continue playing for the Steelers or if trading him is better for all parties.

 

Steelers Depot is reporting its highly unlikely the Steelers pick up Artie Burns 5th year option. No surprises there. Another candidate to be traded or possibly released during training camp.

 

Who would possibly be stupid enough to trade for him?

 

Wait according to many Steelers fans AB is quitter and a cancer so how can his teammates want him back (oh wait maybe his teammates know more about AB than the fans).

 

Look, i hope they are able to mend the bridges. I do not want to see him in another jersey, but you do not quit on your team regardless of what is going on. It also unacceptable to not take the owner's calls. It's been a month since that Wednesday practice, even if he feels he needs to go elsewhere, he needs to sit down with Rooney and Tomlin. I understand emotions flare and can understand not being happy with Ben, but enough time has passed to where they can talk about the future.

Well the Saints traded for Eli Apple, someone would trade a 7th for Burns. I don't expect it to happen, I fully expect him to be on the roster next season. I'm hoping that light turns on too, kind of like Ike Taylor or Keenan Lewis. It would be an unexpected surprise.