Pound the Table - Love or Hate

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Steelers can go in many directions. The first 2 years of Kahn Weidl have been great. They've been disciplined in sticking to a plan of rebuilding the core starting with the OL. But the lack of a QB has the team at a crossroads.

Last year they brought in Wilson and Fields, a veteran and a future possible starter. It was smart but they blew that up by letting Wilson leave and not really even trying to keep Fields. Now they are back to Mason Rudolph who appears to be a quality backup and spot starter. They need a possible future starter. Do you get it from this year's weak QB draft or wait until next year's draft of QBs with higher ceilings?

The choices in the 1st round appear to be
QB
DL
RB
Wilddard WR/S - if a freak is available
Trade down

So with that in mind. Pound the table for the guy you want and pound it to warn against the guy who would be a huge mistake.

I will pound the table to draft the best DL or to trade back.

These are linked to me. It's a deep position, so if the top DL on your board are gone and then next 3 guys are ranked similarly then trade back, gain an extra pick and still get your future starter on the DL.

A few wildcards. I can see going with S or WR in Rd 1. The reason is you may be able to get a gamechanger. WRs like Burden or Golden could be impact players and give insurance for Pickens. Even if Pickens gets his head right, can the steelers resign him to the huge contract he'd likely demand?

Safety is another position where you could get an impact player if Starke or Emmanwori are available. Emmanwori is such a physical freak.


I will pound the table against QB or RB
Sanders and Dart are not 1st round talents, especially Sanders. The worst part of drafting one this year is you will possibly miss out on a better prospect next year. The 26 draft where the steelers will have loads of comp picks so they can move up.

I do not want a RB in rd 1. You have Warren and Gainwell. You can get good RBs later. I can't see drafting a position that's easy to fill at the expense of one that's hard to fill (DL).

If the Steelers draft Shedur, i'll be physically ill.

 

[Superman]

IMO, the safe pick at 21 is either Barron or Emmanwori. I'm ok with either, but I believe the FO will lean more towards Emmanwori once you consider Minkah's age and contract (FA after '26) and Elliott (FA after this season). Minkah had a down year (for him) last season, but is it maybe Father Time catching up to him? If Elliott were in the long term plans, he'd have a longer contract. So, while Safety isnt the most discussed position - we're facing something critical here. Add in now that Emmanwori is built like a linebacker, plays safety, and posts a 4.38 40 and that Tomlin likes to interchange guys... Emmanwori looks to be the pick.

DL is deep. We can get a DL later who may not be as refined, but the roster is stacked at DL now.
NO to the RB in the first. No sense in taking a RB in the first since we could have just kep Najee.
I'd have been good with Egbuka at 21 before we got DK. I don't care if Pickens is a FA after this season. We can tag or trade him then.
The only QB i'd take at 21 is Dart. I like that he's proven himself, has a strong arm, can make all the throws and is somewhat mobile. Though I admit to being Pickett-shocked and reluctant to take him at 21. Same goes for Sanders.

I'll go as far as to say if Simmons (Ohio St) is there at 21 and, as tape pointed out, Khan and Weidl are building the line... adding that dude to our OL would be damn near unfair for any DL we face. Simmons is my darkhorse.

For - Emmanwori
Against - DL, LB, WR, RB
Darkhorse - Simmons

 

[SteelerFan448]

For: Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, Jahdae Barron, Derrick Harmon
Against: Any RB or QB (though I get it), a run-stopping IDL

 

[Fiji Mariner]

For QB: Ward or Dart
Against QB: Sander or Milroe

Against any RB in first not named Jeanty who should be long gone (plenty of good RBs available 3rd-7th)

Against any of these receivers in the first. Already drafted their receiver Metcalf in the 2nd so cross that off the early list.

For: Tyler Warren, if he’d drop and is BPA I’m here for it.

Against OL in the first. Grab a tweener on day 3.

Against DL in first unless it’s a trade back scenario. Hit one in the 3rd-4th range then double dip in that 5-7 range.

Against first round LB

For Barron
For Emmanwori or Starks

Pound the table for a trade back unless one of these guys there

Ward, Dart
Jeanty
Warren
Barron
Emmanwori, Starks

And if going with Dart would prefer trading back a few spots