Feb. 24—Brian Batko: Hi everyone, I'm here to answer your pre-combine Steelers questions and I'm excited to see what you all come up with after a few weeks of relative inactivity.
Brian Batko: And why wait til noon? Let's start now
artie bridge: Bats, Here we are in the last week of February. I thought by now the dam would break, Steelers would start to make some moves. QB? Najee? Pickens? My Question: WHEN can we expect some of these decisions?
Brian Batko: Artie, you should know from previous offseason as an astute observer the Steelers rarely make moves before they have to. Deadlines spur action. Their evaluation period is lengthy. And now they're on to the combine. I'm still not certain we'll see much of anything until March 10 when free agency (tampering legally) begins.
Ron: One thing I as a fan do not want is to give away a lot of draft capital for a QB who is past his prime. I'd rather sign Justin Fields, Daniel Jones or send a mid-round pick to NE for Milton. In what world are we just a veteran QB away anyway? Thoughts?
Brian Batko: I assume you're referring to trading for Matthew Stafford. Depending on the price, I think you owe it to Cam Heyward and TJ Watt to consider it. But I'd also have some real reluctance to take a QB off the hands of Sean McVay and the Rams. If they seem that he's not the player he once was, I'm not sure I trust the Steelers to have a better read on him than that.
HeHateMe: Why not just sign Fields and sign a bunch of talent around him? I think he's our franchise QB. Your Thoughts?
Brian Batko: My thoughts are I agree and that's ultimately what I think will happen. But there are other moving parts that I wouldn't call it much more than a 50-50 coin flip between Justin Fields and the field in my mind.
Tom: Is this the most boring offseason the Steelers have had in awhile? No big names hitting free agency, no coaching changes, a mid-late draft slot, expectations of
Brian Batko: On one hand, yes, for all the reasons you astutely point out. On the other hand, it's entertaining for one major factor: Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback.
KJ: Hello Brian, thank you for all of your insight and these chats. What does your "gut feeling" tell you how the Steelers will approach this draft? Do you see them possibly drafting DL in the 1st & 2nd rounds?
Brian Batko: My gut feeling is DL or WR in the first. A WR no later than the second. A corner and RB in the first five rounds. And yeah, possibly a double-down on the DL, especially if they don't take one early.
Tim: There has been a lot of speculation, tea-leaf-reading and palace intrigue about which potential QB is preferred by the owner, which is preferred by Tomlin, etc., but might this not be determined by the fact that Fields is preferred more by some *other* team who is simply willing to give him more money?
Brian Batko: It's like Game of Thrones, except with the Steelers' QB1 slot somehow being the most desirous chair in Westeros. And with some of the veteran names being thrown out there, it might be more like the Game of Rocking Chairs. But you're exactly right. Even if the Steelers know which option they prefer, they don't necessarily know how the rest of the league is going to operate. Free agency is like the draft in that sense.
Mike in Virginia: Do you think there's even a small chance that if one of the top tackles slid in the first round, the Steelers would be tempted to take them and slide Fautanu inside to guard and go all in on a top offensive line? Do you think they also could be worried about Jones at left tackle and surprise everyone by taking someone there?
Brian Batko: Not really, no. But I'll tell you who I am intrigued by are the top two guards in this class, Tyler Booker (Alabama) and Donovan Jackson (Ohio State). Wouldn't project the Steelers to be in the OL market that early in the draft again but if they were ever going to do it, those two seem like Steelers-type guys all the way.
Missy: Hi Brian...other than money, I can't understand why a quarterback would want to play for the Steelers' given their current receiving situation. Can you enlighten me?
Brian Batko: One might be enamored with the defense potentially making your job easy. Those of us close to the situation are well-aware how that unit backslid late in the season, but by and large, the Steelers still have an NFL-wide reputation of being a dominant defense. And for as much as things fell apart down the stretch, my sense on Arthur Smith is that he's got plenty of respect and people who like him around the league. I don't view him as a deterrent.
Brian Batko: Oh, and there are only 32 of these jobs.
Tmac: Hi Brian — Great Sports staff at the PG. Do you have faith in the Steelers ability to groom a QB? Tomlin never had to develop Ben. Failed with Rudolph and Pickett. Not sure they can develop Fields. Seem they don't emphasize the component. Thanks!
Brian Batko: Thanks, Tmac. Loved your shoes growing up. Honestly, I do. The sample size is small and I almost discount Mason Rudolph because of the Ben Roethlisberger effect on that whole thing. Kenny Pickett was never really a developmental QB in the first place; he was a win-now guy and I'm not sure he was ever that good as a player and prospect to begin with. But they've got a solid core of coaches there with Smith, Tom Arth the QB coach and even Mike Sullivan still around as a senior offensive assistant.
Obx Jim: Hey Bats!! Love the chats! How was your weekend? Tomlin said there would be change at the end of the season. How many years will we have to wait for those changes?
Brian Batko: Thanks, Jim. Pretty chill weekend here but it was good. Went to see my wife's cousin whom I've known since he was 4 hoop at Edinboro for his senior day and he played well, they won, so that was nice. To be fair, Tomlin lumped the "changes" stuff in with natural coaching staff turnover, etc. And there has been that, with Gerald Alexander and Scott McCurley coming in, Grady Brown and Aaron Curry departing. But, obviously, fans were looking for more to this point.
SMP: Do you think big picture the Steelers are trying to set up the roster so next year they can draft a qb and then have a serious chance to make a run in the playoffs going forward.
Brian Batko: There's a possibility that could be part of it, yes. And beyond just the rest of the roster being set up to drop in a QB, they need to have a better bridge to the hypothetical 2026 rookie than Mitch Trubisky was to Pickett. Or, alternatively, they need to give that guy more time to marinate than they did Pickett.
Grady: Brian, it seems Russell Wilson has been more outspoken, almost campaigning to be the Steelers starting quarterback. Have you heard Justin Fields speak lately about his desire to stay in Pittsburgh or do you think he's trying to gauge the interest of other teams in him? Thanks.
Brian Batko: No but the Atlanta Hawks posted that he was back in his hometown and at their game last night. If nothing else, Fields is a low-key guy who doesn't seem too interested in doing the whole media circuit. I think that's endearing to some around the league. It's clearly endearing to Arthur Smith, who mentioned the humility and old-school approach of Fields last season when Mike Tomlin made the switch to Russell Wilson. But sure, I imagine part of that too is not losing any leverage you have this offseason if you're Fields and his agent.
Skyscraper: I've often wondered if the following player type would be a wise use of a roster spot — a 7 foot tall basketball player with good hands and a decent vertical whose job is to block FG's and PAT's and catch endzone passes over 6' tall DB's. Your thoughts?
Brian Batko: You know, I think he'd get broken in half.
Drunk uncle: How was your weekend Bats., and hope family doing well. You do outstanding work sir
Brian Batko: The weekend was terrible for my fantasy college basketball team and that's the only thing I truly, deeply care about other than my family and friends, so that part wasn't great. But thank you for asking and for the compliment, Drunk uncle.
Word Salad Sandwich: Brian, Mike Tomlin always mentions the 2nd year jump he expects players to make. Who is the last guy who actually made a significant jump in year 2?
Brian Batko: Probably Jaylen Warren all of two years ago. But I could make the case Nick Herbig did that this past season, too.
RingMyKordell: Will the Steelers take any big swings in free agency with premium A+ names? Or will they play it safe and cheap with bargains and B-/C+ talent?
Brian Batko: Divine Deablo is a premium A+ name but I suspect that's not how you meant it...
David: Hey ,Brian if Joey Bosa get cuts is he someone the Steelers look if he comes at a good price, for a boost on the D-line he isn't super old and still pretty productive.
Brian Batko: If he's willing to play more interior than edge in this defense, sure.
Southside Jimmy: Hey Brian. What's your opinion about Cooper Kupp? It seems there are varying thoughts about whether he's still a good receiver or whether his age and injury history work against him.
Brian Batko: Can still be a good receiver, but I don't think Pittsburgh is the fit for him. Go someplace where he can round out a team's receiving corps rather than be a focal point. I'm guessing he goes to KC or Denver, with an outside chance of following Stafford somewhere like NYG.
Carl in Carrick: Any truth that there is a mutual interest in Mike Hilton returning to the Steelers? Thanks Brian.
Brian Batko: Hadn't heard that, but I don't believe he left here on bad terms or anything.
Cliff: What to do with 39? Could a different scheme free him to play his game? OR. Has game passed him by?
Brian Batko: I'd say the game has passed him by the way he used to play it. Skeptical that he still has that first step and burst to execute what his instincts tell him. But he can be a sure tackler and utilize his football IQ.
Victor G.: Good afternoon. Is the signing of tight end Parham indicate Connor Heyward's career with the Steelers may be over? Thank you.
Brian Batko: No, just an offseason depth move and he'll have a chance to compete for a spot in camp. Now if they add another more similar tight end to Connor Heyward, that could be trouble, but he's a reliable special teamer. Parham's addition is more similar to that of MyCole Pruitt, though granted, Pruitt ended up making the team and playing a lot.
Angela: Hi Brian, I enjoy your chats. Can you tell when Omar K. is scheduled to talk to the media this week and if it will be televised ala Coach Tomlin's press conferences? Thank you!
Brian Batko: He talks at the combine tomorrow along with a bunch of other HCs and GMs but I don't believe it'll be streamed like that.
JPinPDX: Good morning Bats! Combine week is here and draft talk is heating up ... are you more excited to clock 40s or to read the next Mock Draft version 3.2.b?
Brian Batko: Give me those 40 times, JP. Need some more data points to sift through the numerous names.
Pittfan: Hi Brian. There are so many opinions on who will be the Steelers starting QB this coming season. Unfortunately, I'm a fan obsessed with knowing. Is there any information out there I can believe?
Brian Batko: Believe nothing that you hear and half of what you see.
Rodney Ross: What do you think is the biggest roadblock in getting Tee Higgins to Pittsburgh? Bengals finding a way to keep him, our QB room, another team overpaying in free agency, something else?
Brian Batko: Bengals finding a way to keep him and if not, trying to win a bidding war against 30-ish other teams.
Earl M.: Appreciate these chats. Any idea if the Steelers have interest in Jaxson Dart or Wil Howard?
Brian Batko: Will Howard seems more like a Steelers-type QB to me than Dart. He's got some of that which you cannot measure.
Sonny Sixkiller: Who is gonna punt?
Brian Batko: Cam Johnston or Corliss Waitman
Wiley: Do you think even with Stafford at QB the Steelers would be legitimate contenders for the SB? Especially with their obsolete offensive schemes? Thank you.
Brian Batko: Yes but I'd have some reservations about Stafford holding up in the AFC North, particularly late in the season. Great Super Bowl-winning QB, probably a Hall of Famer, but has played the vast majority of his career indoors. You can't tell me that wouldn't be an adjustment.
Bulldog: Hi Bats. Hope your weekend was great. In what round does MT draft Dino?
Brian Batko: Now now, are we going to have to hear these Dino Tomlin jokes the entire draft process?
itsallmoot: What's your sense on how aggressive the Steelers will be in Free Agency? They have cap room but their M/O seems to be use FA to fill depth spots.
Brian Batko: Well last year they spent up pretty big on Patrick Queen. If they make another splash move like that this year, I'm looking at cornerback, maybe a WR if there's one they can talk themselves into. Certainly they could use a DL but it's a particularly weak FA crop there.
Paul: A lot of people think the Steelers should bottom out, so they can draft early and get thier future franchise QB. Picking early doesn;t guarantee anything,
Brian Batko: Correct. And a lot of those same people would be moaning and complaining more than ever about such a season. But hey, maybe they want to spend more Sundays at the pumpkin patch for a year or two.
Tim from Canada: If the Steelers bring in a vet WR in free agency, and draft a rookie, I can't help but think that keeping Pickens may be the best option. What do you think about waiting to see him in a season with a stronger WR room before we cast him away?
Brian Batko: It's not about his ability so much as his character at this point, Tim. Only they know how they're feeling about his potential to change on that front.
Super Bowl Kenny Pickett: Brian, I do not feel at ease with all the veteran QB ideas. If anything, given where this team stands, I feel like letting Fields rip for a year is the only true way to go... and maybe burn a pick on a project. There is simply no guarantee at all that a once-elite qb from somewhere else will have the highest percentage impact. I think knowing who the guy is from start of season to the end, barring injury, is the best road. We are not one or two players away from solving this skid.
Brian Batko: Yes, to me that's sort of the ultimate pitch for Fields: Pole position.
Steeler Joe: Have you got any sense of whether George Pickens remains a viable part of this roster? Is the team committed to making him work? Or are they ready to move on and reclaim his value in a draft pick via trade? I know how so many fans feel, but I wonder what you hear around Steelers HQ.
Brian Batko: I explored that in my position analysis on the receivers that went online Saturday and was in the Sunday paper in case you missed it here
Brian Batko: OK everyone, with that plug thrown in there, I'm calling it a chat. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to reconvene with Ray and Gerry from Indy the next two days.
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