OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: New Quarter Backs for the Handball team!

[Andy99]

*shrugs* I'll take that risk over hoping an incredibly run heavy approach can get DL moving with raw prospects.

Particularly since there's more names floating around as ways to solve the WR problem in trade than there are for C.

If they were trading, it would have happened already don’t you think?

 

[T1K]

Ravens are going to land Cooper DeJean and he’s going to be an impact player for them who kills our offensive plays…book it lol

Oh no! The Ravens are gonna draft a white corner!

 

[JTG]

We have two legit book end T's. I'm very happy right now.

I think they like that McCormick kid as a C prospect, and to be honest, if a DB drops that we can't pass up, I'd draft him in the 3rd round.

 

[T1K]

I'd be blowing up the 49ers phones about Samuel at this point after that Pearsall pick. Not a chance in hell they're taking a WR at #31 without trading one of Aiyuk or Samuel.

Time for the Bills to make a move. It’s one of the SF guys or Tee.

 

[Ulf5]

Oh look - another Nittany Lion taken in the first round. Shocker.

When will a Pitt guy be taken? Guessing never

Pitt- 10 NFL hall off famers, P(s)U- 6
Pitt- 9 National Championships, P(s)U- 7
Not too bad for the much smaller school, eh?

Ravens are going to land Cooper DeJean and he’s going to be an impact player for them who kills our offensive plays…book it lol

I hate you lol

 

[Peat]

If they were trading, it would have happened already don’t you think?

Not necessarily. Draft day trades do happen. There are teams that are very obviously in a position where a WR trade could happen - 49ers and Broncos the two I'm thinking of - and it wouldn't surprise anyone if those trades included day 2/3 picks.

The Highsmith restructure felt like they might have suddenly got closer to a trade too.

I wouldn't bet on it but if it happens, we'd all go "aha, the pieces were there all along".

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Not much though. Per this, SVP and Frazier are pretty much the only C prospects in the draft who could start quickly with over 1000 snaps at C. Most of those guys are pretty raw, which makes them starting swiftly that much more of a projection.

Study: How Does Graham Barton's College Center Experience Compare To Other NFL Starters?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are heavily eyeing the center position this year, and for good reason with their starter of the last two seasons no longer on the team. Of the consensus top three centers in the 2024 NFL Draft class, Duke’s Graham Barton might have the highest ceiling, but his lack of...

steelersdepot.com

I really am less concerned with whether they can start day one as I am with how they project over the next decade.

By all means, take a top center if there. But if the value is at WR, DB or elsewhere go there.

 

[Peat]

Incidentally, for all I get why teams swing big at QBs, hoo boy would I be worried if I were a fan of any of the six teams who've taken guys. There's a bunch of hype but I think there's a bunch of worrying stuff too. Williams/Daniels/Maye all take sacks at high rates - extremely high in the case of Daniels. Maye is sloppy. Williams wants to redefine how to be a franchise leader. There's real echoes of that '21 class to me, where everyone was going "wow" and the next thing you know it looks like MC Escher's Car Crash In Hell.

It's also why part of me is a little blase about Penix/Nix. They've got flaws, but they don't get themselves into trouble on a football field at nearly the same rate.

 

[Peat]

I really am less concerned with whether they can start day one as I am with how they project over the next decade.

By all means, take a top center if there. But if the value is at WR, DB or elsewhere go there.

Tbf, being slightly devil's advocate, if we're considering how they project over the next decade, then the Steelers pretty much never keep WRs that long and having Porter means it's mirky whether they'd extend another high end CB. The Steelers' position and ethos puts a dampener on long term value for both.

Centers are cheap to keep though. Age better too as a rule.

Should also be noted that should JPJ or Frazier fall into the Steelers' pick, then by most rankings, they'd be excellent value.

 

[Peat]

Also @Empoleon8771 where did you get the stuff on him being a so-so run blocker cos saw this in The Athletic article

'An outstanding run blocker with top-end athleticism and the right attitude"

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Tbf, being slightly devil's advocate, if we're considering how they project over the next decade, then the Steelers pretty much never keep WRs that long and having Porter means it's mirky whether they'd extend another high end CB. The Steelers' position and ethos puts a dampener on long term value for both.

Centers are cheap to keep though. Age better too as a rule.

Should also be noted that should JPJ or Frazier fall into the Steelers' pick, then by most rankings, they'd be excellent value.

I would love either of those two. If a value trade is available, and the price was right, I would even move up for one of them.

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

I would love either of those two. If a value trade is available, and the price was right, I would even move up for one of them.

If we end up with Fautanu and Frazier/JPJ I’ll be thrilled

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Houston planned on starting a 6th round c we will be fine with a 3rd round c

 

[TNT87]

 

[Pens1566]

I think Fautanu was almost a no-brainer pick considering the value and no one expected him to last that long.

And just as predicted, the centers largely slid as well. There's at least 3-4 guys that could be immediate starters still there.

Unrelated, but I'm kinda sorta interested in where Keon Coleman goes TBH.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I’m even more convinced that Frazier will be there at 51.

As I showed in my analysis from a few days ago. Teams just don’t take Centers early.

I didn’t see your post, but last month I broke down the last decade and the value of centers with a 1 was extremely low.

Round 2 seems to be where you find the most value for Cs, and this draft seems to be flowing that way as well.

Teams just don’t value the position, even though as we saw with Cole, a bad C can wreck havoc on your entire line.

Basically, Steelers need to find a C with their next pick I hope.

Anyway, for those that like Kiper, he loves Steelers pick and put them as one of his winners for the first round:

The pick: G Troy Fautanu (No. 20)

What a steal by Pittsburgh. I wrote Thursday morning that I thought the Steelers were targeting Graham Barton to be their new center, but I didn't think Fautanu would be available. This is a no-brainer. I had Fautanu at No. 10 and Barton at No. 19 in my rankings, and both were the top players at their position.

Fautanu played left tackle in college, and I wouldn't be shocked if the Steelers thought he could stick there and compete with Dan Moore Jr. in 2024 while they find their center somewhere else.

 

[MrBrightside]

 

[Pengwins]

Not interested in picking a center until round 3 at the earliest…they desperately need a WR who can start day one…hopefully they use a third round pick and move up in the second

Gotta take JPJ if he’s there with their next pick

 

[xlm34]

Dulac said the contingency at 20 was Barton or Guyton. He’s usually pretty garbage when it comes to draft related stuff but if that was the case, thank god Fautanu fell.

 

[MrBrightside]

Houston planned on starting a 6th round c we will be fine with a 3rd round c

That’s like saying New England won a bunch of Super Bowls with a 6th round pick at QB so we should just roll with a 3rd rounder. You can’t extrapolate like that. It depends on the player.

 

[JTG]

The thing with Fautanu is that he is a top 10 talent, IMO, with very easily correctible deficiencies. We just landed another David DeCastro/Maurkice Pouncey situation. He will start immediately. Now the question is, he very well may be a better LT than Jones. Either one of these guys on the right side is going to be bountiful. This running game could be really, really special with what we have going on here.

That brings a tear to a Yinzer eye.

 

[The Old Master]

If they were trading, it would have happened already don’t you think?

so much depends on who's there at the time

 

[Goalie_Bob]

Teams just don’t value the position, even though as we saw with Cole, a bad C can wreck havoc on your entire line.

Basically, Steelers need to find a C with their next pick I hope.

I don't think they think that way. My thought is they still go WR in the 2nd and wait til the 3rd to see who is there at the C position. In my final mock yesterday, I picked Mims in the 1st, aka OT, and then I had them picking Pearsall, aka WR, in the 2nd.

Pre-Draft final mock:
1: Amarius Mims, OT
2: Ricky Pearsall, WR
3: Max Melton, CB
3: Hunter Nourzad, C
4: Luke McCaffrey, WR
6: Jaden Crumedy, DL
6: Steele Chambers, ILB

UDFA: Travis Clayton, Beanie Bishop

My updated mock after the first round is:
2: Roman Wilson, WR
3: Max Melton, CB
3: Hunter Nourzad, C
4: Luke McCaffrey, WR
6: Jaden Crumedy, DL
6: Steele Chambers, ILB

I think we could maybe flip Nourzad and McCaffrey. And if Jalen McMillan somehow makes it down to 98, they take him instead. Either way, I think they go WR then CB with the next two picks. I think they wait til 84 to discuss the Center position.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

Love Frazier and love McConkey/Mitchell

Hopefully somone falls

 

[xlm34]

How many center needy teams are ahead of the Steelers right now? Panthers seem like a decent bet to snag a center and the Chargers need one but they absolutely have to do something at WR. Anyone else?