First, tell me a bit about the free agent signings – thoughts on Barron and Nelson?
Barron and Nelson are both going into camp I’m sure with an assumption they’ll get a lot of snaps. I don’t think the team feels Montcrief and Barron are long-term solutions though – as shown by the contracts they received.
Those two are guys they got just in case – you don’t know who you’ll get in the draft. Both help hedge the team’s bets at those positions and are affordable. But they’ll definitely look to upgrade both positions – especially inside linebacker.
I hesitate to say this because it’s not exactly apples to apples. but it reminds me now of 2010. They had a bad year in 2009 season when so many things went went wrong and wanted to get back to having a veteran presence on the field. They got away from that with a decade-long rebuild on defense. They played a long of young guys on defense. I don’t think they want so many young guys on defense. They figured they’d get them on the field early and they would learn more earlier, but did that really work for guys like Dupree and Davis?
At inside linebacker, do you think they can get that long-term solution in this draft?
White is the best guy at inside linebacker, but does he go in the top 10? Quarterbacks taken after 10 – between 11 and 13 or so – that’s where you want to get those guys because their fifth year option is at the transition not the franchise level. So that’s where you want to trade up for a quarterback. Inside linebacker isn’t as valued a position as quarterback, so maybe White falls because teams trade up to take one of those quarterbacks. Maybe he falls to around 12 – do you trade up then? I’m not sure what the value of that picks is in 2019 – maybe you use Jimmy Johnson’s current conversion.
If he doesn’t fall, then do you think Bush is a solid option, and will they have to trade up for him as well?
I don’t think White will be there at 20 – but Bush could be. If you can trade down and get White at 12, they should do it. He’s bigger than Bush. White is a guy that when you take him you know he’ll be a great player. You’re note as sure of that with Bush, which is why White may go in the top 10.
Shazier showed the value of guys like that. The Steelers were devastated when he was hurt – more than many realize. What he did defensively – what they wanted him to do – not having that caused so many defensive issues. He covered so much ground – and none of the guys they have there now are as versatile – none have the athleticism and length Shazier does. He could have been an edge rusher but he never filled out – but he got faster though. He was such a unique weapon. It was like when Foote went down in 2013 – they had no depth – no one to fill that role.
If not one of those two guys – is a guy like Cashman an answer?
Cashman went to the same school as my high school rival – so it’s funny you mentioned him. He had a good combine – he was much more athletic than any Twin City linebacker I’ve seen. Farrar told me to watch film on him when I made fun of Cashman, and when I did, I was like, wow. He is a half-step above most college linebackers. I think a guy like Cashman – you take him around round three. The question is would you rather take Bush and have to move up to get him and spend picks to do it or to take Cashman around round three. Is the difference between the two linebackers that great to warrant spending picks?
What about tight end then in round one?
I you walk away with Bush or a guy like Hockenson you should be very happy as a Steelers fan. Hockenson fixes a need not fixed in free agency. After McDonald and Grimble, who is just acceptable as a backup, who do they have?
You need two-tight end sets more for this offseason. And there’s not much they can do with 12-personnel right now. McDonald is a good player but he’s not a three-down guy unless you don’t have someone else. And I’m still bitter about Grimble for not putting the ball away versus Denver before his inexcusable failure to truck the guy.
Other tight end prospects you like besides Hockenson?
You could get similar quality in Fant or later on in the draft too, but you have to be careful of kicking the can too far down the draft. They have the highest pick since 2014 – you can’t take a project like Dupree. This year they should be able to get a difference-maker, if not for a need right now, for sneed next year. They fixed corner and linebacker in free agency – but noting at tight end. They have one good tight end on their roster right now, and who knows if Grimble will even be there next year. You have to address that. If Hockenson is there and there’s no Bush available, I’d be happy with him. Fant is not the all-around guy Hockenson is – he’s more of a one-trick pony. But it’s a helluva trick. So if Hockenson isn’t there either I could see Fant. I’m not sure Fant has the upside Hockenson has though. But Hockenson may need a year to do huge things. It is a deep draft at tight end – so I could also see them taking one round two like Smith.
At 25, there aren’t many instant impact guys. People think there are 75 guys that project as round one picks. But honestly, at 25, you get more guys like Artie Burns.
Any possible surprise picks round one?
I’m not a huge fan of the wide receiver class. If you change the lens on this, the defensive linemen are unbelievable. There are lots of really good linemen and many will be better players at pick 20. But is defensive line a need at pick 20? Probably not, but maybe you take one round two?
So if you had to choose on trading up to get a linebacker or taking one of the tight ends round one….
I say you go get your linebacker this year. I don’t say that often. They got Polamalu from half a round away, but it will cost more now to trade up five spots. Bush has to fall a bit – to a few picks away to just be able to spend a third to get him. If White is there around 12 – he’s not Kueckly, but there’s a lot to like about him. If teams trade up for guys like Dan Jones and Drew Lock, maybe he gets pushed down to them. If you have a quarterback graded in round one, you need to go get him. Jones isn’t as good of a player as White, but he plays a premium position and may go before him.
I would trade up for Bush – I think they’ll be aggressive. In 2012 they tried to trade up for Decastro and had a deal with the Jets that fell through, but he fell to them any way They got lucky. I think they’ll need to move up with a third or third and fifth to get him. This is the year to pull the trigger.
What about cornerback?
Nelson is an upgrade at cornerback . There’s a lot of emphasis at cornerback but its an underwhelming group, and with Haden and Nelson both starting and Hilton in the slot, that’s a decent cornerback situation. And you have Sutton and Burns as backups. They didn’t sign Nelson to draft a corner round one. And they didn’t bring in a second defensive backs coach to not work on the guys they have. I’d be utterly shocked to see them draft a corner round one.
I do think they extend Haden, and in my opinion, should give Hilton a two or three year deal. It wouldn’t be right to keep him as an exclusive rights free agent next year and they’ll have the cap space to use.
Ultimately, your thoughts on how it goes?
I think if it comes down to Bush or Hockenson, I’d be one of the few to be excited to see them get Hockenson or Bush. If you want to cut down on turnovers, don’t throw the ball downfield so much, Hockenson helps them there. He can do it all – there’s a lot you can do with him and he gives you stability at the position too.