Something to think about in regards to this years draft...

[Dee Dub]

The Steelers very well could have a boat load of draft picks next year (2014). With possible losses in free agency of Starks, Wallace, Foster, Lewis, Foote, and Mendenhall, this could net a very descent return in compensatory picks. Lewis, Wallace, and Starks could even bring back a relatively high one. With the possibility of having 9-12 picks next year, the Steelers could very easily trade away a second or third rounder next year if they wanted to move up and draft a player like Eric Fisher or even Chance Warmack.

[BigRob]

The Steelers very well could have a boat load of draft picks next year (2014). With possible losses in free agency of Starks, Wallace, Foster, Lewis, Foote, and Mendenhall, this could net a very descent return in compensatory picks. Lewis, Wallace, and Starks could even bring back a relatively high one. With the possibility of having 9-12 picks next year, the Steelers could very easily trade away a second or third rounder next year if they wanted to move up and draft a player like Eric Fisher or even Chance Warmack.

Hopefully they see a guy they have ranked so highly they can't help but go and get.

Otherwise I prefer them to do the opposite. Trade back and get a crap load of extra picks this year. There is no clear cut top of the draft, but it is very deep. I would love to see them move back once or twice and get a bunch of extra picks.

Then use those picks this year and in next years draft to get young in a hurry again.

[squidkid]

Hopefully they see a guy they have ranked so highly they can't help but go and get.

Otherwise I prefer them to do the opposite. Trade back and get a crap load of extra picks this year. There is no clear cut top of the draft, but it is very deep. I would love to see them move back once or twice and get a bunch of extra picks.

Then use those picks this year and in next years draft to get young in a hurry again.

then cut half of them and keep the aging vets and let the ones that stuck sit on the bench for a few years until they learn the defense.......oh, and then ben will be close to done.

[Oviedo]

Hopefully they see a guy they have ranked so highly they can't help but go and get.

Otherwise I prefer them to do the opposite. Trade back and get a crap load of extra picks this year. There is no clear cut top of the draft, but it is very deep. I would love to see them move back once or twice and get a bunch of extra picks.

Then use those picks this year and in next years draft to get young in a hurry again.

Agree. If we aren't targeting a top offensive lineman at #17 then trade back and get more picks because we have LOTS of needs.

[Dee Dub]

Agree. If we aren't targeting a top offensive lineman at #17 then trade back and get more picks because we have LOTS of needs.

I do not agree with this. I do not think the Steelers have lots of needs. Had their QB not gotten hurt this team is in the playoffs and making a legitimate run. This team does need a few pieces here and there but they do not have lots of needs.

The Indianapolis Colts were 2-14 and everybody and their mother thought they had lots of needs. They get a legitimate QB and they completely turn it all around.

Why do fans over-react like this? The Steelers need to tweak a few things. Not a major over-haul needed. One more impact player on both sides of the ball and a healthy Ben and we are driving for #7.

[Oviedo]

I do not agree with this. I do not think the Steelers have lots of needs. Had their QB not gotten hurt this team is in the playoffs and making a legitimate run. This team does need a few pieces here and there but they do not have lots of needs.

The Indianapolis Colts were 2-14 and everybody and their mother thought they had lots of needs. They get a legitimate QB and they completely turn it all around.

Why do fans over-react like this? The Steelers need to tweak a few things. Not a major over-haul needed. One more impact player on both sides of the ball and a healthy Ben and we are driving for #7.

Well we can disagree. The two player who are defense has been designed around are unreliable health risks--Troy and Harrison. Our OL is young and also unreliable health wise. We have three years of declining performance in sacking the QB and intercepting the ball, probably the most important defensive stats since they are game changing plays.

If the front office believes as you do we are just a tweak here and there from a Super Bowl we had better get use to third place in the AFC North.

[Dee Dub]

Well we can disagree. The two player who are defense has been designed around are unreliable health risks--Troy and Harrison. Our OL is young and also unreliable health wise. We have three years of declining performance in sacking the QB and intercepting the ball, probably the most important defensive stats since they are game changing plays.

If the front office believes as you do we are just a tweak here and there from a Super Bowl we had better get use to third place in the AFC North.

Where were the Steelers before Ben got hurt? And without Troy and a healthy productive James Harrison? 6-3 and having just beat the defending super bowl champions in their own house?

I'm telling you an over-reaction is going cause a huge fall off. This team is a a lot closer than many people believe.

[Dee Dub]

Here. I'll lay it out. Assuming Ben stays healthy next season and they do some re-structuring of contracts (Ben, Ike, Harrison, Woodley, Timmons, etc.), which we know they will (they always do). This would enable them to re-sign Lewis and keep Harrison and Ike. The adding of two players from this draft could change the entire outlook of this team.

Two guys who you can plug and play from day one. Two guys on each side of the ball that improves this team.

Eric Fisher and Kevin Minter.

Knowing there are going to be several extra picks next year, you can trade up to get both of these players this year and it really doesn't hurt your accumulation of depth. Trading the #64 overall pick in 2014 would allow you to move up this year to at least spot 12. Trading away this years 3rd round pick would allow you to move up back into round one to at least pick number 30. So they lose a 3rd rounder this year and 2nd rounder next year but they are probably getting at least 4-5 extra picks next year.

[BigRob]

Here. I'll lay it out. Assuming Ben stays healthy next season and they do some re-structuring of contracts (Ben, Ike, Harrison, Woodley, Timmons, etc.), which we know they will (they always do). This would enable them to re-sign Lewis and keep Harrison and Ike. The adding of two players from this draft could change the entire outlook of this team.

Two guys who you can plug and play from day one. Two guys on each side of the ball that improves this team.

Eric Fisher and Kevin Minter.

Knowing there are going to be several extra picks next year, you can trade up to get both of these players this year and it really doesn't hurt your accumulation of depth. Trading the #64 overall pick in 2014 would allow you to move up this year to at least spot 12. Trading away this years 3rd round pick would allow you to move up back into round one to at least pick number 30. So they lose a 3rd rounder this year and 2nd rounder next year but they are probably getting at least 4-5 extra picks next year.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but there are only two players I am trading up for at this point. Moore and Fisher. I don't think we can trade up far enough to get either without giving up the farm. Fisher is going in the top 7 or 8 picks. I don't think we can go from 17 to 8 with just a 2nd rounder.

I am content to see if we can trade up two or three spots to get Lane Johnson. He's going to be a good left tackle.

Does anyone realize that Johnson has only played o-line for three years. He was a junior college QB three years ago!

I would like to see a trade back and pick up an extra 2nd round pick in this years draft. It is a deep draft and two high 2nd round picks would be great.

[Dee Dub]

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but there are only two players I am trading up for at this point. Moore and Fisher. I don't think we can trade up far enough to get either without giving up the farm. Fisher is going in the top 7 or 8 picks. I don't think we can go from 17 to 8 with just a 2nd rounder.

I am content to see if we can trade up two or three spots to get Lane Johnson. He's going to be a good left tackle.

Does anyone realize that Johnson has only played o-line for three years. He was a junior college QB three years ago!

I would like to see a trade back and pick up an extra 2nd round pick in this years draft. It is a deep draft and two high 2nd round picks would be great.

I dont think Fisher will go in the top 8. Teams are going to reach for QB's. They do it every year. Fisher I think is there at pick 12. And trading a second rounder next year with our #17 this year gets you there. And this is using the formula that the Steelers have the #64 overall pick next year. Meaning they win the Super Bowl next year. How many opposing team are thinking right now the Steelers win next years super bowl? Therefore the value of that pick may be even greater in their minds and possibly moves us up to 11 or 10.

#17 overall is a trade value of 950 points.
#64 overall is a trade value of 270 points
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1220 points is between pick number 11 and pick number 12 overall.

We can get Eric Fisher without mortgaging the farm. And I also think we can still get Kevin Minter as well.

#48 overall is a trade value of 430 points
#79 (this years 3rd) is a trade value of 195 points
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625 points gets you into the back end of round one

And who knows?..maybe it wont even take that much. Minter may actually be there early second round (picks 33-3