Originally Posted by
SteelerMaine83
Part 2, cuts, trades, supplemental picks and free-agent shopping.
First, we make some cap room with cuts: L. Brown, OT: sorry Levi, easy cut, may bring you back for cheap; I. Taylor, CB: very hard cut to make, but there's not much left in the tank, and it's real money; T. Polamalu, S: toughest cut ever, but this team needs to move forward and cut costs--I'm really bummed on this one.
Re-structures: Hate this tool because the Steelers have over-used it and it puts us in salary cap purgatory every year, but I'm saving some this year and extending Big Ben because he will be a lifetime Steeler and QBs are expensive anyways (look around). I'm also extending Heath because he has always been slow and plodding but makes plays, and he became the old Heath again during the last quarter of the season (after coming off the injury in the early season).
Trades: M. Pouncey, C: hard to do, but he is 100% gone next year as a FA and extra picks in this year's deep draft are preferable to a #3 a year from now (in a much thinner draft). Couple this with his injury history, his seemingly Gangsta personality (Free Hernandez? Seriously?), and many's perception that he doesn't always give top effort (top talent not equaling top output--Pro Bowl picks aside), and I'll let Velasco, Wallace and a rookie battle and scrap for the job. Damaged goods = #3 and #6 rounders (with Tampa Bay), and we give them a #5 back in 2015 if he doesn't play at least 8 games. Value should be higher, but player trades seldom net you much.
Supplemental picks: #3 for Wallace and #5 for Lewis; other supplemental for Mendenhall, Legursky, Allen, Mundy (all of whom started some games) would be a #6 or #7, but Goodell will dock us that to make up for "SidelineGate".
FA Shopping: We have needs at number of D spots, and I'd look at CB, S & NT, but ultimately I think we might land N.Carroll, CB, from Miami. Nice size, fast, and still young, and he's showing signs of developing (3 picks in '13). Would be affordable after cap room is made. Replaces Ike--loved Ike but he'd need the ball to hit him between the numbers 25 times to get 3 picks in a year.
Next is part 3: the Draft
Bookmarks