Interest In OT Market Suggests Steelers Not Convinced With Villanueva

[SidSmythe]

MUNCHAK i'm sure knows what is needed on the OLINE.

[steeler_george]

I think they are satisfied with av, but not with the tackle position, depth and future.

Av is an RFA in 2017, don't be shocked if select Dekker or Spriggs.

[Oviedo]

I think looking at other Tackles is more about them being unwilling to commit money to Beachum than their dissatisfaction with Villanueva

[SidSmythe]

I think looking at other Tackles is more about them being unwilling to commit money to Beachum than their dissatisfaction with Villanueva

As of right now 4/5th of the Steelers STARTING OLINE is as solid as it's been in a decade (Depth is a concern).
Your most important position is still up in the air....I figure the STEELERS are "kicking tires" right now on a VETERAN for competition and depth.
I think A.V. has potential but lacks top tier strength. He did better than expected but to simply hand him the job moving forward would not be wise of the Steelers when you're aging Franchise QB is the risk.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum adds Jaguars to his tour
Posted by Darin Gantt on March 14, 2016, 9:42 AM EDT


With the second phase of free agency upon us, the guys with warts are making the rounds.


And guys who might not even be ready to start the season are getting multiple looks.


According to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union, Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum is visiting the Jaguars today.


The 26-year-old Beachum tore his ACL last October, so it’s not a lock he’s going to be ready to go by the opener, but he’s drawing interest anyway. He’s also visited the Jets.


The Jaguars are apparently looking for a backup for former No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel, and may think they can get a bargain in Beachum.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/03/14/steelers-left-tackle-kelvin-beachum-adds-jaguars-to-his-tour/[/URL]

[RuthlessBurgher]

By Zac Jackson
March 14, 2016, 8:10 PM EDT
Report: Jags wanted Beachum to sign before leaving

Free agent left tackle Kelvin Beachum concluded a visit with the Jaguars Monday, and ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported Monday night that Jaguars officials were trying to convince Beachum to agree to a contract before leaving Jacksonville.

That didn’t happen. Anderson followed up with a report that said Beachum was already on a plane back to Pittsburgh to evaluate his next step.

The visit was the second since the start of free agency for Beachum, who previously visited the Jets.

Beachum tore his ACL last October, ending his fourth season with the Steelers after six games. Beachum, 26, took over as the full-time left tackle for the Steelers in 2014.

There have been no signs that a Beachum-Steelers reunion is in the cards. The Steelers re-signed guard Ramon Foster before free agency and have either visited or set up visits with other offensive tackles. Sunday, they reportedly made a contract offer to longtime Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung.

[SteelYinzer]

Two positives from last season was realizing we have a legit starting LF in Villanueva and it cost us nothing and we found the guy to some day take over for Heath in Jesse James. Going into FA we know we desperately need help in the secondary. What do we do? We try and replace Villanueva and we sign an equal talent to James to decent money.

We absolutely should be looking to sign a project tackle and TE via FA or in the draft. I readily defended KC on the Green signing but I should have stuck to my first reaction. That Green signing and potentially signing Okung is a poor allocation of resources. Green is fine second TE but we could find that in the draft. Okung anchored the 30th ranked OL and Villanueva did outstanding considering his devlopment on the 10th ranked OL.

I really thought we were so very close to getting to the SB next year. No longer. Playoffs for sure but our D will not be enough to get us to the dance. I'm afraid that we should (some already have) finally come to the conclusion that the game has passed Colbert by. That magic he had with Cowher is nowhere to be found. No viable backup QB, the line had sucked for so many years leading to so many injuries to Ben and the secondary hasn't been addressed (with premier talent) since 2003 when they drafted Troy and Ike.

Very rarely do rookie defensive players taken in the draft get playing time let alone start, produce, or be a difference maker for us. Basically we needed to have taken those players 2-3 years ago to help us in 2016. So we are pretty much banking on our zero talent secondary to magically become viable starters. Golson will essentially be starting from scratch too. This sucks.

[Oviedo]

Two positives from last season was realizing we have a legit starting LF in Villanueva .

I dunno, the Pirates have a pretty good Left Fielder in Marte. I sure AV can hit for power but he is probably lacking in range.

Seriously though, I think AV has upside with a solid season under his belt. Let Munchak work his magic and add some depth. Maybe Adams coms back with something to prove

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Very rarely do rookie defensive players taken in the draft get playing time let alone start, produce, or be a difference maker for us. Basically we needed to have taken those players 2-3 years ago to help us in 2016. So we are pretty much banking on our zero talent secondary to magically become viable starters. Golson will essentially be starting from scratch too. This sucks.

I share this concern. In order to have a legitimate shot at winning a Super Bowl, the secondary needs to be upgraded. The FO said they recognized this need. I was hoping they would bring in at least one good, experienced veteran to help. There's still a chance of it, but it's looking more unlikely. They may draft some players but, you're right, it's unlikely that they will produce much for a year or two. And the window of opportunity with their franchise QB is closing.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Top 25 performance-based pay recipients

Posted by Zac Jackson on March 15, 2016, 8:49 PM EDT

The NFL announced its performance-based pay for the 2015 season Tuesday. More than $121 million was paid out to players using a formula that rewards players in a formula based on playing time to salary. Players who log the most snaps but have lower salary levels compared to their teammates are paid from a fund that started in 2002 and has paid out more than $1 billion since its inception.

The top 25 performance-based pay distributions for 2015 are below…

1. Denver Broncos center Matt Paradis: $391,648

2. Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings: $359,396

3. Cincinnati Bengals center Russell Bodine: $352,271

4. Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Garry Gilliam: $329,384

5. New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler: $319,283

6. Atlanta Falcons safety Ricardo Allen: $317,826

7. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva: $309,835

8. Philadelphia Eagles guard Matt Tobin: $307,101

9. New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa: $296,712

10. New Orleans Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux: $295,356

11. Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Mike Remmers: $292,514

12. Chicago Bears safety Adrian Amos: $282,159

13. Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder: $279,671

14. Dallas Cowboys guard La’El Collins: $277,940

15. San Francisco 49ers cornerback Kenneth Acker: $273,632

16. Denver Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett: $269,590

17. Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson: $268,838

18. Oakland Raiders guard J’Marcus Webb: $266,778

19. Buffalo Bills linebacker Preston Brown: $263,843

20. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones: $261,458

21. San Diego Chargers offensive tackle Kenny Wiggins: $255,145

22. Carolina Panthers guard Trai Turner: $254,280

23. Kansas City Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: $253,540

24. Oakland Raiders cornerback TJ Carrie: $253,337

25. Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones: $251,737

[pittpete]

You people do realize there are some pretty decent defensive Free Agents still out there?

[RuthlessBurgher]

You people do realize there are some pretty decent defensive Free Agents still out there?

Corners: Leon Hall, Brandon Boykin, Antonio Cromartie, Patrick Robinson, Sterling Moore, Jerraud Powers, Charles Tillman.

Safeties: Rashad Johnson, Reggie Nelson, Hudson Abdullah, Rahim Moore, Bacarri Rambo, Louis Delmas, Quinton Demps, William Moore.

Defensive Tackles: Terence Knighton, Nick Fairley, Randy Starks, Chris Canty, Jason Hatcher, Sammie Lee Hill, Mike Devito, Pat Sims.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

You people do realize there are some pretty decent defensive Free Agents still out there?

Yup. Not sure the Steelers will get any of them, though. I doubt they'll be able to spend the money required for any of the good corners. And I doubt they'll want to spend the money required for any of the good safeties or def. tackles. No doubt they'll add a couple of lower-tier players for "depth," and address needs through the draft...which is great for a couple of years from now but, unfortunately, may not be enough to help them this coming season.

But we'll see.

[pittpete]

Not sure the Steelers will get any of them, though. I doubt they'll be able to spend the money required for any of the good corners. And I doubt they'll want to spend the money required for any of the good safeties or def. tackles.

Yes, but someone is going to have to sign them.

[Oviedo]

Corners: Leon Hall, Brandon Boykin, Antonio Cromartie, Patrick Robinson, Sterling Moore, Jerraud Powers, Charles Tillman.

Safeties: Rashad Johnson, Reggie Nelson, Hudson Abdullah, Rahim Moore, Bacarri Rambo, Louis Delmas, Quinton Demps, William Moore.

Defensive Tackles: Terence Knighton, Nick Fairley, Randy Starks, Chris Canty, Jason Hatcher, Sammie Lee Hill, Mike Devito, Pat Sims.

I would be interested in Boykin, Patrick Robinson, Rhaim Morre and Rashad Johnson. Could there really be any interest in Reggie Nelson after he took out Bell's knee and coming from the Bumgals?????

IMO Nick Fairley would be interesting pick up.