Tweet
With FA coming up, the Combine just finishing, and school's Pro-Days leading up to the draft, lots of speculation out there. I'm putting all that speculation together in what I think is an attainable (cost/cap/etc.) package. Will it be the winning combination to get us number 7? You won't outcoach the 'Cheats, so you need to 1) out talent them and 2) outperform them. I would guess our window is 3 years, so who cares about a bad year or two "AB" (after Ben)?
So, from speculation to reality:
-Add a FA CB, an outside guy that can play man and pair with Burns: D. Kirkpatrick/R. Logan/S.Gilmore. This will be a bigger dollar signing.
-Sign FA WR B. Marshall. He wants to play in Pittsburgh and he's a dominant redzone player. He's either a TD or offensive pass-interference--incredibly physical. He should be had at a very reasonable price, as he wants to actually play in a playoff game, and isn't getting younger.
-Sign Villanueva to a long-term deal.
-Re-sign L. Timmons, but only at a good price. More than Harrison, but not more than $3.5/year. He wants to stay a Steeler, prove it.
-Re-sign R. Mathews. Played well as a reserve forced into action; good fit, should come cheap. With Heyward, Hargrave, Tuitt, Mathews, Walton, McCullers, and Maxey, the DL is set for this year.
-Sign L. Bell to a long-term deal, saving 2-4M this year from the $12.2 franchise price. This deal has "outs" for drug suspension.
-If M. Bryant is re-instated, WR is set (w/ Brandon Marshall in the fold), so trade S. Coates & 2018 #5 for a 2017 #5.
Then in the draft:
#1 Reddick/Lawson/Harris--Edge guys.
#2 Awuzie/D. King/Lewis--slot CB Awuzie & King may be slot/FS guys.
#3 Leggett/Butt/Shaheen--TE, in case Green just can't shake the cobwebs.
From here, all picks are based on who's left, and what (position) you've checked off:
#3 Gallman-RB/T. Bowser-OLB/N.Peterman-QB BU RB? More Edge? Backup QB?
#4 Johnson-FS/Hunt-RB/Davenport-OT
#5 Price-OLB/J. Connor-RB/Hendrickson-OLB
#5 Rush-QB/T. Vallejo-ILB/Dunker-OG
#6 Henderson-RB/Torgensen-QB/T. Thompson-FS
#7 Blevins-DL/Meyers-OT/M. Dayes-RB
Once you get past the first three picks, the goal is a BU RB for Leveon, another OLB prospect, a BU/developmental QB, and a few other good bodies to compete for depth. I think this is doable with the cap money we have left, provided the vets decide playing on a winner for less $ is palatable. Who's in????
So, from speculation to reality:
-Add a FA CB, an outside guy that can play man and pair with Burns: D. Kirkpatrick/R. Logan/S.Gilmore. This will be a bigger dollar signing.
-Sign FA WR B. Marshall. He wants to play in Pittsburgh and he's a dominant redzone player. He's either a TD or offensive pass-interference--incredibly physical. He should be had at a very reasonable price, as he wants to actually play in a playoff game, and isn't getting younger.
-Sign Villanueva to a long-term deal.
-Re-sign L. Timmons, but only at a good price. More than Harrison, but not more than $3.5/year. He wants to stay a Steeler, prove it.
-Re-sign R. Mathews. Played well as a reserve forced into action; good fit, should come cheap. With Heyward, Hargrave, Tuitt, Mathews, Walton, McCullers, and Maxey, the DL is set for this year.
-Sign L. Bell to a long-term deal, saving 2-4M this year from the $12.2 franchise price. This deal has "outs" for drug suspension.
-If M. Bryant is re-instated, WR is set (w/ Brandon Marshall in the fold), so trade S. Coates & 2018 #5 for a 2017 #5.
Then in the draft:
#1 Reddick/Lawson/Harris--Edge guys.
#2 Awuzie/D. King/Lewis--slot CB Awuzie & King may be slot/FS guys.
#3 Leggett/Butt/Shaheen--TE, in case Green just can't shake the cobwebs.
From here, all picks are based on who's left, and what (position) you've checked off:
#3 Gallman-RB/T. Bowser-OLB/N.Peterman-QB BU RB? More Edge? Backup QB?
#4 Johnson-FS/Hunt-RB/Davenport-OT
#5 Price-OLB/J. Connor-RB/Hendrickson-OLB
#5 Rush-QB/T. Vallejo-ILB/Dunker-OG
#6 Henderson-RB/Torgensen-QB/T. Thompson-FS
#7 Blevins-DL/Meyers-OT/M. Dayes-RB
Once you get past the first three picks, the goal is a BU RB for Leveon, another OLB prospect, a BU/developmental QB, and a few other good bodies to compete for depth. I think this is doable with the cap money we have left, provided the vets decide playing on a winner for less $ is palatable. Who's in????