Markus Wheaton ...

[Iron City Inc.]

Bears have a good chance to be drafting 1st in 2018.

[SS Laser]

So what; we only offer 1.25 cents to free agents; then we act surprised when 98% go elsewhere.

I am fine with that with how this team is built and there success. How has the last 2 "big" FA signings worked out? Depends who you ask but more then a few fans want Mitchell gone. Green might be done or soon to be done. And even Dwill has hit and miss being injured along with Bell. Injuries happen I get it but just a small point to make. Not a big fan of FA. I prefer a cockrell type deal after the draft. Young guys they must have liked in the draft and missed the chance to draft. So much turn over in the NFL. Everything seems to be even a bigger gamble then years past. Players in trouble, injuries, chasing money, retiring early and unmotivated lazy once paid. The template the Steelers use has worked very well. But after a bad loss in the AFCC with Ben talking retirement fans are in full panic mode. I won't panic till Ben retires. Then the stuff will hit the fan.

[Ernie]

I am fine with that with how this team is built and there success. How has the last 2 "big" FA signings worked out? Depends who you ask but more then a few fans want Mitchell gone. Green might be done or soon to be done. And even Dwill has hit and miss being injured along with Bell. Injuries happen I get it but just a small point to make. Not a big fan of FA. I prefer a cockrell type deal after the draft. Young guys they must have liked in the draft and missed the chance to draft. So much turn over in the NFL. Everything seems to be even a bigger gamble then years past. Players in trouble, injuries, chasing money, retiring early and unmotivated lazy once paid. The template the Steelers use has worked very well. But after a bad loss in the AFCC with Ben talking retirement fans are in full panic mode. I won't panic till Ben retires. Then the stuff will hit the fan.

All the more reason to draft Ben's replacement this year...if the FO feels he is on the board in RDS 1 or 2. Any LB/DB drafted in Rds 1 and 2 (where we pick) will not likely be an upgrade production wise over the vets on our roster. Burns, Davis, and Hargrave... as well as they played this past year... is about all that you could hope for out of the rooks...to be truthful.

[Ernie]

I'm not excited about the thought of Landry Jones being our QB for 2-3 years... while we are waiting for the kid we drafted (after Ben retires) to develop into a starter.

[SteelCrazy]

I'm not excited about the thought of Landry Jones being our QB for 2-3 years... while we are waiting for the kid we drafted (after Ben retires) to develop into a starter.

That's a hard thing to get excited about. Even for the boards biggest homers, front office and coaching staff do no wrong kind of homers like, well you know who you are!!!

[feltdizz]

All the more reason to draft Ben's replacement this year...if the FO feels he is on the board in RDS 1 or 2. Any LB/DB drafted in Rds 1 and 2 (where we pick) will not likely be an upgrade production wise over the vets on our roster. Burns, Davis, and Hargrave... as well as they played this past year... is about all that you could hope for out of the rooks...to be truthful.

Unless you think there is a franchise QB in the 1st or 2nd it's foolish to draft QB early THIS year. What makes you think Bens replacement is in this draft? Who is your pick?

why does a DB/LB have to outperform our current vets to justify being drafted early? While it would be a great more than likely they will be added for depth which we always seem to need due to injury.

If we can draft a Burns, Hargrove and Davis last year why not this year as well?

[Ernie]

Unless you think there is a franchise QB in the 1st or 2nd it's foolish to draft QB early THIS year. What makes you think Bens replacement is in this draft? Who is your pick?

why does a DB/LB have to outperform our current vets to justify being drafted early? While it would be a great more than likely they will be added for depth which we always seem to need due to injury.

If we can draft a Burns, Hargrove and Davis last year why not this year as well?

I didn't say Ben's replacement was in this draft in Rds 1 and 2, did I? You'll have to go back and read my post again. That's the FO's decision. I'm not around to evaluate those guys like they are...

and the Defense is going to have to be upgraded in key positions, if we are going to win a championship in Ben's final year or two. I think everyone agrees that Ben is not able to carry this team anymore... over the long haul. I am fine with drafting another Burns/Hargrove/Davis... but those guys likely won't be an upgrade over what we already had on the roster. Think Ben's "window" here please.

In some ways I think the FO is confused in what they are trying to do. We sign AB and Bell...which would indicate that we are trying to keep 2 of the "3 B's" in place to make a run next year.. while, at the same time....letting Timmons go and not upgrading the corner position through Free Agency. Again, I am all for looking to the future. I just don't think the 2017 draft class will replace or upgrade Timmons' production before Ben retires.

[Slapstick]

That's a hard thing to get excited about. Even for the boards biggest homers, front office and coaching staff do no wrong kind of homers like, well you know who you are!!!

Ben hasn't retired yet...no reason to start the whining, bitching, and moaning this early...

[Mr.wizard]

All the more reason to draft Ben's replacement this year...if the FO feels he is on the board in RDS 1 or 2. Any LB/DB drafted in Rds 1 and 2 (where we pick) will not likely be an upgrade production wise over the vets on our roster. Burns, Davis, and Hargrave... as well as they played this past year... is about all that you could hope for out of the rooks...to be truthful.

I think the resigning of Landry Jones tells you that the Steelers do not think Ben's replacement is in this draft.

[Ernie]

Ben hasn't retired yet...no reason to start the whining, bitching, and moaning this early...

I guess the question is... how many years do we feel he has left? Especially if he sees we aren't making the necessary improvements in key positions to help him get back to another SB? I could him hanging it up in a year or so. Do we wait until he retires to try to find his replacement?

[Ernie]

I think the resigning of Landry Jones tells you that the Steelers do not think Ben's replacement is in this draft.

Or it may mean (not likely) that Ben is going to hang it up...

[Mr.wizard]

I think he at least finishes his contract.

[Ernie]

I hope so. He's definitely not happy with the FO..or he wouldn't be throwing "Retirement" around.

[The Man of Steel]

Eli Rogers, Cobi Hamilton, and/or Demarcus Ayers are more than capable of filling Wheaton's mediocre cleats. On the other hand Darius Heyward-Bey or Sammie Coates cannot adequately fill in for Martavis Bryant's deep threat ability.

[Ernie]

Let's hope MB stays clean. DHB has/had the potential of being an impact player. No clue why he is seldom targeted.