Going forward, What is would be our plan to get a new Francise QB?

[pfelix73]

I STILL say he misses that TE safety target over the middle in Heath. I said it last fall, and I still say it. James is an ok TE, but he's no Heath. McDonald, I thought was a good move.. we'll see how that works out. I'd rather have a Gronk than a Juju. I'll be the odd one out and say the 2nd half of the year will be huge for #7. McDonald will become a part of the O. Thats my prediction, and I'm sticking to it. lol

[SS Laser]

Trade Bell for a draft pick. Package picks to move up for a QB. Get a OC that is good with new young QB's. Keep improving other positions with the rest of the draft picks and FA. Need a ILB and safety to push the other guys. Add a young RB to go along with Conner. Foster will need a replacement sooner then later. TE needs a dynamic guy to go along with James. There 0-2 there in FA it looks like. No idea on the corners as far as playing against a top QB. Keep moving forward. Everyone knew Bens time was quickly coming to a end. So that seems to have tainted the locker room. Along with Bell's massive money dream. AB is a stud and deserves the ball as much as possible. But that causes issues for the offense also. Oh forgot about Bryant. Not sure he will amount to what he looked like he could be? So I think he will walk looking for the most money.
So need another WR. Not sure JuJu can be that replacement. Looks good so far! Will have to see at the end of the year were he is. Lots of pieces to the puzzle once Ben and Bell move on. Along with other needs.

[feltdizz]

He's got Bryant, he now has Juju. He also has Antonio freakin Brown, and Le'veon Bell, behind an o-line that has been together and is intact for years. 31 other QBs would trade their rosters for Ben's roster right now. Think about that.

As for drafting, something will come. I will say that I do not like Tomlin's seeming philosophy when it comes to drafting QBs at all. He seems to love mobile athletic guys, but discounts accurate, heady types. He's picked-up at various points in his tenure: Mike Vick, Tajh Boyd, the Ohio State guy who bounced around awhile, this Dobbs kid. What we should be going after, are heady Marc Bulger-like guys. Hoyer is another poorman's example of that. But a guy like Bulger... or Cousins... neither is looked at as franchise-QB material, but they are heady and accurate and can run efficient professional football. This is the type of guy that will be available to us at late-first through 3rd rounds.

I made a post complaining about the mobile Black QB's we kept selecting..lol. Thing is, I don't think we draftem them to be anything more than gadget guys who could come in like Kordell for a trick play.

When you have a guy like Ben you don't draft his replacement until THIS offseason. Anything else is a wasted roster spot IMO. I liked the Landry pick and although folks on here hate him I think he is a great back up QB. We damn sure aren't going to draft a Mohommes and let him sit for 2 or 3 years and HOPE he pans out. That's a crazy gamble IMO and one that I wouldn't take given our roster right now.

One thing I will add is NO ONE thought Ben would fall off like this and real talk, if we beat KC and Ben snaps out of his funk then these same folks dumping on Ben (me included) will pivot and find someone else to bash on the team. LOL...

I do think we have something in Dobbs though, I think he is a nice stop gap until we find a franchise QB.

[feltdizz]

I STILL say he misses that TE safety target over the middle in Heath. I said it last fall, and I still say it. James is an ok TE, but he's no Heath. McDonald, I thought was a good move.. we'll see how that works out. I'd rather have a Gronk than a Juju. I'll be the odd one out and say the 2nd half of the year will be huge for #7. McDonald will become a part of the O. Thats my prediction, and I'm sticking to it. lol

McDonald is garbage thus far. A few fans in SF said he had terrible hands and they weren't lying.

IMO Ben just refuses to target James at a rate that would help our O move the chains. I will say a few passes that were tipped/intercepted were to our TE's but IMO, Ben is just too focused on AB or the big play instead of moving the chains.

[feltdizz]

I remember that. Now who looks like the smart guy?

Is Mahomes playing? Do we know if he is legit yet?

I still say there is nothing smart about drafting a replacement and letting him sit for 3 years in todays NFL. That's a wasted roster spot.

Last years draft was terrible for QB's. IMO the way college throws the ball around you can find a "potential" franchise QB in damn near every draft if you want to pick one in the first round.

2018 draft you have Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Rudolph, Luke Faulk, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen....

so much talent next year vs in 2017.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Ideally, we find a way to get Darnold... but, since that aint happening (although he's not a shoo in for #1 overall) -- there are about 3 QBs that are first rounders (and please not Lamar Jackson). But, I would say that trading a future first is within the realm of possibility if you're targeting a franchise QB.

[feltdizz]

Ideally, we find a way to get Darnold... but, since that aint happening (although he's not a shoo in for #1 overall) -- there are about 3 QBs that are first rounders (and please not Lamar Jackson). But, I would say that trading a future first is within the realm of possibility if you're targeting a franchise QB.

I agree... not sure if Darnold is the guy but there are more than 2.5 QB's to choose from. Kid out of Memphis isn't bad either.

[SteelerMaine83]

Well, put me down as one who would Franchise Bell next year, then tell him and his agent to find a team (preferably in the NFC) that would sign him long term to whatever long-term deal he is looking for and us a #1 pick (15-20 ish) I'll then take a stud S (James, Harrison, or Fitpatrick) with 15-20, and pick a QB with our #1 (24-32) or a #2, according to value nd who is available. Ultimately, with the talent we have everywhere else, I think Luke Falk (whether he falls to the 2nd) would be a perfect fit for a team with a young good D, and supposedly a good oline and skill players. The stud QBs will be off the board early next year.

[NorthCoast]

I made a post complaining about the mobile Black QB's we kept selecting..lol. Thing is, I don't think we draftem them to be anything more than gadget guys who could come in like Kordell for a trick play.

When you have a guy like Ben you don't draft his replacement until THIS offseason. Anything else is a wasted roster spot IMO. I liked the Landry pick and although folks on here hate him I think he is a great back up QB. We damn sure aren't going to draft a Mohommes and let him sit for 2 or 3 years and HOPE he pans out. That's a crazy gamble IMO and one that I wouldn't take given our roster right now.

One thing I will add is NO ONE thought Ben would fall off like this and real talk, if we beat KC and Ben snaps out of his funk then these same folks dumping on Ben (me included) will pivot and find someone else to bash on the team. LOL...

I do think we have something in Dobbs though, I think he is a nice stop gap until we find a franchise QB.

Disagree and have said before you continue to draft QBs until you find a guy that shows 'interesting' potential. Look how many QBs NE has drafted in the last 10 yrs compared to the Steelers and they have Tom Freaking Brady. Look at the trade excitement generated early in the year with their backup Whatshisname. If they chose to, they could probably have traded him for a 1st rd pick. Always have to be on the lookout for the next franchise guy. If a team already has F-G, then maybe you don't draft a QB until the end of the draft or get a free agent pickup.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

the only person i remember talking about it was shawn who advocated taking mahonnes last year and he was roundly mocked by most here.

True, but Mahomes went 10th overall. Along with Trubisky (2nd) and Watson (12th) that was not realistic as it turned out. Realistically, if you take a QB then you sacrifice at another draft position. It might be easy to suggest now, but even a few weeks ago who would have traded TJ Watt for Deshone Kizer (52nd overall)? Would you be willing to sacrifice JuJu right now for Davis Webb? A guy who hasn't seen the field on an 0-5 team?

[Chucktownsteeler]

A couple of things, I saw on another board Luke Faulk might be a good fit for the Steelers offense. Thoughts???

I am in the camp that Ben's problems are more mental than physical. A change of venue may do him well, can we get a #1 and maybe a #2 from his old buddy B.A.?

How much signing bonus will Ben need to pay back if he retires after this year. Would the Steelers force him to pay it back? Thoughts???

[feltdizz]

Disagree and have said before you continue to draft QBs until you find a guy that shows 'interesting' potential. Look how many QBs NE has drafted in the last 10 yrs compared to the Steelers and they have Tom Freaking Brady. Look at the trade excitement generated early in the year with their backup Whatshisname. If they chose to, they could probably have traded him for a 1st rd pick. Always have to be on the lookout for the next franchise guy. If a team already has F-G, then maybe you don't draft a QB until the end of the draft or get a free agent pickup.

I don't really care what/how NE does it.

I think we have done a good job acquiring QB's in FA and through the draft these last few years.

I expect us to look for the next franchise QB this offseason.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

True, but Mahomes went 10th overall. Along with Trubisky (2nd) and Watson (12th) that was not realistic as it turned out. Realistically, if you take a QB then you sacrifice at another draft position. It might be easy to suggest now, but even a few weeks ago who would have traded TJ Watt for Deshone Kizer (52nd overall)? Would you be willing to sacrifice JuJu right now for Davis Webb? A guy who hasn't seen the field on an 0-5 team?

im not saying i would have done it. only that it wasnt as outlandish as some here suggested

like i said, last year would have been the 1st time i would have been partially ok with taking a QB in the 1st. the folks saying we should have taken one 2-3 years ago, i cant go along with that given our roster at that time

and the pats being held up as a shining example doesnt hold water, IMO. exactly what have they gotten for return on a 2nd round pick in JG? even if they trade him for a 1st is that a solid investment? you spent a 2nd, got nothing for 4 years and flipped him for a 1st? not a home run, IMO.

give me a productive player like tuitt or bell in the 2nd instead of that

[feltdizz]

True, but Mahomes went 10th overall. Along with Trubisky (2nd) and Watson (12th) that was not realistic as it turned out. Realistically, if you take a QB then you sacrifice at another draft position. It might be easy to suggest now, but even a few weeks ago who would have traded TJ Watt for Deshone Kizer (52nd overall)? Would you be willing to sacrifice JuJu right now for Davis Webb? A guy who hasn't seen the field on an 0-5 team?

I always thought Watson was the best QB in this draft but it was a weak QB class. I damn sure wouldnt trade 2 picks for any of those guys to sit on the bench for 2 or 3 years.

This isnt the 80's either. No need to sit a guy for a few years.

[feltdizz]

im not saying i would have done it. only that it wasnt as outlandish as some here suggested

like i said, last year would have been the 1st time i would have been partially ok with taking a QB in the 1st. the folks saying we should have taken one 2-3 years ago, i cant go along with that given our roster at that time

and the pats being held up as a shining example doesnt hold water, IMO. exactly what have they gotten for return on a 2nd round pick in JG? even if they trade him for a 1st is that a solid investment? you spent a 2nd, got nothing for 4 years and flipped him for a 1st? not a home run, IMO.

give me a productive player like tuitt or bell in the 2nd instead of that

I agree... but I really didnt see anyone in the first worth giving up picks to move up to get them.

Im sure the FO looked at next years crop as the year to make moves and pretty much admitted they were starting their search for a replacement.