SKL's "What if I were the GM" 2022 off season

[steelerkeylargo]

Lets take a look at what the Steelers off season should look like. With more money to spend than I can ever recall having Pittsburgh should be looking to add it’s biggest crop of FA’s in team history. This would allow the Steelers to immediately jump back into contention and be playoff caliber for years to come. Lets look at Free Agents and the Draft. (see sig for some additional details)


Free Agent Adds (Outside)


1) Jerrick McKinnon-RB-reclamation project who can catch the ball and should be reasonably priced on a 2 year deal.
2) Trent Brown-OT-this would cost us about 10M/year but Brown is a VERY solid OT who can play either side.
3) Ben Jones-C-experienced veteran who can stabilize the position for a couple years
4) Akeim Hicks-DE- this would only be an option if we move on from Tuitt contractually pretty equal
5) Kemoko Turray-OLB- could really shine in a situational pass rush role, could come cheap on a short “prove you can stay healthy” deal
6) Alexander Johnson-ILB-veteran performer who plays the run and coverage equally well
7) Rasul Douglass-CB-really shined in GB this year and came on much the way Witherspoon did with us
8-Jayron Kearse-SS-an upgrade over Terrell Edmunds in coverage (although resigning Edmunds is a possibility)




Free Agents (Inside)


1) J.C. Hassanauer-C-nice backup who is cheap
2) Robert Spillane-ILB-see above
3) Monty Adams-DT-young promising DT who can rotate with AluAlu
4) Akhello Witherspoon-CB-showed enough promise to earn a nice payday
5) Miles Killebrew-SS-special teams ace and quality depth
6) JuJu Smith Schuster-WR-you all know the deal




2022 Draft


1/20-Best QB on our board. I haven’t decided who I’d like yet as all the QB’s have flaws. I’ll be comfortable with Colberts pick of one (Pickett, Ridder, Corral, Willis,Howell) although Howell admittedly is my least favorite


2/52-Zion Johnson-OG-BC-plug and play guard for years to come. Bully


3/84-Perion Winfrey-DE-OU-stout against the run with some pass rush upside


4c-Braxton Jones-OT-Southern Utah-Giant of a man with high ceilling


6/191-Charleston Rambo-WR-Miami- has some great college experience and enough speed to take the top off, looking forward to seeing how he runs at combine


7/224-Erik Swenson-OT-OU-developmental lineman with some position flexibility


7/240-John Haggerty-P-Western Kentucky-I’ve seen enough of Harvin


53 man Roster to follow

[hawaiiansteel]

6-Charleston Rambo-WR-Miami- has some great college experience and enough speed to take the top off, looking forward to seeing how he runs at combine

a Steelers "Rambo" jersey would be a must own.

[steelerkeylargo]

53 MAN 2022 ROSTER


QB (3) 1-1st Round QB 2-Rudolph 3-Haskins or Dobbs


RB (4) 1-Harris 2-McKinnon 3-Snell 4-McFarland


FB (1) Watt


WR (5) 1-Johnson 2-Ju JU 3-Claypool 4-Rambo 5-Miller


TE (3) 1-Friermuth 2-Gentry 3-Rader


OT (4) 1-Brown 2-Moore 3-Jones 4-Swenson


OG (4) 1-Z.Johnson 2-Dotson 3-Green 4-Leglue


OC (2) 1-Jones 2- Hassanauer


DE (5) 1-Heyward 2-Tuitt/Hicks 3-Wormley 4-Loudermilk 5-Winfrey


DT (2) 1-AluAlu 2-Adams


OLB (4) 1-Watt 2-Highsmith 3-Turray 4-Tuszka


ILB (4) 1-Bush 2-A.Johnson 3-Spillane 4-B. Johnson


CB (5) 1-Sutton 2-Witherspoon 3-Douglass 4-Pierre 5-Layne


FS (2) 1-Minkah 2-Norwood


SS (2) 1-Kearse 2-Killebrew


Specialists-Boswell, Haggerty, Canaday

[flippy]

a Steelers "Rambo" jersey would be a must own.

The same thought jumped out at me.

Good list of FAs and draftees. You think we could afford all those FAs? Seems like too many signings.

[SteelBucks]

There’s a lot of noise around the Steelers and Akeim Hicks. Yes please.

[steelerkeylargo]

The same thought jumped out at me.

Good list of FAs and draftees. You think we could afford all those FAs? Seems like too many signings.

While I am by no means a cap guru. I did plug all the numbers in through SportTracs and still had plenty of cash left for the draft class

[Northern_Blitz]

I always look forward to SKL posts in the offseason (and at other times too )

I hope we can shore up the OL as you suggest here. I agree we probably need a tackle, a center and a guard and hope we can get good options for all three in one off season.

I also agree that we shouldn't spend much on a 2nd RB who we probably won't use unless Najee gets hurt. So a cheap potentially versatile guy with upside seems like a reasonable plan here.

Other UFA signings seem to fill needs too (Lord knows we have many).

Should be an interesting offseason.

[whisper]

The same thought jumped out at me.

Good list of FAs and draftees. You think we could afford all those FAs? Seems like too many signings.

Afford? If they wanted to. Would do? Not the "Steeler way."

[SteelBucks]

Afford? If they wanted to. Would do? Not the "Steeler way."

You don’t realize the Steelers spend up to the cap every year? Comments like this drive me nuts.

[steeler_george]

SKL your legend...

I like these moves, especially how they cover all the holes, and actually upgrade.

I can see this happening with Douglas ( GB is in cap hell), Mckinnon , and Hicks.

Orlando is a move I can't see happening, but he will upgrade the over Chucks ( who I rather keep instead of Haeg who can cut and save 2.5 million) Chucks is still young not even 24.

It isn't how you attacking the OL in FA it is how you attacked fixing the DBS. Witherspoon and Douglas outside, Sutton and Norwood/Killabrew 5 and 10.
Fill the void at ILB too.

Then I can see going QB in the 1st, looks like it is going to be Willis, love the Zion kid, and Rambo. I still would of loved drafting another ILB.

[steelerkeylargo]

SKL your legend...

I like these moves, especially how they cover all the holes, and actually upgrade.

I can see this happening with Douglas ( GB is in cap hell), Mckinnon , and Hicks.

Orlando is a move I can't see happening, but he will upgrade the over Chucks ( who I rather keep instead of Haeg who can cut and save 2.5 million) Chucks is still young not even 24.

It isn't how you attacking the OL in FA it is how you attacked fixing the DBS. Witherspoon and Douglas outside, Sutton and Norwood/Killabrew 5 and 10.
Fill the void at ILB too.

Then I can see going QB in the 1st, looks like it is going to be Willis, love the Zion kid, and Rambo. I still would of loved drafting another ILB.

While I would LOVE to add Orlando Brown (Chiefs) it's actually Trent Brown (Patriots) that I propose signing. I'd love to add a ILB too in the draft. But we are short on picks this year and we need some experience in the middle next to Bush

[SteelerMaine83]

The same thought jumped out at me.

Good list of FAs and draftees. You think we could afford all those FAs? Seems like too many signings.

Yes, I like the players/fits you put out there, SKL, well-thought out.

That said, no, we can't afford this. Here's my reality check on the "big salary cap" space we have this year, which I posted in my response to steeler-george's "MY Offseason Moves 2022":

"Always like your posts, George.

That said, I want to inject reality into our "big" salary cap that we have this year. Yes, we have more than we usually have, but let's do an exercise on our FA you want to keep for perspective.

Reportedly, we have about $34M in cap space available. I'll throw out possible cap hits for each player you propose to keep, with each estimate probably a little on the low side of what I think the cost may be (especially this year):

Edmunds 3 yr/$18M, 6M signing bonus (SB). Low first year cap hit of $3M
Witherspoon 4 yr/$28M, 8M SB. Low first year cap hit of $4M
Okorafor 2 yr/$8M, 2M SB. Hit of $2M
Killebrew 1 yr/$1M. $1M hit
JuJu 3/$21M, 6M SB. Hit of $3M
Ray-Ray/Washington 1 yr/$1M
Haden 1 yr/$3M. Below market hit of $3M

That totals $17M. You still have $17M left. However, indications are the Steelers will keep RFA Haskins, which would cost at least a $2.5M tender, and EFRA Hassenauer, at about $1M. So, $20.5M Couple that with a price tag of about $7.5M for the rookie pool, and the customary amount they hold back for in-season transactions (somewhere between $7-9M), you're already above the $34M available, and I don't see how the team is improved much.

Of course, potential cap saving moves such as cutting Tuitt, Banner, Schobert, etc can bring in additional cash, and that will be the money you have for those FA you want to get from outside, but for big ticket guys that may only get you 2 players.

Not trying to be a downer, but that's the reality once you start spending the cap space."

[steelerkeylargo]

Yes, I like the players/fits you put out there, SKL, well-thought out.

That said, no, we can't afford this. Here's my reality check on the "big salary cap" space we have this year, which I posted in my response to steeler-george's "MY Offseason Moves 2022":

"Always like your posts, George.

That said, I want to inject reality into our "big" salary cap that we have this year. Yes, we have more than we usually have, but let's do an exercise on our FA you want to keep for perspective.

Reportedly, we have about $34M in cap space available. I'll throw out possible cap hits for each player you propose to keep, with each estimate probably a little on the low side of what I think the cost may be (especially this year):

Edmunds 3 yr/$18M, 6M signing bonus (SB). Low first year cap hit of $3M
Witherspoon 4 yr/$28M, 8M SB. Low first year cap hit of $4M
Okorafor 2 yr/$8M, 2M SB. Hit of $2M
Killebrew 1 yr/$1M. $1M hit
JuJu 3/$21M, 6M SB. Hit of $3M
Ray-Ray/Washington 1 yr/$1M
Haden 1 yr/$3M. Below market hit of $3M

That totals $17M. You still have $17M left. However, indications are the Steelers will keep RFA Haskins, which would cost at least a $2.5M tender, and EFRA Hassenauer, at about $1M. So, $20.5M Couple that with a price tag of about $7.5M for the rookie pool, and the customary amount they hold back for in-season transactions (somewhere between $7-9M), you're already above the $34M available, and I don't see how the team is improved much.

Of course, potential cap saving moves such as cutting Tuitt, Banner, Schobert, etc can bring in additional cash, and that will be the money you have for those FA you want to get from outside, but for big ticket guys that may only get you 2 players.

Not trying to be a downer, but that's the reality once you start spending the cap space."

Like I said. I am admittedly not a 'Cap guru". I can however use sport tracs and to build a roster. Cutting guys like Schobert, Banner, Haeg and a bunch of end of the roster guys can easily free up 30-35 Mil. Combine that with typical Omar Kahn restructures and we have plenty of cash.

[Chucktownsteeler]

a Steelers "Rambo" jersey would be a must own.

Do you remember the Rambo we had?

[Oviedo]

Lets take a look at what the Steelers off season should look like. With more money to spend than I can ever recall having Pittsburgh should be looking to add it’s biggest crop of FA’s in team history. This would allow the Steelers to immediately jump back into contention and be playoff caliber for years to come. Lets look at Free Agents and the Draft. (see sig for some additional details)


Free Agent Adds (Outside)


1) Jerrick McKinnon-RB-reclamation project who can catch the ball and should be reasonably priced on a 2 year deal.
2) Trent Brown-OT-this would cost us about 10M/year but Brown is a VERY solid OT who can play either side.
3) Ben Jones-C-experienced veteran who can stabilize the position for a couple years
4) Akeim Hicks-DE- this would only be an option if we move on from Tuitt contractually pretty equal
5) Kemoko Turray-OLB- could really shine in a situational pass rush role, could come cheap on a short “prove you can stay healthy” deal
6) Alexander Johnson-ILB-veteran performer who plays the run and coverage equally well
7) Rasul Douglass-CB-really shined in GB this year and came on much the way Witherspoon did with us
8-Jayron Kearse-SS-an upgrade over Terrell Edmunds in coverage (although resigning Edmunds is a possibility)




Free Agents (Inside)


1) J.C. Hassanauer-C-nice backup who is cheap
2) Robert Spillane-ILB-see above
3) Monty Adams-DT-young promising DT who can rotate with AluAlu
4) Akhello Witherspoon-CB-showed enough promise to earn a nice payday
5) Miles Killebrew-SS-special teams ace and quality depth
6) JuJu Smith Schuster-WR-you all know the deal




2022 Draft


1/20-Best QB on our board. I haven’t decided who I’d like yet as all the QB’s have flaws. I’ll be comfortable with Colberts pick of one (Pickett, Ridder, Corral, Willis,Howell) although Howell admittedly is my least favorite


2/52-Zion Johnson-OG-BC-plug and play guard for years to come. Bully


3-Perion Winfrey-DE-OU-stout against the run with some pass rush upside


4c-Braxton Jones-OT-Southern Utah-Giant of a man with high ceilling


6-Charleston Rambo-WR-Miami- has some great college experience and enough speed to take the top off, looking forward to seeing how he runs at combine


7-Erik Swenson-OT-OU-developmental lineman with some position flexibility


7-John Haggerty-P-Western Kentucky-I’ve seen enough of Harvin


53 man Roster to follow

You continue to be an All Star at this stuff. I love many of your proposed moves. I may be in the minority, but I'd restucture Schobert as opposed to cutting him. He got here late this year and I think with a full off season and camp behind him he would be better than anyone we get in free agency.