Detroit has an offer on the table for quarterback Matthew Stafford as the top pick.
I think it's a mistake for the Lions – what's new? – because quarterbacks bomb out so often in the first round and they have much greater needs. Plus, I just don't like any of the quarterbacks in this year's draft.
Detroit would be better off taking offensive tackle Jason Smith first rather than a quarterback, but that's why they're the Lions.
© Once that top pick is established, however, the rest of the draft will start to take shape.
© There seems to be a hold on the Braylon Edwards to Giants trade.
If I'm the Giants, I'd rather have Hakeem Nicks than give up a first-round draft pick and a player – which is reportedly what the Browns are asking for – for Edwards, who dropped everything in sight last season.
© According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Steelers currently have $440,000 in cap space. Again, a trade for Buffalo's Roscoe Parrish seems unlikely because of that - unless Pittsburgh is willing to release inside linebacker Larry Foote.
The Steelers will obviously have to do some work before they sign any of their rookie class.
Those players count as minimum wage guys until they actually sign their contract and therefore don't count against the top 51 salaries.
© Darius Butler is the only cornerback who would interest me in the first round if I'm the Steelers.
© Given my choice of the top three center prospects in this draft, I'd list them in this order, Eric Wood, Max Unger, Alex Mack. That's right, Mack's third on my list because he hasn't shown the ability to play anything other than center, while the other two have.
Wood's nastiness and love of the game gives him the nod over Unger for me.
© Brian Robiskie might be the safest pick of the second tier of wide receivers.
He's smooth with great size and good, not great, speed.
Plus, his dad's an NFL coach, so you know his head's on straight.
Can't say that about Percy Harvin or Kenny Britt. And Nicks raised some concerns by putting on 14 pounds after the combine - though he did have a hamstring problem.
© I think I'd rather have a load in my pants than Phil Loadholt.
I like Foote but maybe it is time to move on if the Steelers can't make any moves. Fox looks like a decent backup and Timmons is ready. I think Parrish would help the return game and is a solid 3 or 4 receiver option.
ReplyDeleteI think that getting Parrish is a great move for the Steelers! Please try and trade a 3rd or 4th rounder for him, and cut Foote. There is nothing worse than watching a mainstay of our beloved team (see: Foote) play out the his final year with the team. Oh, yeah and Timmons is ready!!
ReplyDeleteWhy don't they look at restructuring and extending Ward? He's got a pretty heavy contract this season... It would seem to make the most sense to rework his deal.
ReplyDeleteI agree Kelly...also they need to extend Starks contract.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Parrish! I would be much happier with drafting Mike Thomas and having him return kicks/punts.
"Why don't they look at restructuring and extending Ward? He's got a pretty heavy contract this season... It would seem to make the most sense to rework his deal."
ReplyDeleteexactly what i was thinking
we need to be more proactive, not reactive
For example, we liked Kemo enough last year to make him our starter right? Why didnt we just re-sign him before last season started? It would have been much cheap
Same with the whole Starks foul up
Ward's cap hit this coming year is over 6 million i believe.....work out an extension and get some cap relief instead of just cutting people (Russell)
Starks will not sign a long term deal, unless he gets more than 8.5 mill. in guaranteed $$.. . . and that will not happen.
ReplyDeleteSo the Lions should take an OL over a QB. Here's an even better idea: trade out of the top spot. But that's not going to happen because no one wants to bankrupt their salary structure on the next Jake Plummer.
ReplyDeleteIf I were an NFL veteran, I would be pi$$ed that the players in the top 10 or 15 picks get salaries worth more than most of the league's established players. Stafford hasn't thrown one pass, or won one game but he will be one of the highest paid players in the game.
What a stupid system.
did you mean rather have a load in your pants over Loadholt?
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree with you about the centers. Even if Mack is excluively a Center, a Center who plays his position head and shoulders above the others is more valuable in my opinion. But for the Steelers a G who can move to center would be better, so I agree, but not sure about Unger over Mack.
The problem with cutting Foote, especially before the draft (which won't happen) is that it leaves a gapping hole in the roster. I've stated before ILB is not as deep as some people like to perceive, especially in a 3-4 and cutting Foote would almost require some sort of ILB pick up in draft or FA.
They will figure out a way to make the cap work. This isn't anything new.
My realistic picks for the Steelers
1: Mack, Wood, or trade down a few spots and grab Fili Moala, and if not, in somewhat of an order: Beatty, Ziggy Hood, Unger, Butler, Harvin, , A. Smith.
2. I would love Robiskie, but don't expect him to be there (and he doesn't seem like a returner, which we need from a rookie WR) same for A. Smith. Fili, Gibert, and Brace should be gone as well. So Duke Robinson, Meredith, or if we go o-line in the 1st, whatever CB is left.
thats as far as I go. I expect to see Frank Summers taken somewhere and some kind of tradeup in the 3rd or 4th. We won't draft 9 players in my opinion.
Dale --
ReplyDeleteNot trying to be a smart ass, just curious. I was biased having gone to Miami U. Do you recall if you thought Big Ben was worth the #11 pick when he was drafted?
Thx
"For example, we liked Kemo enough last year to make him our starter right? Why didnt we just re-sign him before last season started? It would have been much cheap"
ReplyDeleteActually, we got Kemo on the cheap as-is, and the front office had the chance to evaluate him as a starter before throwing money at him. How would you have liked to sign the kid, then find out he has absolutely no starting potential?
The Steelers do very well by being reactive, instead of proactive, like you said. They let the chips fall where they may and go from there. As such, they don't make many mistakes.
Quite frankly, I really don't see how anyone could have a single complaint about the Steelers front office. They're damn near perfect in what they do, and they do it better than anyone else in sports. Be grateful you're a Steeler fan.
oh I also like Delmas, but I'm not sure he'll even be there at 32, and even so, I just don't see the Steelers doing it. But I like him.
ReplyDeleteYes, I thought Roethlisberger was worth it. I liked all three of those QBs that year and Matt Schaub. Didn't like Losman.
ReplyDeleteI know it sounds easy to say now, but that was the case.
As for restructuring Ward, they can't because he's in the last year of his deal. There's nothing to restructure. It's a new contract or nothing.
I'm not a Parrish fan. He's a fumbler and he can't play WR consistently.
Dale, what do you think about the Steelers solving its WR and Returner needs with WR/KR/PR Mike Wallace of Mississippi in the 2nd or 3rd round?
ReplyDeleteHe's 6'0, 200 lbs, led the SEC in yards per catch average during the past two years, is a dynamite kickoff and punt returner and, oh year, he ran a 4.3 at the combine with a 41-inch vertical.
He's better than Nate Washington as a 3rd WR and would be the best returner the Steelers have had seen Randle-El. He could also be a starter alongside Santonio Holmes in two years.
Thoughts?
Is Limas Sweed not getting a shot this year?
ReplyDeleteEdwards to Detroit for their #20 overall and their 3rd rounder!
ReplyDeleteI'm not in favor of spending the money on Parrish. If you're thinking about getting Foote off of the roster (also not in favor), then I would think some sort of Foote for Parrish Trade would make sense
ReplyDelete