February 6, 2026 • 48 mins
Rob and Max spent hour one of the final show of the season reacting to the NFL Honors recipients, breaking down the roster on the defensive side of the ball, and taking a look at free agents.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for being with us here in the Locker Room,
our final show with the season, and yeah there's some sadness.
You know, we have the Combine coming up in Indianapolis,
so you're gonna hear from us there. Obviously, we have
the draft coming up and you hear from us there,
and then we're gonna be into Mini camp. You know,
it's not like we're gonna be not like we're gonna
be away for too long. Just a few weeks away
(00:22):
from heading out to Indianapolis for that great event. But
this is our final show of this season, our first
season with you as always, you know.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
We we UH keep Craig Wolfly in our hearts, a
founding member of the Locker Room with Ton Choke and
many many years ago and a great program that was,
and then of course Max with Craig Wolfly the last
few years, and.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Then you know, wolf passing and leaving us in March,
leaving us but still with us in spirit. And so
thank you for being with us all season long, and
we wanted to let you know what we have for
the final program. See, Matthews is going to be joining us,
so we'll get some final thoughts in the season from
UH our third person and again not just not third
(01:09):
as in the first, second, third, but third member of
our triumvirate in the broadcast, uh as far as on.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Air is concerned.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
You know, we have Dan Quinlan and Wes Yuler and
all the other guys that are involved, uh with the
with the work.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
But this is going to be joining us at eleven o'clock.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Also, we are going to be taking a look at
the Steelers defense. We talked about the offense yesterday. Where
does the where does the team stand, and what free
agents might they potentially be interested in acquiring. Max and
I are going to weigh in with our thoughts, and
of course we are going to leave most of the
back end of the show for your phone call. So
(01:48):
we'd like to hear from you because you are such
a big place and a big part of the locker room.
Our numbers are four one two, our number four one
two nine one nine one three one six. So we're
going to hear from you a little bit later on
and we'll get into our super Bowl predictions what we
think is going to happen, and we'd like to hear
your super Bowl predictions as well, and if you want
to weigh in with a player or two you'd like
(02:10):
to see the Steelers try to acquire or maybe keep
on their team, because when you look at the list,
and I'll just run this down for you quickly. We're
also going to get to the Hall of Fame voting
last night. But as we run this down quickly, here
are your free agents for the Steelers. Kyle Duggar, Aaron Rodgers,
Adam Thielen, Isaac Ciamalo, Cole Holcombe, Miles Killebrew, Daniel Aquale,
(02:36):
Dean Lowry, Kenneth Gainwell, Isaiah Loudermilk, Chuck Clark, Andrews, Pete
Scotty Miller, Assante, Samuel Mark, Markus Valdez, Scantling, Jabrill, Peppers,
Jacob Slade, Ryan McCollum, Connor Hayward, Calvin, Austen, Skyler Thompson, Thompson,
(02:57):
Donald Parhum, James Pierre, and Max Sharping. And as I
look around the list here, you know Kyle Duggat was
acquired because of the injury to Deshaun Elliott and seem
to have lost a little bit of playing time, well
a lot of playing time toward the end of the season.
So you're looking at this and we'll talk about the defense,
(03:19):
but yesterday we talked about the offense. So that's Aaron Rodgers.
He's obviously the biggest story in the offseason. I think
story number two is maybe well, I'd say it's a
tie between Isaac Ciamala whether you bring him back and
Kenneth Gainwell, whether you bring him back and try to
get him back. It might go Rogers Gainwell Ciamalo just
(03:40):
because the running back position obviously draws more attention than
a left guard position does. But I think those guys
are both really really important. You know, that extra running
back position, if Caleb Johnson is ready to ascend, that's
an important position for this year thes And you know
Kenneth Gainwell was the team's MVP. Aaron Rodgers obviously, Isaac Ciamalo,
(04:03):
and then there are some other interesting guys I would
say on offense, I mean they brought in feeling an
MVS late. Would either one of those guys be candidates
to come back should Aaron Rodgers return? Are they tied
to him? Scotty Miller is one of those players we've
talked about Scotty Miller, Ben Scronic, Connor Hayward as guys
(04:27):
who are just so versatile, brings so much to the
team you can use them in a variety of circumstances.
One of those guys, in a way, can be the
equivalent of three guys, you know, or two guys. So
for example, Ben Scronick was an All Pro special teamer,
so his neat is what he does there is obvious.
(04:49):
But he's also you know, more than Caple scored the
first touchdown of the season, more than capable of being
you know, maybe at the bottom end of your receiver rotation,
but in receiver rotation. Scottie Miller same things. He can
bring you value more in a backup role, but in
a lot of roles punt returner, gunner, snapper or I
(05:12):
mean not snapper, holder on a snap, a wide receiver.
So Connor Hayward is another one of those guys. And
then Calvin Austin, I think, is the other guy that
probably pops out as the big guys on offense that
the Steelers. You know, fans are going to be eager
to see if the team brings back. So we'll get
to the defensive side in a moment. But I wanted
(05:32):
to start with Max. With the Hall of Fame vote
last night, and I have to say, you know, Jerry
Doulac kind of warned us that the votes were split
in that Veterans Committee. Belichick was out, Robert Kraft was out,
but that each of them got a lot of votes,
and because of that, there probably weren't going to be
two guys getting in from the Veterans Committee, and that
(05:53):
Roger Craig had gained a lot of momentum. And it
is in fact Roger Craig that goes in. So here's
your Hall of Fame class, Max. It's Drew Brees in
in his first year of eligibility, Larry Fitzgerald in in
his first year of eligibility. No problem with either one
of those guys. Absolutely first ballot Hall of Famers. To me,
(06:16):
Luke Keickley second ballot Hall of Famer. I thought he
should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer. But
I again, I strongly feel Luke Keickley is a is
a very very deserving member of the Pro Football Hall
of Fame, to say the least. Then you have Adam
Vinnitt Terry, a kicker, getting in in his second year
(06:38):
of eligibility. And look, I know the votes go a
certain way, and you know, you can only vote, you know,
for that Veterans Committee or whatever they call it. I
don't know if it's Veterans committee, but you know there's
only you can only vote a certain way. But vinit
Terry gets in and then Roger Craig did, in fact
(06:58):
get in, and that means no else Greenwood and to me,
Elsee Greenwood belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
He should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
And no disrespect to Roger Craig, who probably has a
place there as well. Max, I just I'm discouraged at
Elsie thought he had an excellent chance of getting in
this year didn't get in. And no disrespect to a
kicker in minitary because he's he's a great kicker. But
you know, I would you know, he could have waited
(07:29):
for a year or two, but I know it doesn't
work that way. And your thoughts on else not getting
in and Roger Craig getting in ahead of him and
the class in general, well.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
I mean when I kind of look at this, I
mean you kind of knew when the list came out.
You know, Roger Craig had a very good shot, and
you know he's a very prominent figure when you think
about the eighties and you think about San Francisco. He
is one of those guys you think of, you know,
right along with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice from those
(08:02):
forty nine ers teams. Yeah, I'm very surprised that Elsie
didn't make it in, But like you said, Robert Kraft
and Bill Belichick chewed up a lot of the votes
and they came very close to getting in. And I
think that's where, you know, the frustration is with the
with the with the a senior committee.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
I called it veterans committee. That was was, yeah what
baseball was called for years. Yeah, Seniors committee or contributors.
I get them all confused.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
We know what it is, we know, yeah, we know
what it is, and yeah, it just to only get
one guy in when you're already backlogged. I think it's
just one of those kind of indictments on on the
voting process.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
I mean, listen, listen.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Every Hall of Fame committee from every sport, we could
probably argue, you know, has a very tough job.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
And it is one of those it's the Hall of Fame,
not the Hall of Good.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
I get that, but there's a lot of Hall of
Fame worthy players. Then your game's been around for over
one hundred years, You've got a lot of transformational players,
and as rules change, it evolves, and you know, some
of the recency bias comes in and you don't really
appreciate kind of some of the people who laid the
groundwork for the game that we know and love and
(09:26):
that we watch today. And I think with that, you know,
there's not as much appreciation for the history of where
the game was and the people that define the game
during that era.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
And so you kind of miss a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
And I said this, I think I think I've said
this on the show, and we kind of had these
conversations rob that there needs to be more than like
remember the twenty twenty just superclass, you know, for the
hundredth anniversary and everything, right, you've got to have bigger
classes just to get caught up. Because the Hall of
(10:03):
Fame has admitted we have a backlog of people who
should be in that meet the criteria that were They're
all when when you get all decades teams, that means
for a ten year span, you were the best at
your position.
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Over a ten year snapshot.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
If you can't if you can't make if you make
all decades teams and you can't get on, that's.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
A problem, you know. And so.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Yeah, so it's just it's frustrating that you only see
one get in when you know so many. You know,
and listen, I know, I have my consternation about Bill
Belichick and some of the checkered things and questionable things
and controversies and conspiracies that were surrounded But he's doing
all time winning his coaches of all time.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Right, like it or not, that's right.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
How he doesn't get in is beyond me. You know,
Bob Kraft.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Yet you could argue, hey, you know he owned the
team during a very very great run, and you know
he benefited from Tom Brady and Bell Belichick. But that's
also decision that you know he made and and and
you know he trusted his coach to make. And that's
what puts you in that prominent position when you could
lead a franchise the way that he did and have
(11:26):
kind of this surge and their team sitting in the
super Bowl right now, they've they have record Super Bowl
appearances as a franchise organization under his under his leadership,
So you know, you kind of look at those things
and you're just like, Okay, this is the one where
you take the you know this, this commant is gonna
take a black eye for this one. And the fact
(11:48):
that you couldn't find a way to get more people in.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
Or you know, I don't know if it's changing.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
The criteria or expanding the voting capabilities, whatever that might be.
That's something you're gonna have to look at because come
next year. It's not gonna get any easier next year, right,
because there's more people that come on and that more
ways to split the vote. So now you kind of
(12:16):
messed up an opportunity this year. That's gonna now further
backlog you for next year. Guess what those two names
just went on the backlog on top of.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
LC right yep.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
And the further you get away from a player's playing career,
the tougher it is.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Unless you have veteran.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Sports writers historians that are in there that understand the
game and where it was when these players were prominent
and the reason why they're on this list, it's gonna
get tougher and tougher to get them in unless you
can figure out a way to get a larger swath
in this was a very small class.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
Like think about, you know, the.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Three modern era players that went in. We were used
to seeing four and five. We only got three. So
this is is a it's a frustrating one. I'm happy
for everybody that did get in. Now let me just
say that I have for everybody that got in, Like
Larry Fitzgerald number two all time behind Jerry.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Right, Inner Circle Hall of Famer.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
If you didn't have him, you would probably say that
they would have tomatoes throw.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
At the front of the Hall of Fame if they
didn't Drew Brees.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
Yeah, I mean he's he's a very prominent figure, very
very good at what he did. And yes, and he
deserved the honor as well. Luke Keikley should have been
in last year.
Speaker 5 (13:37):
I'm glad he got in this year.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
I feel like it was almost like like you know,
it was like when they kind of delayed on Allen Fanica,
you know, you know, they're like, oh, well shit, I'm like, yeah, No,
Luke Keakley was a freaking animal and when you you
had the game plan around him.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
So he deserved to be in there.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
And he's one of those players that when you think
about a snapshot of his career and his time that
he played in that era.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
His name is one of the ones. Hey man, who
who's best linebacker? Louke Keigley.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
You know, right, it doesn't matter how long Patrick will
the same situation, right, doesn't matter. The link of the
career matters. The impact when you were there, he had
direct impact. So you know, I look at that and yeah,
there's a lot of deserving guys on three get in
and once again you just further the backlog and guys
who were probably on you know, the last couple of
eligibility cycles. Now you know they're gonna eventually be in
(14:27):
that senior category because they've been pushed back even further.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
So, ah, it.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Was it was surprising. Adam Van Terry deserves to be in.
He's he was a clutch kicker. I will get it
to him. Absolutely deserves to get in. You know, I
know how people feel about kickers, you know, But at
the same time, he was a hell of a kicker.
He was super accurate when he was in the league,
(14:53):
played a very long time. But yeah, I'm just I'm
more frustrated with the hall and the lack of and
and the fact that you you need to get more
people in So this is this is very tough. I mean,
it is the Hall of Fame and not the Hall
of Good. But we have a lot of Hall of
Fame worthy players that are on these lists that will
(15:14):
now keep falling further and further back. And also the
other reason for doing the Hall of Fame is to
give players their flower and coaches and contributors their flowers
while they're still alive. That's the other thing that's that's
very frustrating is the further you push it back, the
further you get, and the tougher it is when those
individuals do come of the opportunity. Are they still in
(15:38):
the right mind, Are they still in the right state
to receive those flowers? Or some of them will be posthumous,
and that that sucks too that you couldn't get them
in while they were still alive.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
We could do a whole show on this, and maybe
next year we will.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Because there are Jim Tyre, the former Chiefs Great who
probably up from CTE and wound up killing his wife
and himself well after his career was over. He was
an all decades performer. If I'm not mistaken, you know
said that that's probably its own segment. But Alan Fannick,
(16:13):
I mean you mentioned Alan Fanica. Nine time Pro Bowl,
six time All Pro, All Decades team. I don't understand
how that's not a first ballot Hall of Famer. I
don't understand it. Luke Keickley, you know, Keickley was you know,
(16:34):
another guy, very very similar, you know, all decades he
retired younger, seven time Pro Bowl and now again, keep
in mind he played eight years, eight years, seven time
Pro Bowl, Okay, and that's that's a great honor. Five
time All Pro and in the year he didn't get it,
(16:54):
he was the defensive Rookie of the Year. I mean
every single year he was recognized as elite. I just
don't understand why. I guess they've just got to get
the back on cleaned up. Anyway. Disappointed, Elsie Green, we
did not get in the Hall of Fame. We have
we got to roll up our sleeves.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Max.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
We've got a lot of work to do today. We've
got to get through our Steelers defense. Will break down
the roster. We're going to look at some free agents.
You got to go with a list, so we're gonna
go with the ESPN's top fifty list. How many free agents, Max,
should we pick each two, three, one?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
What do you think?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
I think? Uh? I think two? Is it too good? One?
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Okay? One?
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Less than the licks to get to the center of
a TUTSI pop. Two is gonna be our number?
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Two? Two's going to be our number.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
And this also is external free agents, not one, right right,
let's make that clarified. It would be external free agents.
And this is our wish list to each.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Are you a are you a Monty Python? And Holy
Grail Fan?
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, we are too.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Thou shalt not count unlet's in county to two. Thou
should preced it to three. But we're gonna keep it
at two today. We're not gonna We're not gonna proceed
it to three. We'll keep it at two. Free agents
as dictated by my partner, Max Starks. Missy Matthews also
coming up, and of course your phone calls super Bowl predictions,
lots to get to, lots and lots to get to.
(18:24):
So we are going to break now and dive into
the Steelers defense next in the Locker Room, presented by
our neighborhood Ford Store and the Steeers Pro Shop on
Steelers Nation Radio, A part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
And a brief recap of what we did yesterday. So
yesterday we talked about this to you. There's offense and
again as an overview, according to spot rack, they have
forty five million dollars in cap space. They have Will
Howard and Mason Rudolph at the quarterback position under contract,
running backs Jalen Warren and Caleb Johnson, wide receivers DK Metcalf,
(19:22):
Ben Scronic and Roman Wilson, tight ends Pat Fryarmouth, John
who Smith, Darnell Washington, and then offensive line Broderick Jones,
Troy Futanu, Calvin Anderson, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson,
Dylan Cook. So I think we decided Max that the
offensive line is in pretty good shape. Tight end might
(19:43):
be in pretty good shape. And again you talk about
a forty five million dollar in cap space that doesn't
have There are no restructures of contracts.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
There are no we're.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Gonna cut a guy and save cap space. You know,
we pointed out, are you really gonna keep three tight
end Friar Muth Smith and Darnel Washington when you're more
inclined to want to go wide receiver heavy with the
West Coast offense and and the way that Mike McCarthy
wants to run things, Obviously you need a quarterback. What
(20:14):
are you gonna do at the running back position? So
that's kind of an overview of the team.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Anything to add to that.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Obviously you're you're gonna have to find another quarterback somewhere,
and then I think running back will be interesting. They're
gonna add a couple of wide receivers, but maybe in
a position where you only have to add one offensive alignment.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah, No, I mean, you know, there's there's a lot
of decisions, like you said, I mean, you know, we
we talked about, you know, the veterans, Aaron Rodgers, I
see Amalu any game decisions.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
About Yeah, Kenny Gainwell.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Calvin and Calvin Austin.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Perhaps well I put I.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
Put Kenny because Ginney game Well is still like kind
of young. He's not that older VET, but he is
a VET.
Speaker 5 (20:59):
He does have a.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Super Bowl championship to his name. But I'm thinking like
the older guys you know all right, who in their
mid thirties and early forties, those are the ones whereas
it's gonna be a question of do you think they
could do it for another year or two years quote
unquote you know to do that. I think Kenny Gamewell
he's in that upper echelon when you think of like
(21:20):
free agent running backs, like.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
He's gonna be. He's a top five right now.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Top five is a very ambiguous thing where he's like
tier two of the running backs, but he's gonna be
one of the top available ones. So he's in his
own category.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
Calvin.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
I think Calvin's won that, you know, when you think
about him and his impact, injuries are probably gonna play
a role in that. I don't think he's gonna be
as highly regarded as a lot of people you know,
might want to believe in Pittsburgh, he'll be one that
might be easily attainable or easier to attain I'm not
gonna say easily. He's not easily, but he'll be easier
(21:59):
to attain because of the fact that size, injuries, production,
all those things are gonna play against them in a
stat driven position. So yeah, but it's but the biggest
question is going to be, you know, do you retain
John new Smith and you carry that many tight ends?
(22:19):
You know, Darnold Washington will be in the last year,
he'll probably he'll be up for an extension after after
this year.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
You know, what do you do with Broderick Jones? How
does that work with Dylan Cook?
Speaker 4 (22:30):
You know, a lot of those questions have to be
answered with the end of rookie contracts for a lot
of guys, but the veteran acquisitions, those are going to
be the biggest ones. And Kenny Game well at the
top of you know, right behind Aaron Rodgers, and then
of course Isaac seems kind of how I would slot
those three offensive players, you know, as a top three at.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
That I would agree.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Offensively, I would agree, And again, you don't have to
make a decision at left tackle. You know, you can
just let it play out. You can't solve every problem
and every future problem in one offseason. You just can't.
And so you kind of blend them neat what's right
in front of you. Well, that's number one. What can
you you know, issue can you kind of mitigate in
(23:15):
the future. You know, hey, Patrick Queen's got one more
year left, so maybe let's go find an inside linebacker.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
We really like.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
But those are the quote unquote luxury picks or the
luxury signings and free agency. So, by the way, roster
bonuses do Cam Hayward on the twelfth of March, Patrick
Queen and Pat Fryarmouth and Deshaun Elliott on the thirteenth
and Jalen Ramsey as well, So there are those things
are all part of it and they play into it.
(23:44):
But we're just kind of going down the line here.
We're not anticipating, you know what, guys they might cut cut,
you know, for cap space or whatever. We're just evaluating
the roster as it stands now. So seventeen offensive players
under contract, twenty defense. Two on special teams, so just
real quick special teams, Chris Boswell back, Christian Koontz back.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
By the way, they also have.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Adamitas cal Adamites under contract as a long snapper, but
I would imagine they're fine a long snapper. They're Fine
a kicker, Corless Weightman's a restricted free agent, so they
could bring him back. So that's kind of an overview
of the special teams. But I really want to dive
into the defense here and beginning with the defensive line.
(24:30):
Five players under contract, and those five players are Cam Hayward,
Derek Carmon, Keanu Benton, Logan, Lee y A Black, Keanu,
Benton entering his final season, and Derek Harmon had three
more years left, Lee two more years left? Why a
Black three more years left? From the surface of things
(24:53):
with Cam apparently toward the end of his career and
whether he'll even come back remained to be seen. I
haven't heard anything to the contrary, and I thought he
played a great at the end of the year. He
was as good as there was in the NFL. Your
thoughts on that unit, Max, and whether that is an
area that the students are gonna need to add some players.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
Yeah, Needa veteran knows first and foremost.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
To go along in there and offset that, and I
think we've kind of talked about that, and we talked
about that with Jerry that that that that's a key,
Like you said, Daniel Quale injured and then got suspended, right,
so it was like you know, for as he started
to get his feed and his defense started to find
its way, you know, then he was injured. Derek Harmon,
(25:45):
I mean, you know, huge impact when he played, but
had some injuries as well.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Uh Ya Black, I thought, very raw, but then kind
of fell into his own.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
I would love to see him kind of mature into
that nose tackle position because could you imagine if you
can put you know, Derek Harmon, y A Black, and
Cam Heyward on the same line at the same time,
that would be crazy.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
With coming in fresh and ready to go, can play anywhere.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
You know, on on that interior three would be ridiculous.
I think Logan Lee made some big strides now I
just need him to come on a little bit more.
And I think the familiarity with him and Ya playing
in college together, I think that's gonna be something. I
think it's gonna be a good chemistry moving forward. So
I think when you look at that, you feel good
about where they're at, but you need more depth. And
(26:37):
I'm not sure how you know they're gonna want to rotate.
I mean, Demota Peko's coming into their D line. Coach,
you know how Demoto is gonna want his rotation. I
know Carl Dunbar when he was there, loved a high.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Rotation of guys.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
You know, does does does Peco feel the same way?
So that's gonna be interesting to see. And also in
the scheme of Patrick Graham, like what does he like
to do? What does he want his defensive lineman to do?
You know, they were more or penetrating type of d lines,
not not as much true two gap three four, So
that's could be interesting because also Pecko has a four
to three background as a player when he played in
(27:10):
Cincinnati and trust me, I played against Bechel.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
A whole lot.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
So it's gonna be interesting to see how that philosophy
and how they go. And they also determine I think,
how they pick their players. But there's you definitely have
to add some depth to that group defensively through the
draft and a veteran and a veteran, a veteran interior guy.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Okay, so let us move on. I totally agree with
all that.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
You know, they attacked it last year, and the way
they attacked it last year was to bring in some veterans.
You know, they brought into Quale. They brought in a
toomay woe is as kind of probably he figured to
be the seventh or eighth defensive lineman. He was pressed
into service to quit it himself. Well, I would suggest
that they'll do the same sort of thing in free agency.
(27:57):
They will find a veteran guy can be part of
the rotation with Hayward, Harmon, Benton and Black.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
And it sounds like a law firm, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
And then they will also find, uh, you know, they'll
probably draft somebody as well. That's my that's what I
think they will do a defensive line. So let's get
it outside linebacker Max. I don't see any need to
change or add TJ. Watt, Alex high Smith. TJ's got
three more years, Alex has two more years left on
(28:28):
his deal, Nick Herbig entering the last dear deal of
his last year of his rookie deal, and jacksonvir still
has three more years left. It is a talented, disruptive crew.
If you see somebody you love in the draft, absolutely
that's the steerway. Sure you grab that guy. But I
just I don't see, you know, barring a trade or
(28:50):
something unforeseen, I see that as a position that does
not need to be touched.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
Yeah, no, I think I think we're good for now.
I think I think you're right. I mean, I think
if there's a priority list, not on the priority list
right now.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Okay, so let's move along. Then, inside linebacker is an
interesting position to me. You have Patrick Queen, you have
Peyton Wilson, you have Malik Harrison, you have Carson Bruner.
Cole Holcom is not under contract, so he would be
the one guy that you would and you know, if
you're looking to bring somebody back from last year's team.
(29:26):
So Pat has one year left, Peyton Wilson has two
years left, Malik has one year left, Carson Bruner has
three years left. Now, Carson was more a special teams
guy than anything else than we saw on defense. That
looks to me like a position. And you know, there
are people saying, well, they're gonna Patrick Queen, you know, casualty,
(29:47):
cap casualty, possibly free EPSOM space. There are some interesting
linebackers by the way out in free agency. There are
some interesting guys. But I see that as a position
in which I think it's likely they draft somebody that
I don't know is will address unless they make some
kind of move that's unforeseen. I don't see necessarily them
(30:10):
going out in free agency this year. To me, kind
of like tackle, offensive tackle. It's a problem that can
be addressed from a larger sense last year. But just
like tackle, if you're there in the third round and
you see a guy you really like a tackle, you
nab them. I suspect they're going to draft an inside
(30:32):
linebacker somewhere on Day two.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, Day two probably be where they
want to do. You need to add to that position.
I mean, you know, I love our guys, and I
love what they bring, but you need that thumper.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
You need that.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
Robertsplane, you need that Landon Robbers, that next generation guy
that's going to be a bigger guy. We have a
lot of sideline to sideline athletic linebackers that that can
play and cover and run.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
We need that plugger.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
You know, you need probably a younger version of Malik Harrison, right,
You need one that can go fill the whole. Especially
with the prominence of how the run games are now
kind of coming coming back full circle, and we saw
some guys that gashed us. We saw we saw arguably
outside of Christian McCaffrey, who won like all these awards
(31:25):
last night. I'm still chagrining about that, but I would
say arguably we saw seven of the top of the
top ten right back this season.
Speaker 5 (31:37):
Oh yeah, they.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
Just kept coming and it was like week but it
was like week after week after week, right, I mean,
you know, you go for like Davon Ah, Jane, James Cook.
I mean, I was like, oh my god, I'm like,
you know, it was like just everybody Kenth Walker we
had earlier in the year. I mean, it was just
Travon Henderson. I mean it was just it was just
crazy how many guys we saw. So yeah, we definitely
(32:02):
need that type of guy. I think that's what's probably missing,
and I think that's what Patrick Gran' is probably gonna
be looking at as well.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
And he's also had.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Roberts Splaine and Landon Roberts at Las Vegas, so he
understands how important that.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Position group is.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
So I think he will be looking for that type
of guy, and I'll be on his wish list to
Andy Widel and Omar Khan yep.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
So we still have two more positioned groups to get to,
and that is cornerback, which I think is very very
intriguing and safety, and then Max and I we're gonna
dash through the top fifty free agents in we're gonna
go by the ESPN rankings, and we're gonna stop and
go ding ding ding when we've reached our guy. And
(32:43):
so that exercises next Super Bowl predictions coming up, Missy
Matthews coming up. Of course your phone call is coming
up as well. We want to end the show this
year with you guys who make the locker room so
much fun to be and we also want to remind
you that you can gear up with all your Steelers gear.
Best place to get that is directly from the team
(33:04):
because they have exclusives you can't find anywhere else, So
pop on down to one of the official Steelers team
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Of course, you can always gear up online at shop
dot Steelers dot com, back and more in the Locker
Room presented by your Neighborhood forord store and the Steelers
Pro Shop. On Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network, This is in.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
The Locker Room with King and Starks on Steelers Nation
Radio presented by your Neighborhood Forward store. The F one
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Speaker 3 (33:48):
Com and welcome back. As we are.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Continuing to break down the Steelers, and we break down
the offense yesterday, their roster heading into the offseason, what
it looks like. We are going through the defense today
and we have identified defensive line as a position in
which we think the Seeons are probably gonna go out
on free agency and grab a guy and maybe address
it with one more selection in the draft as well,
(34:17):
just to solidify that position. Outside linebacker, no need inside linebacker,
much like defensive line.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Do you go out and grab a veteran guy. I
don't know if you do.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
I because that veteran guy, I mean, unless he's happy
being a rotational piece, you know, and then you draft somebody.
But I think they're gonna handle that in the draft. Max,
did you think veteran free agent guy? Do you think
the draft there? Inside linebacker?
Speaker 5 (34:48):
Inside linebacker? Ah, I'm trying to think.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
Okay, yeah, I'd probably say yeah, draft drafting outside Yeah,
I think I think that too.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
Like I'm thinking about it. I was just trying to
go through my head. I'm like, there's no.
Speaker 4 (35:06):
Mainline free agents that kind of jump out in my
head right now in that class that there might be
some tier two guys. I've gotten that deep in the
free agency. Yeah, I think tier right, I think I think.
I'm sorry Max, I keep cutting you off. I'm sure
I think too much coffee. I think that's possible.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
I do think that a tier two because if you're
gonna bring back Queen and Wilson, that that almost buying
a set. Almost There's no way you're gonna bring me
in a tier one guy because you're only gonna play
two inside linebackers. So you're not gonna go out and
spend ten million dollars on a guy in free agency
and and have him be a, you know, a rotational piece.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
I just I just don't.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
I don't see. Well, we'll see, we'll see what they do.
So Corner cornerback very intriguing to me. And again Corner
to me is interesting because of the guys that are,
in particular Assante Samuel, Like, are you going to go
out and invest in a Sante Samuel and try to
(36:06):
bring him back, and also in James Pierre, who had
a terrific season for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Are you going to bring? Those are your own free agents?
Speaker 1 (36:16):
So without them, if you move Jalen Ramsey to corner
he has three years left still on his deal seventeen
point two million dollars. Then there's Joey Porter, who I
think is probably due a contract extension. Brandon eccles is
under contract, Corey Trice interesting guy under contract, and you know,
(36:39):
just you see the ability hasn't been able to stay healthy.
And don't forget about Dante Kent late draft picked last year,
a punt returner and cornerback. It's an interesting group. I suspect, Max,
this is my own belief. I suspect they will keep
at least one of their own a Sante Samuel or
James Pierre and make this position much like outside linebacker
(37:06):
that you go into free agency in the draft not
really needing to address.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Yeah, it's it's not a huge priority. You know, you
have a lot of pieces. It is interesting, you know
the guys and we talked about kind of like Corey
Trice and company that that's on here. Do they have
you know, like a Cat nine lives I guess, but
(37:34):
it would be more so a third life here because
you got the the specimen type. You just don't have
the health I think necessarily. Is that the best way
to say that? Sure, yeah, they just don't have the health.
But like you said, you know Dante Kennon of course
a recent draft d and you know, maybe there's somebody
out there that just wows you in the draft, but
(37:57):
I don't think that's a draft priority. I think you've
kind of gone defensive heavy the last couple of years.
So you know, like I said, inside linebacker, like there
might be a flyer, there might be a guy who
falls there always is.
Speaker 5 (38:11):
They're just like, Okay, can't pass it up on this guy.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
But I would love for him to be more of
a bruiser and a plugger than the athletic sideline the
sideline type, because I think we already have those body
types already along with knows or probably the defensive priorities.
But I think if not that, then everything needs to
go towards the offense. So so yeah, I think this
(38:34):
is a position group. We've gone a lot. We've got
a lot of versatility there, you know, and like I said,
we got some internal guys that we could re sign
versus going out into the field, so to speak.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Yeah, I think if you do that, it really obviates
the need.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
I mean, now, if you don't now Jalen Ramsey is
definitely staying at corner right because this affects our next
position group. And I mean, like, hey, Trice, then maybe
you go out and get a veteran guy, you know,
this year's edition of a Brandon Eccles. I wouldn't mind
if you brought Pierre and Samuel back. But I think
that as the group stands now, you're gonna need one
(39:13):
guy you believe can push for a starting role and
one guy can be a depth piece. But I do
think they're gonna I think there's a chance at least
that they'll handle that internally. So if Jalen Ramsey moves
to safety, then your safeties are Ramsey to Shaun Elliott,
Sebastian Castro, don't forget no Chuck Clark, Gabrol Peppers. Those
guys will be gone. Kyle Duggar, I said, will be gone.
(39:36):
They're free agents. Kyle Dougar's a free agent, so three
safety's gone. This is another one of those positions, Max
where especially if you shore up corner and move Jalen
Ramsey to safety. I believe that's a position that they
will address within the first three rounds. A young safety
that you can groom behind Ramsey and Elliott. It sounds
(40:00):
like Ramsey's ready to make the full time move to safety.
But I think that's a position that the Steelers are
gonna need to do something at the safety position.
Speaker 4 (40:09):
Yeah, you got to look at some options because you went,
you went into the well last year free agency, right
Juan Thornhill was a guy you went and got. Then
you brought in Chuck clarkter in camp, and you know,
obviously you know Deshaun you re signed to a nice contract.
He gets injured, not really available. I'd like to think
(40:31):
he's gonna have a bounce back a year this year,
but you gotta do something opposite safety.
Speaker 5 (40:34):
Is that Jalen?
Speaker 4 (40:35):
Is that the answer is? Or is Jalen and Deshaun
gonna play together? I don't know at that, but you
need some depth there. He needs some help, you know,
I think draft or free agency, but not as high
a priority as I would say a nose on the
defensive line or you know, getting that plugger inside linebacker.
(40:57):
I think front seven would be the price already, and
then secondary is a luxury.
Speaker 5 (41:03):
You know.
Speaker 4 (41:03):
That's where that whole best available player category gets out there,
you know, because like I said, I would prefer a
bulk of the attention to go offensively, especially with Mike
McCarthy and whatever you're gonna do at the quarterback position.
I think you have to get the resources right. That
number two receivers is going to be super important to
get in a league that has teams that go too
(41:23):
deep at wide receiver, you need to be at the
same level with them. And even though I know there's
a high turnover this year with the AFC North coaches,
I mean you're about three out of four. Zach Taylor
is the only one that retained in the North. And
then of course with our situation with Mike t resigning
and then two firings, you don't know what your division
looks like. But you know that the rest of the
(41:45):
league has two receivers, so why not you know, you
don't want to fall behind the rest of the NFL league,
No doubt.
Speaker 3 (41:51):
No doubt that that. I think that's wide receivers.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
Last year's defensive line where they went out drafted two guys,
signed guys in free agency. I think that's the case.
So Max, we have about three maybe four minutes here
we go. Are you ready? Top fifty ESPN free agents.
We're gonna stop when we get to the two guys,
when we've each selected the two guys, because Max is
produces to that we would like to see. There's a
(42:14):
sign in free agency? Are you ready? I'm gonna run
down the list. Trey Hendrickson No, George Pickens Nope, Nope, nope,
Tyler Linderbaum nope, Daniel Jones.
Speaker 5 (42:27):
Nope.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
Okay, I don't immediately, not for me. I was trying
to entice you. I was trying to throw some crumbs.
Speaker 5 (42:32):
You were you really can you stop me? You were like,
let Max pick this up. Nope, I don't want that.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
Jalen Phillips, no edge guy. These guys are all great players,
but I just don't see him as fits right now.
Alec Pierce twenty six year old wide receiver Indianapolis Colts,
injury prone, Very very intrigued by Alex Pierce. But I'm
gonna say no with you because we have a big
(43:00):
field stretching target and DK Metcalf so I'm looking for
something a little different. Intrigued, certainly not gonna be disappointed.
There might be more there in Alex Pierce's game than
we've seen, but I'm gonna pass on him for now.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Player.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
I absolutely love uh Bresall, but no, I love Bresol.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
Yeah, I love him.
Speaker 5 (43:24):
Uh Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Here's one that's intriguing. If you just just decided to go.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
And and and say, you know what, we're gonna get
a We're gonna get a guy for the future, and
and the heck with everything else. Rashid Walker offensive tackle
for Green Bay.
Speaker 5 (43:41):
He's gonna make too much money. He's like, damn more passing,
make too much money.
Speaker 3 (43:44):
Passing adafe O Way Edges.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
We're just passing on Edges, Braden Smith tackle, We're passing
John Franklin Myers defensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Denver Broncos.
Speaker 5 (43:57):
Ya yah he he's.
Speaker 4 (44:00):
More like what we already have Darren Carmen, Ya Black Greek,
Keanu Benton and Carrie Hayward not too similar.
Speaker 1 (44:05):
Twenty nine year old cornerback entering his prime, Alante Taylor.
Now you sign him, you got Joey Porter Jr. You
don't need corner for a while.
Speaker 4 (44:19):
That's true, that's true. Alonte Taylor is is intriguing. I
mean he's a great pick for you.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
Yeah, I'm passing. Are you fasking? Way Walker linebacker, Green Bay?
Speaker 3 (44:36):
Interesting? Come on, now what it's you identified this position?
Speaker 5 (44:43):
I did identify Quay intrigue. Still a little too rich.
Speaker 1 (44:48):
For my blood yep, not going k Wooland another corner,
also not going Mike Kevin too much money, veteran you want,
you want another veteran, big guy.
Speaker 4 (44:56):
Too old and he finally got injured. So I love
the resume. I think he's a Hall of Famer in
my book, but now he's too old.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
Jalen Watson Nope, Okay. Another corner, Malik Willis quarterback, very
very very intrigued.
Speaker 5 (45:18):
Yeah, he's intriguing.
Speaker 4 (45:20):
And this was the if Mike tom was still the
head coach, I would probably I would probably pick up
this a little.
Speaker 5 (45:26):
Bit more than than I would.
Speaker 4 (45:28):
I don't know if he necessarily fits the style for
Mike McCarthy, even though, uh it feels almost I'm still
gonna pass.
Speaker 3 (45:40):
I'm still I'm so intrigued, but I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (45:43):
I'm passing because I mean, I I love I loved
what I saw from him super intrigued.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
I just think Aaron Rodgers is going to be back.
That's what I think. I think he's gonna be back.
Travis etn.
Speaker 5 (45:58):
Uh, Nope.
Speaker 3 (45:59):
Devin Lloyd, Yeah, he's a plugger.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
He listen.
Speaker 4 (46:05):
I watched I watched him in college. I had a
couple of Utah games. Devin Lloyd is.
Speaker 5 (46:10):
Is is an animal.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
Twenty seven years old.
Speaker 4 (46:14):
Twenty seven, he's still young man, brings what you want.
Speaker 5 (46:18):
He does. He does answer a lot of questions. But
I think he's gonna cut. He's gonna he's gonna.
Speaker 4 (46:22):
Hurt the cap number, and you're gonna have to you
have a couple more cap casualties if you bring him on.
Speaker 3 (46:28):
Okay, all right?
Speaker 1 (46:29):
Uh it would be interesting, not because they could, They
could move some guys around and just go in a
completely different direction. He's a guy definitely to keep an
eye I think these corners are guys to keep an
eye on.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
I've obviously, uh.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
You know, Malik Willis if they decided to go in
that direction and surprise us the corners if they decide
to go there, Isaiah likely is twenty uh number twenty one.
Speaker 3 (46:51):
Romeo Dobbs, ooh.
Speaker 5 (46:55):
This is this this is a.
Speaker 4 (46:58):
Capable receiver. I mean picked up the load a lot
and listenly, you know. And he was a guy of
interest when we played the Packers.
Speaker 5 (47:08):
But but it was a Tucker Craft show that night.
So m hm, nope, I still want to draft one,
still want to draft one.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
I'm taking Romeo Dobbs. He's my first one. Okay, there
we go, first of two guys. There we go, because
it's a good choice. I thinks are gonna get a
receiver in free agency, and I think they're gonna draft
a receiver. And I think Dobbs is a guy. He's
played with Aaron Rodgers. You know, he's a he's he's
very different than what you have with DK metcalf. I
(47:39):
think he's an excellent complimentary piece. And so the first
one of our free agencies off the board. We haven't
gotten the number two. We're gonna squeeze that in next hour.
We're also gonna be taking your phone calls at four
one two. Missy Matthews is gonna be joining us next
in the locker room. Presented by your neighborhood Ford Jordan
to students pro Shop on Student's Nation Radio, part of
(48:00):
the Steelers Audio network
Thanks for being with us here in the Locker Room,
our final show with the season, and yeah there's some sadness.
You know, we have the Combine coming up in Indianapolis,
so you're gonna hear from us there. Obviously, we have
the draft coming up and you hear from us there,
and then we're gonna be into Mini camp. You know,
it's not like we're gonna be not like we're gonna
be away for too long. Just a few weeks away
(00:22):
from heading out to Indianapolis for that great event. But
this is our final show of this season, our first
season with you as always, you know.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
We we UH keep Craig Wolfly in our hearts, a
founding member of the Locker Room with Ton Choke and
many many years ago and a great program that was,
and then of course Max with Craig Wolfly the last
few years, and.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Then you know, wolf passing and leaving us in March,
leaving us but still with us in spirit. And so
thank you for being with us all season long, and
we wanted to let you know what we have for
the final program. See, Matthews is going to be joining us,
so we'll get some final thoughts in the season from
UH our third person and again not just not third
(01:09):
as in the first, second, third, but third member of
our triumvirate in the broadcast, uh as far as on.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Air is concerned.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
You know, we have Dan Quinlan and Wes Yuler and
all the other guys that are involved, uh with the
with the work.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
But this is going to be joining us at eleven o'clock.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Also, we are going to be taking a look at
the Steelers defense. We talked about the offense yesterday. Where
does the where does the team stand, and what free
agents might they potentially be interested in acquiring. Max and
I are going to weigh in with our thoughts, and
of course we are going to leave most of the
back end of the show for your phone call. So
(01:48):
we'd like to hear from you because you are such
a big place and a big part of the locker room.
Our numbers are four one two, our number four one
two nine one nine one three one six. So we're
going to hear from you a little bit later on
and we'll get into our super Bowl predictions what we
think is going to happen, and we'd like to hear
your super Bowl predictions as well, and if you want
to weigh in with a player or two you'd like
(02:10):
to see the Steelers try to acquire or maybe keep
on their team, because when you look at the list,
and I'll just run this down for you quickly. We're
also going to get to the Hall of Fame voting
last night. But as we run this down quickly, here
are your free agents for the Steelers. Kyle Duggar, Aaron Rodgers,
Adam Thielen, Isaac Ciamalo, Cole Holcombe, Miles Killebrew, Daniel Aquale,
(02:36):
Dean Lowry, Kenneth Gainwell, Isaiah Loudermilk, Chuck Clark, Andrews, Pete
Scotty Miller, Assante, Samuel Mark, Markus Valdez, Scantling, Jabrill, Peppers,
Jacob Slade, Ryan McCollum, Connor Hayward, Calvin, Austen, Skyler Thompson, Thompson,
(02:57):
Donald Parhum, James Pierre, and Max Sharping. And as I
look around the list here, you know Kyle Duggat was
acquired because of the injury to Deshaun Elliott and seem
to have lost a little bit of playing time, well
a lot of playing time toward the end of the season.
So you're looking at this and we'll talk about the defense,
(03:19):
but yesterday we talked about the offense. So that's Aaron Rodgers.
He's obviously the biggest story in the offseason. I think
story number two is maybe well, I'd say it's a
tie between Isaac Ciamala whether you bring him back and
Kenneth Gainwell, whether you bring him back and try to
get him back. It might go Rogers Gainwell Ciamalo just
(03:40):
because the running back position obviously draws more attention than
a left guard position does. But I think those guys
are both really really important. You know, that extra running
back position, if Caleb Johnson is ready to ascend, that's
an important position for this year thes And you know
Kenneth Gainwell was the team's MVP. Aaron Rodgers obviously, Isaac Ciamalo,
(04:03):
and then there are some other interesting guys I would
say on offense, I mean they brought in feeling an
MVS late. Would either one of those guys be candidates
to come back should Aaron Rodgers return? Are they tied
to him? Scotty Miller is one of those players we've
talked about Scotty Miller, Ben Scronic, Connor Hayward as guys
(04:27):
who are just so versatile, brings so much to the
team you can use them in a variety of circumstances.
One of those guys, in a way, can be the
equivalent of three guys, you know, or two guys. So
for example, Ben Scronick was an All Pro special teamer,
so his neat is what he does there is obvious.
(04:49):
But he's also you know, more than Caple scored the
first touchdown of the season, more than capable of being
you know, maybe at the bottom end of your receiver rotation,
but in receiver rotation. Scottie Miller same things. He can
bring you value more in a backup role, but in
a lot of roles punt returner, gunner, snapper or I
(05:12):
mean not snapper, holder on a snap, a wide receiver.
So Connor Hayward is another one of those guys. And
then Calvin Austin, I think, is the other guy that
probably pops out as the big guys on offense that
the Steelers. You know, fans are going to be eager
to see if the team brings back. So we'll get
to the defensive side in a moment. But I wanted
(05:32):
to start with Max. With the Hall of Fame vote
last night, and I have to say, you know, Jerry
Doulac kind of warned us that the votes were split
in that Veterans Committee. Belichick was out, Robert Kraft was out,
but that each of them got a lot of votes,
and because of that, there probably weren't going to be
two guys getting in from the Veterans Committee, and that
(05:53):
Roger Craig had gained a lot of momentum. And it
is in fact Roger Craig that goes in. So here's
your Hall of Fame class, Max. It's Drew Brees in
in his first year of eligibility, Larry Fitzgerald in in
his first year of eligibility. No problem with either one
of those guys. Absolutely first ballot Hall of Famers. To me,
(06:16):
Luke Keickley second ballot Hall of Famer. I thought he
should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer. But
I again, I strongly feel Luke Keickley is a is
a very very deserving member of the Pro Football Hall
of Fame, to say the least. Then you have Adam
Vinnitt Terry, a kicker, getting in in his second year
(06:38):
of eligibility. And look, I know the votes go a
certain way, and you know, you can only vote, you know,
for that Veterans Committee or whatever they call it. I
don't know if it's Veterans committee, but you know there's
only you can only vote a certain way. But vinit
Terry gets in and then Roger Craig did, in fact
(06:58):
get in, and that means no else Greenwood and to me,
Elsee Greenwood belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
He should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
And no disrespect to Roger Craig, who probably has a
place there as well. Max, I just I'm discouraged at
Elsie thought he had an excellent chance of getting in
this year didn't get in. And no disrespect to a
kicker in minitary because he's he's a great kicker. But
you know, I would you know, he could have waited
(07:29):
for a year or two, but I know it doesn't
work that way. And your thoughts on else not getting
in and Roger Craig getting in ahead of him and
the class in general, well.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
I mean when I kind of look at this, I
mean you kind of knew when the list came out.
You know, Roger Craig had a very good shot, and
you know he's a very prominent figure when you think
about the eighties and you think about San Francisco. He
is one of those guys you think of, you know,
right along with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice from those
(08:02):
forty nine ers teams. Yeah, I'm very surprised that Elsie
didn't make it in, But like you said, Robert Kraft
and Bill Belichick chewed up a lot of the votes
and they came very close to getting in. And I
think that's where, you know, the frustration is with the
with the with the a senior committee.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
I called it veterans committee. That was was, yeah what
baseball was called for years. Yeah, Seniors committee or contributors.
I get them all confused.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
We know what it is, we know, yeah, we know
what it is, and yeah, it just to only get
one guy in when you're already backlogged. I think it's
just one of those kind of indictments on on the
voting process.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
I mean, listen, listen.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Every Hall of Fame committee from every sport, we could
probably argue, you know, has a very tough job.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
And it is one of those it's the Hall of Fame,
not the Hall of Good.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
I get that, but there's a lot of Hall of
Fame worthy players. Then your game's been around for over
one hundred years, You've got a lot of transformational players,
and as rules change, it evolves, and you know, some
of the recency bias comes in and you don't really
appreciate kind of some of the people who laid the
groundwork for the game that we know and love and
(09:26):
that we watch today. And I think with that, you know,
there's not as much appreciation for the history of where
the game was and the people that define the game
during that era.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
And so you kind of miss a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
And I said this, I think I think I've said
this on the show, and we kind of had these
conversations rob that there needs to be more than like
remember the twenty twenty just superclass, you know, for the
hundredth anniversary and everything, right, you've got to have bigger
classes just to get caught up. Because the Hall of
(10:03):
Fame has admitted we have a backlog of people who
should be in that meet the criteria that were They're
all when when you get all decades teams, that means
for a ten year span, you were the best at
your position.
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Over a ten year snapshot.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
If you can't if you can't make if you make
all decades teams and you can't get on, that's.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
A problem, you know. And so.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Yeah, so it's just it's frustrating that you only see
one get in when you know so many. You know,
and listen, I know, I have my consternation about Bill
Belichick and some of the checkered things and questionable things
and controversies and conspiracies that were surrounded But he's doing
all time winning his coaches of all time.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Right, like it or not, that's right.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
How he doesn't get in is beyond me. You know,
Bob Kraft.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Yet you could argue, hey, you know he owned the
team during a very very great run, and you know
he benefited from Tom Brady and Bell Belichick. But that's
also decision that you know he made and and and
you know he trusted his coach to make. And that's
what puts you in that prominent position when you could
lead a franchise the way that he did and have
(11:26):
kind of this surge and their team sitting in the
super Bowl right now, they've they have record Super Bowl
appearances as a franchise organization under his under his leadership,
So you know, you kind of look at those things
and you're just like, Okay, this is the one where
you take the you know this, this commant is gonna
take a black eye for this one. And the fact
(11:48):
that you couldn't find a way to get more people in.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
Or you know, I don't know if it's changing.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
The criteria or expanding the voting capabilities, whatever that might be.
That's something you're gonna have to look at because come
next year. It's not gonna get any easier next year, right,
because there's more people that come on and that more
ways to split the vote. So now you kind of
(12:16):
messed up an opportunity this year. That's gonna now further
backlog you for next year. Guess what those two names
just went on the backlog on top of.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
LC right yep.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
And the further you get away from a player's playing career,
the tougher it is.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Unless you have veteran.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Sports writers historians that are in there that understand the
game and where it was when these players were prominent
and the reason why they're on this list, it's gonna
get tougher and tougher to get them in unless you
can figure out a way to get a larger swath
in this was a very small class.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
Like think about, you know, the.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Three modern era players that went in. We were used
to seeing four and five. We only got three. So
this is is a it's a frustrating one. I'm happy
for everybody that did get in. Now let me just
say that I have for everybody that got in, Like
Larry Fitzgerald number two all time behind Jerry.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Right, Inner Circle Hall of Famer.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
If you didn't have him, you would probably say that
they would have tomatoes throw.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
At the front of the Hall of Fame if they
didn't Drew Brees.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
Yeah, I mean he's he's a very prominent figure, very
very good at what he did. And yes, and he
deserved the honor as well. Luke Keikley should have been
in last year.
Speaker 5 (13:37):
I'm glad he got in this year.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
I feel like it was almost like like you know,
it was like when they kind of delayed on Allen Fanica,
you know, you know, they're like, oh, well shit, I'm like, yeah, No,
Luke Keakley was a freaking animal and when you you
had the game plan around him.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
So he deserved to be in there.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
And he's one of those players that when you think
about a snapshot of his career and his time that
he played in that era.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
His name is one of the ones. Hey man, who
who's best linebacker? Louke Keigley.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
You know, right, it doesn't matter how long Patrick will
the same situation, right, doesn't matter. The link of the
career matters. The impact when you were there, he had
direct impact. So you know, I look at that and yeah,
there's a lot of deserving guys on three get in
and once again you just further the backlog and guys
who were probably on you know, the last couple of
eligibility cycles. Now you know they're gonna eventually be in
(14:27):
that senior category because they've been pushed back even further.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
So, ah, it.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
Was it was surprising. Adam Van Terry deserves to be in.
He's he was a clutch kicker. I will get it
to him. Absolutely deserves to get in. You know, I
know how people feel about kickers, you know, But at
the same time, he was a hell of a kicker.
He was super accurate when he was in the league,
(14:53):
played a very long time. But yeah, I'm just I'm
more frustrated with the hall and the lack of and
and the fact that you you need to get more
people in So this is this is very tough. I mean,
it is the Hall of Fame and not the Hall
of Good. But we have a lot of Hall of
Fame worthy players that are on these lists that will
(15:14):
now keep falling further and further back. And also the
other reason for doing the Hall of Fame is to
give players their flower and coaches and contributors their flowers
while they're still alive. That's the other thing that's that's
very frustrating is the further you push it back, the
further you get, and the tougher it is when those
individuals do come of the opportunity. Are they still in
(15:38):
the right mind, Are they still in the right state
to receive those flowers? Or some of them will be posthumous,
and that that sucks too that you couldn't get them
in while they were still alive.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
We could do a whole show on this, and maybe
next year we will.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Because there are Jim Tyre, the former Chiefs Great who
probably up from CTE and wound up killing his wife
and himself well after his career was over. He was
an all decades performer. If I'm not mistaken, you know
said that that's probably its own segment. But Alan Fannick,
(16:13):
I mean you mentioned Alan Fanica. Nine time Pro Bowl,
six time All Pro, All Decades team. I don't understand
how that's not a first ballot Hall of Famer. I
don't understand it. Luke Keickley, you know, Keickley was you know,
(16:34):
another guy, very very similar, you know, all decades he
retired younger, seven time Pro Bowl and now again, keep
in mind he played eight years, eight years, seven time
Pro Bowl, Okay, and that's that's a great honor. Five
time All Pro and in the year he didn't get it,
(16:54):
he was the defensive Rookie of the Year. I mean
every single year he was recognized as elite. I just
don't understand why. I guess they've just got to get
the back on cleaned up. Anyway. Disappointed, Elsie Green, we
did not get in the Hall of Fame. We have
we got to roll up our sleeves.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Max.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
We've got a lot of work to do today. We've
got to get through our Steelers defense. Will break down
the roster. We're going to look at some free agents.
You got to go with a list, so we're gonna
go with the ESPN's top fifty list. How many free agents, Max,
should we pick each two, three, one?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
What do you think?
Speaker 5 (17:34):
I think? Uh? I think two? Is it too good? One?
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Okay? One?
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Less than the licks to get to the center of
a TUTSI pop. Two is gonna be our number?
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Two? Two's going to be our number.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
And this also is external free agents, not one, right right,
let's make that clarified. It would be external free agents.
And this is our wish list to each.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Are you a are you a Monty Python? And Holy
Grail Fan?
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, we are too.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Thou shalt not count unlet's in county to two. Thou
should preced it to three. But we're gonna keep it
at two today. We're not gonna We're not gonna proceed
it to three. We'll keep it at two. Free agents
as dictated by my partner, Max Starks. Missy Matthews also
coming up, and of course your phone calls super Bowl predictions,
lots to get to, lots and lots to get to.
(18:24):
So we are going to break now and dive into
the Steelers defense next in the Locker Room, presented by
our neighborhood Ford Store and the Steeers Pro Shop on
Steelers Nation Radio, A part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
And a brief recap of what we did yesterday. So
yesterday we talked about this to you. There's offense and
again as an overview, according to spot rack, they have
forty five million dollars in cap space. They have Will
Howard and Mason Rudolph at the quarterback position under contract,
running backs Jalen Warren and Caleb Johnson, wide receivers DK Metcalf,
(19:22):
Ben Scronic and Roman Wilson, tight ends Pat Fryarmouth, John
who Smith, Darnell Washington, and then offensive line Broderick Jones,
Troy Futanu, Calvin Anderson, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson,
Dylan Cook. So I think we decided Max that the
offensive line is in pretty good shape. Tight end might
(19:43):
be in pretty good shape. And again you talk about
a forty five million dollar in cap space that doesn't
have There are no restructures of contracts.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
There are no we're.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Gonna cut a guy and save cap space. You know,
we pointed out, are you really gonna keep three tight
end Friar Muth Smith and Darnel Washington when you're more
inclined to want to go wide receiver heavy with the
West Coast offense and and the way that Mike McCarthy
wants to run things, Obviously you need a quarterback. What
(20:14):
are you gonna do at the running back position? So
that's kind of an overview of the team.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Anything to add to that.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Obviously you're you're gonna have to find another quarterback somewhere,
and then I think running back will be interesting. They're
gonna add a couple of wide receivers, but maybe in
a position where you only have to add one offensive alignment.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah, No, I mean, you know, there's there's a lot
of decisions, like you said, I mean, you know, we
we talked about, you know, the veterans, Aaron Rodgers, I
see Amalu any game decisions.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
About Yeah, Kenny Gainwell.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Calvin and Calvin Austin.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Perhaps well I put I.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
Put Kenny because Ginney game Well is still like kind
of young. He's not that older VET, but he is
a VET.
Speaker 5 (20:59):
He does have a.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Super Bowl championship to his name. But I'm thinking like
the older guys you know all right, who in their
mid thirties and early forties, those are the ones whereas
it's gonna be a question of do you think they
could do it for another year or two years quote
unquote you know to do that. I think Kenny Gamewell
he's in that upper echelon when you think of like
(21:20):
free agent running backs, like.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
He's gonna be. He's a top five right now.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Top five is a very ambiguous thing where he's like
tier two of the running backs, but he's gonna be
one of the top available ones. So he's in his
own category.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
Calvin.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
I think Calvin's won that, you know, when you think
about him and his impact, injuries are probably gonna play
a role in that. I don't think he's gonna be
as highly regarded as a lot of people you know,
might want to believe in Pittsburgh, he'll be one that
might be easily attainable or easier to attain I'm not
gonna say easily. He's not easily, but he'll be easier
(21:59):
to attain because of the fact that size, injuries, production,
all those things are gonna play against them in a
stat driven position. So yeah, but it's but the biggest
question is going to be, you know, do you retain
John new Smith and you carry that many tight ends?
(22:19):
You know, Darnold Washington will be in the last year,
he'll probably he'll be up for an extension after after
this year.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
You know, what do you do with Broderick Jones? How
does that work with Dylan Cook?
Speaker 4 (22:30):
You know, a lot of those questions have to be
answered with the end of rookie contracts for a lot
of guys, but the veteran acquisitions, those are going to
be the biggest ones. And Kenny Game well at the
top of you know, right behind Aaron Rodgers, and then
of course Isaac seems kind of how I would slot
those three offensive players, you know, as a top three at.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
That I would agree.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Offensively, I would agree, And again, you don't have to
make a decision at left tackle. You know, you can
just let it play out. You can't solve every problem
and every future problem in one offseason. You just can't.
And so you kind of blend them neat what's right
in front of you. Well, that's number one. What can
you you know, issue can you kind of mitigate in
(23:15):
the future. You know, hey, Patrick Queen's got one more
year left, so maybe let's go find an inside linebacker.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
We really like.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
But those are the quote unquote luxury picks or the
luxury signings and free agency. So, by the way, roster
bonuses do Cam Hayward on the twelfth of March, Patrick
Queen and Pat Fryarmouth and Deshaun Elliott on the thirteenth
and Jalen Ramsey as well, So there are those things
are all part of it and they play into it.
(23:44):
But we're just kind of going down the line here.
We're not anticipating, you know what, guys they might cut cut,
you know, for cap space or whatever. We're just evaluating
the roster as it stands now. So seventeen offensive players
under contract, twenty defense. Two on special teams, so just
real quick special teams, Chris Boswell back, Christian Koontz back.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
By the way, they also have.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Adamitas cal Adamites under contract as a long snapper, but
I would imagine they're fine a long snapper. They're Fine
a kicker, Corless Weightman's a restricted free agent, so they
could bring him back. So that's kind of an overview
of the special teams. But I really want to dive
into the defense here and beginning with the defensive line.
(24:30):
Five players under contract, and those five players are Cam Hayward,
Derek Carmon, Keanu Benton, Logan, Lee y A Black, Keanu,
Benton entering his final season, and Derek Harmon had three
more years left, Lee two more years left? Why a
Black three more years left? From the surface of things
(24:53):
with Cam apparently toward the end of his career and
whether he'll even come back remained to be seen. I
haven't heard anything to the contrary, and I thought he
played a great at the end of the year. He
was as good as there was in the NFL. Your
thoughts on that unit, Max, and whether that is an
area that the students are gonna need to add some players.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
Yeah, Needa veteran knows first and foremost.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
To go along in there and offset that, and I
think we've kind of talked about that, and we talked
about that with Jerry that that that that's a key,
Like you said, Daniel Quale injured and then got suspended, right,
so it was like you know, for as he started
to get his feed and his defense started to find
its way, you know, then he was injured. Derek Harmon,
(25:45):
I mean, you know, huge impact when he played, but
had some injuries as well.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Uh Ya Black, I thought, very raw, but then kind
of fell into his own.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
I would love to see him kind of mature into
that nose tackle position because could you imagine if you
can put you know, Derek Harmon, y A Black, and
Cam Heyward on the same line at the same time,
that would be crazy.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
With coming in fresh and ready to go, can play anywhere.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
You know, on on that interior three would be ridiculous.
I think Logan Lee made some big strides now I
just need him to come on a little bit more.
And I think the familiarity with him and Ya playing
in college together, I think that's gonna be something. I
think it's gonna be a good chemistry moving forward. So
I think when you look at that, you feel good
about where they're at, but you need more depth. And
(26:37):
I'm not sure how you know they're gonna want to rotate.
I mean, Demota Peko's coming into their D line. Coach,
you know how Demoto is gonna want his rotation. I
know Carl Dunbar when he was there, loved a high.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Rotation of guys.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
You know, does does does Peco feel the same way?
So that's gonna be interesting to see. And also in
the scheme of Patrick Graham, like what does he like
to do? What does he want his defensive lineman to do?
You know, they were more or penetrating type of d lines,
not not as much true two gap three four, So
that's could be interesting because also Pecko has a four
to three background as a player when he played in
(27:10):
Cincinnati and trust me, I played against Bechel.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
A whole lot.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
So it's gonna be interesting to see how that philosophy
and how they go. And they also determine I think,
how they pick their players. But there's you definitely have
to add some depth to that group defensively through the
draft and a veteran and a veteran, a veteran interior guy.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Okay, so let us move on. I totally agree with
all that.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
You know, they attacked it last year, and the way
they attacked it last year was to bring in some veterans.
You know, they brought into Quale. They brought in a
toomay woe is as kind of probably he figured to
be the seventh or eighth defensive lineman. He was pressed
into service to quit it himself. Well, I would suggest
that they'll do the same sort of thing in free agency.
(27:57):
They will find a veteran guy can be part of
the rotation with Hayward, Harmon, Benton and Black.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
And it sounds like a law firm, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
And then they will also find, uh, you know, they'll
probably draft somebody as well. That's my that's what I
think they will do a defensive line. So let's get
it outside linebacker Max. I don't see any need to
change or add TJ. Watt, Alex high Smith. TJ's got
three more years, Alex has two more years left on
(28:28):
his deal, Nick Herbig entering the last dear deal of
his last year of his rookie deal, and jacksonvir still
has three more years left. It is a talented, disruptive crew.
If you see somebody you love in the draft, absolutely
that's the steerway. Sure you grab that guy. But I
just I don't see, you know, barring a trade or
(28:50):
something unforeseen, I see that as a position that does
not need to be touched.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
Yeah, no, I think I think we're good for now.
I think I think you're right. I mean, I think
if there's a priority list, not on the priority list
right now.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Okay, so let's move along. Then, inside linebacker is an
interesting position to me. You have Patrick Queen, you have
Peyton Wilson, you have Malik Harrison, you have Carson Bruner.
Cole Holcom is not under contract, so he would be
the one guy that you would and you know, if
you're looking to bring somebody back from last year's team.
(29:26):
So Pat has one year left, Peyton Wilson has two
years left, Malik has one year left, Carson Bruner has
three years left. Now, Carson was more a special teams
guy than anything else than we saw on defense. That
looks to me like a position. And you know, there
are people saying, well, they're gonna Patrick Queen, you know, casualty,
(29:47):
cap casualty, possibly free EPSOM space. There are some interesting
linebackers by the way out in free agency. There are
some interesting guys. But I see that as a position
in which I think it's likely they draft somebody that
I don't know is will address unless they make some
kind of move that's unforeseen. I don't see necessarily them
(30:10):
going out in free agency this year. To me, kind
of like tackle, offensive tackle. It's a problem that can
be addressed from a larger sense last year. But just
like tackle, if you're there in the third round and
you see a guy you really like a tackle, you
nab them. I suspect they're going to draft an inside
(30:32):
linebacker somewhere on Day two.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, Day two probably be where they
want to do. You need to add to that position.
I mean, you know, I love our guys, and I
love what they bring, but you need that thumper.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
You need that.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
Robertsplane, you need that Landon Robbers, that next generation guy
that's going to be a bigger guy. We have a
lot of sideline to sideline athletic linebackers that that can
play and cover and run.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
We need that plugger.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
You know, you need probably a younger version of Malik Harrison, right,
You need one that can go fill the whole. Especially
with the prominence of how the run games are now
kind of coming coming back full circle, and we saw
some guys that gashed us. We saw we saw arguably
outside of Christian McCaffrey, who won like all these awards
(31:25):
last night. I'm still chagrining about that, but I would
say arguably we saw seven of the top of the
top ten right back this season.
Speaker 5 (31:37):
Oh yeah, they.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
Just kept coming and it was like week but it
was like week after week after week, right, I mean,
you know, you go for like Davon Ah, Jane, James Cook.
I mean, I was like, oh my god, I'm like,
you know, it was like just everybody Kenth Walker we
had earlier in the year. I mean, it was just
Travon Henderson. I mean it was just it was just
crazy how many guys we saw. So yeah, we definitely
(32:02):
need that type of guy. I think that's what's probably missing,
and I think that's what Patrick Gran' is probably gonna
be looking at as well.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
And he's also had.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Roberts Splaine and Landon Roberts at Las Vegas, so he
understands how important that.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Position group is.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
So I think he will be looking for that type
of guy, and I'll be on his wish list to
Andy Widel and Omar Khan yep.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
So we still have two more positioned groups to get to,
and that is cornerback, which I think is very very
intriguing and safety, and then Max and I we're gonna
dash through the top fifty free agents in we're gonna
go by the ESPN rankings, and we're gonna stop and
go ding ding ding when we've reached our guy. And
(32:43):
so that exercises next Super Bowl predictions coming up, Missy
Matthews coming up. Of course your phone call is coming
up as well. We want to end the show this
year with you guys who make the locker room so
much fun to be and we also want to remind
you that you can gear up with all your Steelers gear.
Best place to get that is directly from the team
(33:04):
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Of course, you can always gear up online at shop
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Audio Network, This is in.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
The Locker Room with King and Starks on Steelers Nation
Radio presented by your Neighborhood Forward store. The F one
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Speaker 3 (33:48):
Com and welcome back. As we are.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Continuing to break down the Steelers, and we break down
the offense yesterday, their roster heading into the offseason, what
it looks like. We are going through the defense today
and we have identified defensive line as a position in
which we think the Seeons are probably gonna go out
on free agency and grab a guy and maybe address
it with one more selection in the draft as well,
(34:17):
just to solidify that position. Outside linebacker, no need inside linebacker,
much like defensive line.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Do you go out and grab a veteran guy. I
don't know if you do.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
I because that veteran guy, I mean, unless he's happy
being a rotational piece, you know, and then you draft somebody.
But I think they're gonna handle that in the draft. Max,
did you think veteran free agent guy? Do you think
the draft there? Inside linebacker?
Speaker 5 (34:48):
Inside linebacker? Ah, I'm trying to think.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
Okay, yeah, I'd probably say yeah, draft drafting outside Yeah,
I think I think that too.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
Like I'm thinking about it. I was just trying to
go through my head. I'm like, there's no.
Speaker 4 (35:06):
Mainline free agents that kind of jump out in my
head right now in that class that there might be
some tier two guys. I've gotten that deep in the
free agency. Yeah, I think tier right, I think I think.
I'm sorry Max, I keep cutting you off. I'm sure
I think too much coffee. I think that's possible.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
I do think that a tier two because if you're
gonna bring back Queen and Wilson, that that almost buying
a set. Almost There's no way you're gonna bring me
in a tier one guy because you're only gonna play
two inside linebackers. So you're not gonna go out and
spend ten million dollars on a guy in free agency
and and have him be a, you know, a rotational piece.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
I just I just don't.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
I don't see. Well, we'll see, we'll see what they do.
So Corner cornerback very intriguing to me. And again Corner
to me is interesting because of the guys that are,
in particular Assante Samuel, Like, are you going to go
out and invest in a Sante Samuel and try to
(36:06):
bring him back, and also in James Pierre, who had
a terrific season for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Are you going to bring? Those are your own free agents?
Speaker 1 (36:16):
So without them, if you move Jalen Ramsey to corner
he has three years left still on his deal seventeen
point two million dollars. Then there's Joey Porter, who I
think is probably due a contract extension. Brandon eccles is
under contract, Corey Trice interesting guy under contract, and you know,
(36:39):
just you see the ability hasn't been able to stay healthy.
And don't forget about Dante Kent late draft picked last year,
a punt returner and cornerback. It's an interesting group. I suspect, Max,
this is my own belief. I suspect they will keep
at least one of their own a Sante Samuel or
James Pierre and make this position much like outside linebacker
(37:06):
that you go into free agency in the draft not
really needing to address.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Yeah, it's it's not a huge priority. You know, you
have a lot of pieces. It is interesting, you know
the guys and we talked about kind of like Corey
Trice and company that that's on here. Do they have
you know, like a Cat nine lives I guess, but
(37:34):
it would be more so a third life here because
you got the the specimen type. You just don't have
the health I think necessarily. Is that the best way
to say that? Sure, yeah, they just don't have the health.
But like you said, you know Dante Kennon of course
a recent draft d and you know, maybe there's somebody
out there that just wows you in the draft, but
(37:57):
I don't think that's a draft priority. I think you've
kind of gone defensive heavy the last couple of years.
So you know, like I said, inside linebacker, like there
might be a flyer, there might be a guy who
falls there always is.
Speaker 5 (38:11):
They're just like, Okay, can't pass it up on this guy.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
But I would love for him to be more of
a bruiser and a plugger than the athletic sideline the
sideline type, because I think we already have those body
types already along with knows or probably the defensive priorities.
But I think if not that, then everything needs to
go towards the offense. So so yeah, I think this
(38:34):
is a position group. We've gone a lot. We've got
a lot of versatility there, you know, and like I said,
we got some internal guys that we could re sign
versus going out into the field, so to speak.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Yeah, I think if you do that, it really obviates
the need.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
I mean, now, if you don't now Jalen Ramsey is
definitely staying at corner right because this affects our next
position group. And I mean, like, hey, Trice, then maybe
you go out and get a veteran guy, you know,
this year's edition of a Brandon Eccles. I wouldn't mind
if you brought Pierre and Samuel back. But I think
that as the group stands now, you're gonna need one
(39:13):
guy you believe can push for a starting role and
one guy can be a depth piece. But I do
think they're gonna I think there's a chance at least
that they'll handle that internally. So if Jalen Ramsey moves
to safety, then your safeties are Ramsey to Shaun Elliott,
Sebastian Castro, don't forget no Chuck Clark, Gabrol Peppers. Those
guys will be gone. Kyle Duggar, I said, will be gone.
(39:36):
They're free agents. Kyle Dougar's a free agent, so three
safety's gone. This is another one of those positions, Max
where especially if you shore up corner and move Jalen
Ramsey to safety. I believe that's a position that they
will address within the first three rounds. A young safety
that you can groom behind Ramsey and Elliott. It sounds
(40:00):
like Ramsey's ready to make the full time move to safety.
But I think that's a position that the Steelers are
gonna need to do something at the safety position.
Speaker 4 (40:09):
Yeah, you got to look at some options because you went,
you went into the well last year free agency, right
Juan Thornhill was a guy you went and got. Then
you brought in Chuck clarkter in camp, and you know,
obviously you know Deshaun you re signed to a nice contract.
He gets injured, not really available. I'd like to think
(40:31):
he's gonna have a bounce back a year this year,
but you gotta do something opposite safety.
Speaker 5 (40:34):
Is that Jalen?
Speaker 4 (40:35):
Is that the answer is? Or is Jalen and Deshaun
gonna play together? I don't know at that, but you
need some depth there. He needs some help, you know,
I think draft or free agency, but not as high
a priority as I would say a nose on the
defensive line or you know, getting that plugger inside linebacker.
(40:57):
I think front seven would be the price already, and
then secondary is a luxury.
Speaker 5 (41:03):
You know.
Speaker 4 (41:03):
That's where that whole best available player category gets out there,
you know, because like I said, I would prefer a
bulk of the attention to go offensively, especially with Mike
McCarthy and whatever you're gonna do at the quarterback position.
I think you have to get the resources right. That
number two receivers is going to be super important to
get in a league that has teams that go too
(41:23):
deep at wide receiver, you need to be at the
same level with them. And even though I know there's
a high turnover this year with the AFC North coaches,
I mean you're about three out of four. Zach Taylor
is the only one that retained in the North. And
then of course with our situation with Mike t resigning
and then two firings, you don't know what your division
looks like. But you know that the rest of the
(41:45):
league has two receivers, so why not you know, you
don't want to fall behind the rest of the NFL league,
No doubt.
Speaker 3 (41:51):
No doubt that that. I think that's wide receivers.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
Last year's defensive line where they went out drafted two guys,
signed guys in free agency. I think that's the case.
So Max, we have about three maybe four minutes here
we go. Are you ready? Top fifty ESPN free agents.
We're gonna stop when we get to the two guys,
when we've each selected the two guys, because Max is
produces to that we would like to see. There's a
(42:14):
sign in free agency? Are you ready? I'm gonna run
down the list. Trey Hendrickson No, George Pickens Nope, Nope, nope,
Tyler Linderbaum nope, Daniel Jones.
Speaker 5 (42:27):
Nope.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
Okay, I don't immediately, not for me. I was trying
to entice you. I was trying to throw some crumbs.
Speaker 5 (42:32):
You were you really can you stop me? You were like,
let Max pick this up. Nope, I don't want that.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
Jalen Phillips, no edge guy. These guys are all great players,
but I just don't see him as fits right now.
Alec Pierce twenty six year old wide receiver Indianapolis Colts,
injury prone, Very very intrigued by Alex Pierce. But I'm
gonna say no with you because we have a big
(43:00):
field stretching target and DK Metcalf so I'm looking for
something a little different. Intrigued, certainly not gonna be disappointed.
There might be more there in Alex Pierce's game than
we've seen, but I'm gonna pass on him for now.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Player.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
I absolutely love uh Bresall, but no, I love Bresol.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
Yeah, I love him.
Speaker 5 (43:24):
Uh Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Here's one that's intriguing. If you just just decided to go.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
And and and say, you know what, we're gonna get
a We're gonna get a guy for the future, and
and the heck with everything else. Rashid Walker offensive tackle
for Green Bay.
Speaker 5 (43:41):
He's gonna make too much money. He's like, damn more passing,
make too much money.
Speaker 3 (43:44):
Passing adafe O Way Edges.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
We're just passing on Edges, Braden Smith tackle, We're passing
John Franklin Myers defensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Denver Broncos.
Speaker 5 (43:57):
Ya yah he he's.
Speaker 4 (44:00):
More like what we already have Darren Carmen, Ya Black Greek,
Keanu Benton and Carrie Hayward not too similar.
Speaker 1 (44:05):
Twenty nine year old cornerback entering his prime, Alante Taylor.
Now you sign him, you got Joey Porter Jr. You
don't need corner for a while.
Speaker 4 (44:19):
That's true, that's true. Alonte Taylor is is intriguing. I
mean he's a great pick for you.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
Yeah, I'm passing. Are you fasking? Way Walker linebacker, Green Bay?
Speaker 3 (44:36):
Interesting? Come on, now what it's you identified this position?
Speaker 5 (44:43):
I did identify Quay intrigue. Still a little too rich.
Speaker 1 (44:48):
For my blood yep, not going k Wooland another corner,
also not going Mike Kevin too much money, veteran you want,
you want another veteran, big guy.
Speaker 4 (44:56):
Too old and he finally got injured. So I love
the resume. I think he's a Hall of Famer in
my book, but now he's too old.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
Jalen Watson Nope, Okay. Another corner, Malik Willis quarterback, very
very very intrigued.
Speaker 5 (45:18):
Yeah, he's intriguing.
Speaker 4 (45:20):
And this was the if Mike tom was still the
head coach, I would probably I would probably pick up
this a little.
Speaker 5 (45:26):
Bit more than than I would.
Speaker 4 (45:28):
I don't know if he necessarily fits the style for
Mike McCarthy, even though, uh it feels almost I'm still
gonna pass.
Speaker 3 (45:40):
I'm still I'm so intrigued, but I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (45:43):
I'm passing because I mean, I I love I loved
what I saw from him super intrigued.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
I just think Aaron Rodgers is going to be back.
That's what I think. I think he's gonna be back.
Travis etn.
Speaker 5 (45:58):
Uh, Nope.
Speaker 3 (45:59):
Devin Lloyd, Yeah, he's a plugger.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
He listen.
Speaker 4 (46:05):
I watched I watched him in college. I had a
couple of Utah games. Devin Lloyd is.
Speaker 5 (46:10):
Is is an animal.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
Twenty seven years old.
Speaker 4 (46:14):
Twenty seven, he's still young man, brings what you want.
Speaker 5 (46:18):
He does. He does answer a lot of questions. But
I think he's gonna cut. He's gonna he's gonna.
Speaker 4 (46:22):
Hurt the cap number, and you're gonna have to you
have a couple more cap casualties if you bring him on.
Speaker 3 (46:28):
Okay, all right?
Speaker 1 (46:29):
Uh it would be interesting, not because they could, They
could move some guys around and just go in a
completely different direction. He's a guy definitely to keep an
eye I think these corners are guys to keep an
eye on.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
I've obviously, uh.
Speaker 1 (46:41):
You know, Malik Willis if they decided to go in
that direction and surprise us the corners if they decide
to go there, Isaiah likely is twenty uh number twenty one.
Speaker 3 (46:51):
Romeo Dobbs, ooh.
Speaker 5 (46:55):
This is this this is a.
Speaker 4 (46:58):
Capable receiver. I mean picked up the load a lot
and listenly, you know. And he was a guy of
interest when we played the Packers.
Speaker 5 (47:08):
But but it was a Tucker Craft show that night.
So m hm, nope, I still want to draft one,
still want to draft one.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
I'm taking Romeo Dobbs. He's my first one. Okay, there
we go, first of two guys. There we go, because
it's a good choice. I thinks are gonna get a
receiver in free agency, and I think they're gonna draft
a receiver. And I think Dobbs is a guy. He's
played with Aaron Rodgers. You know, he's a he's he's
very different than what you have with DK metcalf. I
(47:39):
think he's an excellent complimentary piece. And so the first
one of our free agencies off the board. We haven't
gotten the number two. We're gonna squeeze that in next hour.
We're also gonna be taking your phone calls at four
one two. Missy Matthews is gonna be joining us next
in the locker room. Presented by your neighborhood Ford Jordan
to students pro Shop on Student's Nation Radio, part of
(48:00):
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