March 30, 2025 • 16 mins
Michael is joined this week by SNR’s Matt Williamson to break down free agency so far and what to look ahead to in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is only a few weeks away.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Irish airline aer Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xl or aircraft.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
This brings the number.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Of transatlantic routes operated by the airline from Dublin, Shannon
and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers fans traveling to Ireland
for the Big Game can enjoy a relaxing journey when
they fly with air Lingus.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Air Lingus, You're very welcome, everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Welcome into this week's edition of the Irish Staters podcast.
As we are just outside of a month from the
twenty twenty five NFL Draft taking place in Green Bay, Wisconsin,
while stears Nation, it's time to take flight with Erlingus,
an official airline partner of the Pittsburgh Steeters and a
founding partner of Steels Ireland. There's never been a better
(01:01):
time to book your trip to Dublin. With nineteen North
American gateways, including flights from nearby Cleveland. You're ready for
warm Irish hospitality and plenty of room on board for
your terrible title, whether it's game day or getaway. Er
Lingus looks forward to saying you're very welcome to the
players and fans at the Pittsburgh Staters. You can book
now at arlingus dot com and we can't wait for
(01:23):
that game later this year NFL dot com slash Dublin
for more information on that. And as we roll on
and get closer to the NFL Draft, it's time for
us to take a quick look back on free agency
for the Pittsburgh Staters, speculate what may be to come,
and to also talk about the ball with a guy
from SNR Staters Station Radio.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Today.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
We're absolutely delighted to have Matt Williams and join us
on the Irish Staters Podcast. Rolling on on this week's
edition of the Irish Saiters Podcast presented by er Lingus,
absolutely the lighted to welcome in the guy from Sediars
Station Radio, a guy I had the chance to very
briefly meet over in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine. Welcome
back to Mott Williams, said, Matt, how are you doing fultion.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
I am doing fantastic getting close to draft season here.
I mean lots going on. Steelers have done some things.
I kind of like where they're sitting now. I'm sure
we'll have to have some quarterback conversations at some point,
but you know, the league is starting to calm down
before the draft, and Dale and I are bringing out
a show five days a week on Steer Nation Radio
and having a blast doing it.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Man, that's really refreshing to hear, like what you just said,
they're having a blase doing it because you mentioned yourself there,
it is dying down a little bit before the draft
comes in. How do you How do you guys find
that in terms of you know, having a whole year
round schedule. Is that something that you enjoy where you
start to break things down and look at the team
in a different way because it's been what it's been
(02:45):
two months more than two months? Is hard asking?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Yeah, And for me personally, I am so geared towards
NFL and Saturdays like the only time I have with
my family. So I don't watch a ton of college football.
I mean, if it's on, I definitely leave it on,
but I don't go out of my way to start
scouting draft players then and then free agency hit. So
I hit all those guys heavily. So I always feel
(03:10):
like I'm behind on draft prep, but this last month
and a half two months, it's pretty much all I've
been doing. You know, is when it starts with the
Senior Bowl and then combine where I saw you, which
was great, I really start to hit these guys hard,
and especially this month leading up to the draft, where
you start finding guys that you hadn't really known a
couple months ago. That boy, that's a really good fit,
(03:33):
or boy, this position group's deeper than I thought. And
the team building stuff is really my favorite part of
the whole aspect.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
He really is. We just went a free agency we'll
talk about in the wei second. I guess the biggest
news moth for a lot of people over here obviously
is that not just Ireland, but people listening to Europe
as well. First international game in Iran. I think it's
thirteen twelve years bought malpha motics in this podcast from
me since since the London game in twenty five teams
theaters going to Dublin this year. How pumped are you
(04:03):
guys like over there? Where it's all happening in the
burg about that, and is this your first opportunity to
get abroad as well? Not when it happens.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
I have never left the country really. I mean I've
gone to Canada, Niagara Falls and things like that, but
I've never been to Europe. But I will tell you
the fan base here, there's a lot of people coming
from Pittsburgh. I mean I've just talked to buddies and
fans and Twitter followers that can't wait. And by all accounts,
I mean the environment, which I'm sure you know ten
thousand times better than me, is going to be very
(04:32):
Steeler centric and very excited to welcome Steeler Nation.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
For people listening, I'm gonna repeat it again NFL dot
com slash Dublin if you want to head to that
game or want more information on it.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And I want to talk about free agency.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
But one guy I want to talk about very quickly,
Matt is Craig Wolfy. And the thing the reason I
want to talk about this because I mentioned him in
the podcast a couple of weeks ago and the amount
of people like this podcast has been going for a
couple of years since the theater officially come into the
market over here, and the amount of people that reached
out either to meet or put tweet site or postsight
(05:07):
on social media from Europe. Mott whenever he possitied right
right obviously solidly passed away a few weeks ago. Yeah,
it really showed me just how big Steers station is.
But can you maybe talk just about just what it
was like working with him? And I know you guys
are really gonna miss.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Them, Yeah, absolutely, and a couple things. Just wanted to
note that I think people are aware of some of
the charity work and some of the generous things that
Wolf did behind the scenes, but it was much more
than people even know. I mean, he was very, very
involved with a lot of different programs locally across the country,
(05:44):
et cetera. I've been on the air with them many
many times. We've posted shows together, you know, over the
last decade plus. Always loved it. But he was a really,
really good friend. Actually, his son, Stej Craig Junior works
in the radio station with us too, behind the scenes,
so I've gotten to know the family a little bit
better as well. And I mean, to be honest, I
(06:06):
was I'm a little younger than Wolf, so I was
like seven or eight when he got drafted, so I
remember him as a rookie with touch and his play day.
So I mean go way back as a fan of
Wolf's and then as a you know, podcast partner, radio
partner with them, and then friend and I was at
his viewing of course, and it probably wouldn't surprise anybody
(06:28):
that it was about an hour and a half wait
just to get in, you know. I mean the place
was absolutely packed, former players, people from all walks of life,
and really a big loss for Steiler Nation.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It isn't. May he rest in peace. It's funny. I
was going to say. The couple of guys that I'm
friends with are big Cardinals funds, and they were even
talking about his brother Ron and the fact that it
sort of impassed the whole theaters cried here as well,
So it was pretty cool, I guess to see in
one way that he touched a lot of people over
here with his humor and wittiness as well, even in
(07:00):
his last few years as well. So look, he'll be
he'll be desperately missing. I know he'll be hopefully watching
that and all of us later on this year in
Dublin and across this hopefully, which is going to be
a big, big season. Matt, let's just jump into it.
I know a lot of Steelers fans want to hear
just from over here, you know your teake on this
free agency. I want to go through two or three
players just first off, the one that sticks out to
(07:21):
a lot of us guys, especially internationally, when a team
that I'm gonna be honest with you change your uniform
and a lot of people start looking at them and
you're up the Seahawks down through the last few years.
But the guy that has stood out for a lot
of people, DK Mtcalff to now have him, you know,
to come in and and and the opportunity to really
load up that offense. How excited are you to get
(07:42):
a guy that got into the building.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Yeah. I think it's a big, big move, and I
think it says a couple of things. Is I don't
think the Steelers were or the rest of the league
is super excited about this wide receiver draft class. So
I don't think there's as much instant help there as usual.
I mean, usually that's a really strong position. It's definitely
down this year now. I don't think coach Tomlin and
(08:04):
Omar would ever admit this, but I think they got
a little frustrated last year searching for a wide receiver.
Everybody remembers the Ayuk situation, and I was under the
impression that they had a trade in place for Christian
Kirk and then he got hurt that week, and then
there was just some bad luck. And I think that
they were got to the point where enough is enough.
(08:24):
We're going to go out and get really the best
guy they could possibly get, and a huge key to me.
And again we don't know the quarterback, but with him
and Pickens on the outside, I just think that the
running game is going to run into so many fewer
stacked boxes, you know, like Seattle had a really bad
running game, But when you watch the All twenty two,
(08:45):
they faced a ton of cover two defenses because they're
so afraid of Metcalf getting over the top, and they
didn't have a guy like Pickens on the other side
that was a field stretcher. So I think it has
a huge trickle down effect to the entire offense. And
if you're gonna get one on one with either one
of those guys, I think they're just gonna take shots.
And I think he's a real difference faker.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
We know how good dkm my cough can be, so
I'm just so excited to see just that early game
on a Sunday, seeing him break off week one of
the season bringing home on I'm totally up for a
lot of excitement over here, for a lot of excitement
as well, not for a guy called Darius Slay. Guy
had a really strong season with the Eagles last year
and fourteen stars last year, forty nine tackles. Really like
(09:30):
a lot of experience in the league and a guy
that we can just slot in through the way and
he's going to be that difference maker in that position.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yeah, I one hund percent agree with you too. And
don't forget that Andy Whidell, who's high up in the
front office, comes over from the Eagles, and I think
that's a great place to start stealing ideas from. They're
really a successful organization. Now, the track record of corners
that are Slay's age isn't great, but it's a one
(09:56):
year deal.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
He was.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I watched all of his tape last year. It was
very impressive and some of his best tape was in
the playoffs late in the season. So he didn't show
any signs of wearing down. I think he's going to
be a great mentor you know, adult in the room
in that corner young corner room, you know, with a
ring on his finger from last year as well. And
(10:21):
I thought that was probably the weakest point of the
part of the defense last year was cornerback two. And
I think that they would have loved to blitz more,
be more aggressive, play less, cover three less zone, but
I felt like Porter was the only corner they trusted
to kind of leave in man de mand situations. And
(10:42):
I think that's changed dramatically. It's a lot like the
Metcalf thing. That wide receiver two was unacceptable last year.
The cornerback two was unacceptable last year, and it looks
drastically changed.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
It's hard to believe we're actually I think it's a
month from the day we're actually for cording that we
were done in Indian oppos at the combine. What's sow
I for you that week? Was there any player that
you spoke to, or any gms or head coaches or
different soft you spoke to where you looked at different
guys that were taking part in the combine and fault
to yourself this guy could be a really good fit
in Pittsburgh or was it just sort of a general
(11:15):
sense in a point, I will.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Say, and this isn't super encouraging. I mentioned how the
wide receiver class is a little light. I think this
draft in general is a little bit light on top
of the top of the line talent across the board.
I mean, certainly, last year we saw all those quarterbacks
and offensive tackles, which are the rarest two positions. This
first round doesn't look that way to me. But something
(11:41):
that really goes back to Kevin Colbert is the Steelers
are one of the best teams in the league at
using free agency metcalfs, lay, et cetera. To prepare themselves
to go fishing in the richest waters in the draft.
And to me, that's the fen of tackle. That's running back.
(12:02):
You know that maybe they wait three four rounds until
they grab a running back or whatever, but this draft
is so deep at those two positions. I think they're
going to find a lot of fruitful players. A young
d lineman maybe even two of them, as well as
a running.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Back if you were Omar Khan, and eventually in the
half weeks on the clock was going on Night one
in the draft. What position would you like to see
us go for first? If you have to put your
not gut in.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
Set, without question, it would be a defensive lineman. It
would be a big guy. I think there's three guys
that really stand out to me that it should could
be available at twenty one, and that's Kenneth Grant from Michigan.
He's just a massive, middle of the field, athletic guy,
and I think they need to get younger there. Plus,
(12:52):
I want a draft one high while Cam Hayward's still
around to kind of, you know, be the big brother,
be the mentor. Walter Nolan from Mississippi's another player that
has immense potential. He was the biggest recruit in the
country when he was coming out of high school. And
Harmon from Oregon. The three of them, if I had
to put a chip down, one of those three will
(13:14):
be the Steelers first pick.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
In my opinion, it's going to roll in over the
next few weeks.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
You were actually saying to me that off camera that
you guys are actually going to be in Pittsburgh for
the Draft where it's all happening. What's not vibe Like
every year because it feels like, you know, you go
from a game of the playoff or the super Bowl
or whatever, and then it dies down for a bit
and then suddenly the fans are right again. It looks
every year a month like ste Nish just shows up
at Akashure and really gets ready for such a big weekend.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Yeah, they really do. And what's cool about it is
it's probably been ten fifteen years in a row where
I've been basically the only media member that's on the
air for every single draft pick, you know, so it's
a good twenty hours of coverage that I'm on.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
That's not easy.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
It's not easy. At least something happens every couple of minutes,
you know, at least there's a pick to be made.
But it's super cool because the facility where Steelers headquarters is,
there's not a lot of us invited, you know, it's
just it's a very small group. They feed us well,
which is great. You know, if they if they draft
the D lineman in first round, the defensive line coach
(14:20):
comes out and sits with us after, so we get
to really pick their brains on and off camera. And
then after they draft that D lineman in first round,
they fly them to Pittsburgh and the young man comes
and sits with us, you know, like Joey Porter Junior
the one year I couldn't feel I mean, he got
there so quick because he lived close. I don't know
they've ever seen anyone happier to be a new Steeler
the day after he got drafted. So it's a really
(14:43):
really cool environment. I'm lucky to be a part of it.
And then a year from now, it's gonna be here.
I mean it's not gonna be in Green Bay. It's
going to be in Pittsburgh. I don't know what that's
going to do for our coverage, but it's gonna be nuts.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
It's gonna be really exciting. That was walking along on
the way to the stadium, even the in December when
I had the chance to go out there and was
talking to somebody about it, and I can just imagine
what's going to be like. It's going to be special.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Man.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
We'll give we will get through this year first in
a very unique situation as well in Green Bay as well. Look,
it's going to be a really interesting few months with
this situation, with the draft coming up.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
MAP.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
I know you're going to be keeping very very busy.
We'll encourage everybody to check out Saeters national media as well,
not just to keep up with this podcast, but to
keep up with everything happened in state side Matt. Hopefully
we'll see over here very very soon. For now, hey,
thank you very much for your time. Thank you.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Now it's fun. Let's do it again.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Irish airline aer Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlinus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xcel Or aircraft.
This brings the number of Transatlantic routes operated by the
(15:56):
airline from Dublin, Shannon and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers
fan fanes traveling to Ireland for the Big Game can
enjoy a relaxing journey when they fly with their Lingus.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Air Lingus, You're very welcome.
Irish airline aer Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlingus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xl or aircraft.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
This brings the number.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Of transatlantic routes operated by the airline from Dublin, Shannon
and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers fans traveling to Ireland
for the Big Game can enjoy a relaxing journey when
they fly with air Lingus.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Air Lingus, You're very welcome, everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Welcome into this week's edition of the Irish Staters podcast.
As we are just outside of a month from the
twenty twenty five NFL Draft taking place in Green Bay, Wisconsin,
while stears Nation, it's time to take flight with Erlingus,
an official airline partner of the Pittsburgh Steeters and a
founding partner of Steels Ireland. There's never been a better
(01:01):
time to book your trip to Dublin. With nineteen North
American gateways, including flights from nearby Cleveland. You're ready for
warm Irish hospitality and plenty of room on board for
your terrible title, whether it's game day or getaway. Er
Lingus looks forward to saying you're very welcome to the
players and fans at the Pittsburgh Staters. You can book
now at arlingus dot com and we can't wait for
(01:23):
that game later this year NFL dot com slash Dublin
for more information on that. And as we roll on
and get closer to the NFL Draft, it's time for
us to take a quick look back on free agency
for the Pittsburgh Staters, speculate what may be to come,
and to also talk about the ball with a guy
from SNR Staters Station Radio.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Today.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
We're absolutely delighted to have Matt Williams and join us
on the Irish Staters Podcast. Rolling on on this week's
edition of the Irish Saiters Podcast presented by er Lingus,
absolutely the lighted to welcome in the guy from Sediars
Station Radio, a guy I had the chance to very
briefly meet over in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine. Welcome
back to Mott Williams, said, Matt, how are you doing fultion.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
I am doing fantastic getting close to draft season here.
I mean lots going on. Steelers have done some things.
I kind of like where they're sitting now. I'm sure
we'll have to have some quarterback conversations at some point,
but you know, the league is starting to calm down
before the draft, and Dale and I are bringing out
a show five days a week on Steer Nation Radio
and having a blast doing it.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Man, that's really refreshing to hear, like what you just said,
they're having a blase doing it because you mentioned yourself there,
it is dying down a little bit before the draft
comes in. How do you How do you guys find
that in terms of you know, having a whole year
round schedule. Is that something that you enjoy where you
start to break things down and look at the team
in a different way because it's been what it's been
(02:45):
two months more than two months? Is hard asking?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Yeah, And for me personally, I am so geared towards
NFL and Saturdays like the only time I have with
my family. So I don't watch a ton of college football.
I mean, if it's on, I definitely leave it on,
but I don't go out of my way to start
scouting draft players then and then free agency hit. So
I hit all those guys heavily. So I always feel
(03:10):
like I'm behind on draft prep, but this last month
and a half two months, it's pretty much all I've
been doing. You know, is when it starts with the
Senior Bowl and then combine where I saw you, which
was great, I really start to hit these guys hard,
and especially this month leading up to the draft, where
you start finding guys that you hadn't really known a
couple months ago. That boy, that's a really good fit,
(03:33):
or boy, this position group's deeper than I thought. And
the team building stuff is really my favorite part of
the whole aspect.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
He really is. We just went a free agency we'll
talk about in the wei second. I guess the biggest
news moth for a lot of people over here obviously
is that not just Ireland, but people listening to Europe
as well. First international game in Iran. I think it's
thirteen twelve years bought malpha motics in this podcast from
me since since the London game in twenty five teams
theaters going to Dublin this year. How pumped are you
(04:03):
guys like over there? Where it's all happening in the
burg about that, and is this your first opportunity to
get abroad as well? Not when it happens.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
I have never left the country really. I mean I've
gone to Canada, Niagara Falls and things like that, but
I've never been to Europe. But I will tell you
the fan base here, there's a lot of people coming
from Pittsburgh. I mean I've just talked to buddies and
fans and Twitter followers that can't wait. And by all accounts,
I mean the environment, which I'm sure you know ten
thousand times better than me, is going to be very
(04:32):
Steeler centric and very excited to welcome Steeler Nation.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
For people listening, I'm gonna repeat it again NFL dot
com slash Dublin if you want to head to that
game or want more information on it.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And I want to talk about free agency.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
But one guy I want to talk about very quickly,
Matt is Craig Wolfy. And the thing the reason I
want to talk about this because I mentioned him in
the podcast a couple of weeks ago and the amount
of people like this podcast has been going for a
couple of years since the theater officially come into the
market over here, and the amount of people that reached
out either to meet or put tweet site or postsight
(05:07):
on social media from Europe. Mott whenever he possitied right
right obviously solidly passed away a few weeks ago. Yeah,
it really showed me just how big Steers station is.
But can you maybe talk just about just what it
was like working with him? And I know you guys
are really gonna miss.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Them, Yeah, absolutely, and a couple things. Just wanted to
note that I think people are aware of some of
the charity work and some of the generous things that
Wolf did behind the scenes, but it was much more
than people even know. I mean, he was very, very
involved with a lot of different programs locally across the country,
(05:44):
et cetera. I've been on the air with them many
many times. We've posted shows together, you know, over the
last decade plus. Always loved it. But he was a really,
really good friend. Actually, his son, Stej Craig Junior works
in the radio station with us too, behind the scenes,
so I've gotten to know the family a little bit
better as well. And I mean, to be honest, I
(06:06):
was I'm a little younger than Wolf, so I was
like seven or eight when he got drafted, so I
remember him as a rookie with touch and his play day.
So I mean go way back as a fan of
Wolf's and then as a you know, podcast partner, radio
partner with them, and then friend and I was at
his viewing of course, and it probably wouldn't surprise anybody
(06:28):
that it was about an hour and a half wait
just to get in, you know. I mean the place
was absolutely packed, former players, people from all walks of life,
and really a big loss for Steiler Nation.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It isn't. May he rest in peace. It's funny. I
was going to say. The couple of guys that I'm
friends with are big Cardinals funds, and they were even
talking about his brother Ron and the fact that it
sort of impassed the whole theaters cried here as well,
So it was pretty cool, I guess to see in
one way that he touched a lot of people over
here with his humor and wittiness as well, even in
(07:00):
his last few years as well. So look, he'll be
he'll be desperately missing. I know he'll be hopefully watching
that and all of us later on this year in
Dublin and across this hopefully, which is going to be
a big, big season. Matt, let's just jump into it.
I know a lot of Steelers fans want to hear
just from over here, you know your teake on this
free agency. I want to go through two or three
players just first off, the one that sticks out to
(07:21):
a lot of us guys, especially internationally, when a team
that I'm gonna be honest with you change your uniform
and a lot of people start looking at them and
you're up the Seahawks down through the last few years.
But the guy that has stood out for a lot
of people, DK Mtcalff to now have him, you know,
to come in and and and the opportunity to really
load up that offense. How excited are you to get
(07:42):
a guy that got into the building.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Yeah. I think it's a big, big move, and I
think it says a couple of things. Is I don't
think the Steelers were or the rest of the league
is super excited about this wide receiver draft class. So
I don't think there's as much instant help there as usual.
I mean, usually that's a really strong position. It's definitely
down this year now. I don't think coach Tomlin and
(08:04):
Omar would ever admit this, but I think they got
a little frustrated last year searching for a wide receiver.
Everybody remembers the Ayuk situation, and I was under the
impression that they had a trade in place for Christian
Kirk and then he got hurt that week, and then
there was just some bad luck. And I think that
they were got to the point where enough is enough.
(08:24):
We're going to go out and get really the best
guy they could possibly get, and a huge key to me.
And again we don't know the quarterback, but with him
and Pickens on the outside, I just think that the
running game is going to run into so many fewer
stacked boxes, you know, like Seattle had a really bad
running game, But when you watch the All twenty two,
(08:45):
they faced a ton of cover two defenses because they're
so afraid of Metcalf getting over the top, and they
didn't have a guy like Pickens on the other side
that was a field stretcher. So I think it has
a huge trickle down effect to the entire offense. And
if you're gonna get one on one with either one
of those guys, I think they're just gonna take shots.
And I think he's a real difference faker.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
We know how good dkm my cough can be, so
I'm just so excited to see just that early game
on a Sunday, seeing him break off week one of
the season bringing home on I'm totally up for a
lot of excitement over here, for a lot of excitement
as well, not for a guy called Darius Slay. Guy
had a really strong season with the Eagles last year
and fourteen stars last year, forty nine tackles. Really like
(09:30):
a lot of experience in the league and a guy
that we can just slot in through the way and
he's going to be that difference maker in that position.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yeah, I one hund percent agree with you too. And
don't forget that Andy Whidell, who's high up in the
front office, comes over from the Eagles, and I think
that's a great place to start stealing ideas from. They're
really a successful organization. Now, the track record of corners
that are Slay's age isn't great, but it's a one
(09:56):
year deal.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
He was.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I watched all of his tape last year. It was
very impressive and some of his best tape was in
the playoffs late in the season. So he didn't show
any signs of wearing down. I think he's going to
be a great mentor you know, adult in the room
in that corner young corner room, you know, with a
ring on his finger from last year as well. And
(10:21):
I thought that was probably the weakest point of the
part of the defense last year was cornerback two. And
I think that they would have loved to blitz more,
be more aggressive, play less, cover three less zone, but
I felt like Porter was the only corner they trusted
to kind of leave in man de mand situations. And
(10:42):
I think that's changed dramatically. It's a lot like the
Metcalf thing. That wide receiver two was unacceptable last year.
The cornerback two was unacceptable last year, and it looks
drastically changed.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
It's hard to believe we're actually I think it's a
month from the day we're actually for cording that we
were done in Indian oppos at the combine. What's sow
I for you that week? Was there any player that
you spoke to, or any gms or head coaches or
different soft you spoke to where you looked at different
guys that were taking part in the combine and fault
to yourself this guy could be a really good fit
in Pittsburgh or was it just sort of a general
(11:15):
sense in a point, I will.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Say, and this isn't super encouraging. I mentioned how the
wide receiver class is a little light. I think this
draft in general is a little bit light on top
of the top of the line talent across the board.
I mean, certainly, last year we saw all those quarterbacks
and offensive tackles, which are the rarest two positions. This
first round doesn't look that way to me. But something
(11:41):
that really goes back to Kevin Colbert is the Steelers
are one of the best teams in the league at
using free agency metcalfs, lay, et cetera. To prepare themselves
to go fishing in the richest waters in the draft.
And to me, that's the fen of tackle. That's running back.
(12:02):
You know that maybe they wait three four rounds until
they grab a running back or whatever, but this draft
is so deep at those two positions. I think they're
going to find a lot of fruitful players. A young
d lineman maybe even two of them, as well as
a running.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Back if you were Omar Khan, and eventually in the
half weeks on the clock was going on Night one
in the draft. What position would you like to see
us go for first? If you have to put your
not gut in.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
Set, without question, it would be a defensive lineman. It
would be a big guy. I think there's three guys
that really stand out to me that it should could
be available at twenty one, and that's Kenneth Grant from Michigan.
He's just a massive, middle of the field, athletic guy,
and I think they need to get younger there. Plus,
(12:52):
I want a draft one high while Cam Hayward's still
around to kind of, you know, be the big brother,
be the mentor. Walter Nolan from Mississippi's another player that
has immense potential. He was the biggest recruit in the
country when he was coming out of high school. And
Harmon from Oregon. The three of them, if I had
to put a chip down, one of those three will
(13:14):
be the Steelers first pick.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
In my opinion, it's going to roll in over the
next few weeks.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
You were actually saying to me that off camera that
you guys are actually going to be in Pittsburgh for
the Draft where it's all happening. What's not vibe Like
every year because it feels like, you know, you go
from a game of the playoff or the super Bowl
or whatever, and then it dies down for a bit
and then suddenly the fans are right again. It looks
every year a month like ste Nish just shows up
at Akashure and really gets ready for such a big weekend.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Yeah, they really do. And what's cool about it is
it's probably been ten fifteen years in a row where
I've been basically the only media member that's on the
air for every single draft pick, you know, so it's
a good twenty hours of coverage that I'm on.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
That's not easy.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
It's not easy. At least something happens every couple of minutes,
you know, at least there's a pick to be made.
But it's super cool because the facility where Steelers headquarters is,
there's not a lot of us invited, you know, it's
just it's a very small group. They feed us well,
which is great. You know, if they if they draft
the D lineman in first round, the defensive line coach
(14:20):
comes out and sits with us after, so we get
to really pick their brains on and off camera. And
then after they draft that D lineman in first round,
they fly them to Pittsburgh and the young man comes
and sits with us, you know, like Joey Porter Junior
the one year I couldn't feel I mean, he got
there so quick because he lived close. I don't know
they've ever seen anyone happier to be a new Steeler
the day after he got drafted. So it's a really
(14:43):
really cool environment. I'm lucky to be a part of it.
And then a year from now, it's gonna be here.
I mean it's not gonna be in Green Bay. It's
going to be in Pittsburgh. I don't know what that's
going to do for our coverage, but it's gonna be nuts.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
It's gonna be really exciting. That was walking along on
the way to the stadium, even the in December when
I had the chance to go out there and was
talking to somebody about it, and I can just imagine
what's going to be like. It's going to be special.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Man.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
We'll give we will get through this year first in
a very unique situation as well in Green Bay as well. Look,
it's going to be a really interesting few months with
this situation, with the draft coming up.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
MAP.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
I know you're going to be keeping very very busy.
We'll encourage everybody to check out Saeters national media as well,
not just to keep up with this podcast, but to
keep up with everything happened in state side Matt. Hopefully
we'll see over here very very soon. For now, hey,
thank you very much for your time. Thank you.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Now it's fun. Let's do it again.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Irish airline aer Lingus will proudly serve as the presenting
partner of Steelers Ireland twenty twenty five. Airlinus's growth in
North America continues in twenty twenty five as the airline
prepares to fly to two new US destinations, Nashville and Indianapolis,
using its new Airbus eight three twenty one xcel Or aircraft.
This brings the number of Transatlantic routes operated by the
(15:56):
airline from Dublin, Shannon and Manchester to twenty four. Steelers
fan fanes traveling to Ireland for the Big Game can
enjoy a relaxing journey when they fly with their Lingus.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Air Lingus, You're very welcome.
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