July 10, 2025 • 43 mins
The Blitz continues talking top 10, focusing on running backs and defensive tackles. They also get to your tweets of the day during Time's Yours.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Kueler and Moats are on the air. This is the
Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Gold. Askin are Steelers Nation Radio?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. How we do it? Well, that's
good me too, our number two West Euler with you
here on the Steelers Blitz. It is a West Solo week.
It's the Cayman Islands. By the way, I told you,
I couldn't remember exactly what tropical vacation destination Mozi is on.
I think that's it. Who knows though, all those different
(00:55):
the Caribbean and Bora Bora and the mal Deves in
the Cayman Island and all these different places, I don't know.
I'm pretty well versed in the United States of America,
I'm pretty well versed in Canada. I'm pretty well versed
in Europe. Other than that, you're gonna have to help
me out. I'm gonna need a map. I can't do it.
But it's a West Solo day here today. As Motzi
(01:17):
gets some much deserved vacation and some sunshine, I'll be
getting mine soon as well too. As we get closer
and closer and everybody kind of getting their last little
breathers before we all report to training camp. Before we
know it. We are continuing this conversation today. We bounced
around a little bit, but we've looked at some of
these lists. Our buddy, Jeremy Fowler compiles every offseason anonymously
(01:42):
polls a bunch of people from around the league, GM's owners,
I don't think owners actually, but GMS scouts, coaches, everybody
in that realm for the top ten players at each
position list. We've done safeties and edge rushers in the
first hour of the show. I do want to give
some love to the offensive side of the guys here
before we close with defensive tackles. So let's talk about
(02:05):
running backs and what a year for running backs. Running
Backs are back baby, at the forefront of conversation for
most of the best teams in the league. I mean,
the Eagles had an elite running back, The Ravens had
an elite running back. The Detroit Lions had an elite
running back. All these teams either Super Bowl champions, are
(02:26):
playing deep into the season. The running back is back baby,
and number one on this list. I made a joke
at the end of the first hour, I wonder if
it'll be that running back from Philadelphia. Yeah, Saquon Barkley
number one. And what's crazy to me is he got
there was one part of these seventy plus people that
(02:47):
Jeremy Fowler pulled about the top ten running backs in
the NFL, there was actually somebody who didn't have Saquon
number one on their list, only one person, But Saquon
was not unanimous first place, which is insane to me.
There are a lot of great running backs around the
National Football League, without a doubt, but I think you
need to get your head screwed on straight if you
don't think Saquon was number one last year, he was
(03:10):
number four in the previous year. He had one of
the greatest single seasons for a running back in NFL history.
Full stop, regular season, postseason, Super Bowl Champion, transcendent. If
you include the entire year including the playoffs, Saquon had
two five hundred and four rushing yards, seven touchdowns of
(03:36):
sixty plus yards. He had seven touchdowns alone of sixty
or more yards. That's the most in a single season
in NFL history. He gives you the volume, he gives
you the explosiveness. He can catch passes out of the backfield.
One of the best period seasons period ever period for
(03:58):
a running back in the NFL. Well, you pull up
any season, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Earlcampbell, Franco. I don't
care you name the great NFL running backs, Ladanian, Tomlinson,
Adrian Peterson, Sean Alexander on down the list. His season
is better than or stands up right next to all
(04:20):
of them. And of course because he got the ultimate
team goal the Super Bowl as well too, and was
the most crucial part of that for Philadelphia. Yeah, or
probably the most deserving number one of anybody that's number
one on all of these lists. Saquon Barkley, Derreck Henry's
number two. Not surprising to me. He was number nine
(04:40):
on last year's rankings. But I tell you what, like
he he bounced back in a big way into his
thirties last year. Eight hundred and thirty yards after contact.
That's one hundred and ninety one more yards than the
next closest player in the league. Just baffling. He will
slow down at some point. Father Time is undefeated, but
(05:02):
still even at his age, no one wants to tackle him.
Even if at his age he's still got breakaway speed
five point nine yards per rush last season. That's ridiculous.
That's the highest mark by anyone in the league with
over two hundred and fifty carries since Adrian Peterson when
he won the MVP in twenty twelve. It's just insane.
(05:25):
Derek Henry one of the best to ever do it,
and he's number two on this list. Number three Jamiir Gibbs,
who's just got a crazy, insane bright future heading into
now his third league in the season. He was number
eight last year. He's number three this year, still just
twenty three years old. First Lion to lead the NFL
(05:48):
in scrimmage touchdowns since Barry Sanders in nineteen ninety one.
He had twenty touchdowns last year. Big part of me
having a pretty good fantasy football season was Jamiir Gibbs.
Thanks buddy. He just has breakaway speed six point four
yards per touch that's the highest of anyone in the
NFL over the past decade. He is I think what
(06:11):
everybody thought, like, you know, one of these Reggie Bush
Tavon Austin types could be at the next level. He's
only five foot nine, two hundred pounds, but my goodness,
he's a lightning bolt, and you combine him with David Montgomery,
it's special. He was outstanding down the stretch even without
David Montgomery. Jamier Gibbs, he's one of the best in
(06:33):
the world right now. He's only twenty three years old.
He ain't going anywhere. He's number three on this list,
just edging out another twenty three year old who ain't
going anywhere. And Bjon Robinson. He was number six last year,
he's number four this year. Four over fourteen hundred yards
and fourteen touchdowns last season, crazy, crazy productive. You know,
(06:55):
he's one of three players in NFL history to have
twenty four hundred rushing yards and one hundred receptions in
their first two seasons. The only others Hall of Famers Ladanian,
Tomlinson and Edgrin James. Pretty good company to keep. He
is again, you know, with Bijon Robert or with Jamier Gibbs.
Part of me, these guys for the next seven eight
(07:15):
years are going to be at the top of this list.
Three hundred and sixty five touches last year for Bijon
that was second most behind only Saquon Barkley. And I
think now with Michael Pennox junior coming into the fold.
You know, what's the best best friend of a young
quarterback is a great running back, and and certainly Bjeon
(07:36):
Robinson is that at number four on this list. Number five,
taking a little bit of a step back but still
getting the benefit of the doubt is Christian McCaffrey. He
was number one last year, he's number five this year.
You know, he's missed ten or more games and three
of the last five seasons. That's we all know the
only thing that holds him back. He is incredible, But
it's just the durability that's the question. He's twenty nine
(07:59):
years old. You know, he is not thirty two thirty three.
But he's not a spring chicken anymore. Can he get
back to his form that he had in twenty twenty
three when he was firmly in the MVP conversation? I mean,
you know, he he is a very interesting case because
when he's healthy, his numbers are among the best. I mean,
(08:21):
there's only four players let me look real quick, one, two, three. Yeah,
there's only four players in NFL history that have four
seasons of eighteen hundred scrimmage yards and double digit touchdowns.
It's Hall of Famers, Ladenian Tomlinson, Marsha falk, Emmitt Smith,
and Walter Payton ed it's Christian McCaffrey. But the other
(08:42):
side of that is he's missed ten or more games
in three of the last five years. He can be
the best player on the field at times, he's just
got to consistently stay on the field. Christian McAffrey is
still number five on this list. Number six Josh Jacobs
his first year with the Green Bay Packers. He was
number seven last year. Moves up a spot this year.
He is I think to me he is not the
(09:04):
elite name that a lot of these guys at the
top of the list are, but I think he's kind
of the best of that next tier. Over thirteen hundred
rushing yards last year, fifteen touchdowns. He was healthy, he
was productive, He's, you know, a great asset for Jordan Loves.
Jordan Love is getting into his you know, starts here
(09:25):
in his National Football League career and being the guy
for the Packers. Josh Jacobs has had over one thousand
yards and five touchdowns every year since twenty nineteen, lone
player in the NFL to do that. Over a thousand
scrimmage yards and five touchdowns. Again he is He is
not that I think future Hall of Fame Saquon Barkley
(09:48):
Derrick Henry type, but he is a quality, top notch,
top level NFL running back. He comes in at number six,
Number seven Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts. He was
number five last year, number seven this year. Still just
twenty six years old. He's been doing it at a
high level for a long time. Fourteen hundred yards, eleven touchdowns,
and doing all of that with an offense that was
(10:10):
crazy and just bad all over the place quarterback play
in a weird way. I think Jonathan Taylor is slightly underrated.
He is on an offense that doesn't do much besides
run the ball successfully. And I think if he was
in a situation like a Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley
or Jamiir Gibbs, I think a lot more people would
(10:32):
talk about him like they were early in his career.
Still in that Josh Jacobs conversation. Top notch, top level,
very high end running back, coming in at number seven
this year at number eight off the perhaps best season
of his career. It's James Cook of the Buffalo Bills.
Last year, he was an honorable mention. This year, he
(10:53):
comes in at number eight. Sixteen touchdown season last year,
three point one rush yards before contact, fifth highest mark
in the NFL. He's explosive, He's dangerous. He could do
it out of the backfield. You know, can he continue that?
(11:14):
He's just twenty five years old. There's a lot of
conversations in Buffalo. Is he a running back that you
want to pay or is he just one of those
guys that you kind of let walk and you find
the next guy. How great can he be? Like, we
know he's very good. He had an outstanding season last year,
but can he be elite? You know, can he be
a Josh Jacobs or you know, Derreck Henry or a
(11:35):
Christian McCaffrey. Can he give you consistently that type of production?
That's the question in Buffalo. But he has certainly earned
his spot on this list at number eight. Number nine,
formerly of the AFC North, coming off his first year
with the Houston Texans, is Joe Mixon. He was also
an honorable mention last year, finds himself at number nine
this year. Pretty good season, rejuvenated, you know, after being
(11:58):
traded from Cincinnati Ti to Houston four point one yards
per carry. He is. He's not the guy that he was,
you know, when the Bengals were going to the Super
Bowl four or five years ago, but he is still
a very quality back. Thirteen hundred yards from scrimmage over
(12:19):
the past four seasons, at least nine touchdowns as well two.
I mean he he is, you know, a guy who
finds ways to give you production. Ninety four point six
scrimmage yards per game last year. That was only behind
DeAndre Hopkins and Aaron Foster in Houston Texans history. So productive.
(12:40):
Maybe not the big splash explosion that you saw from
him at times, but still consistent quality production. Joe Mixon
at number nine and then at number ten, still doing
the dang things. Still not even thirty years old yet,
which is hard to believe for as long as he's
been an incredible player in the league. Is Alvin Kamara.
He was an honorable mention last year. Back on the
(13:01):
list this year, twenty nine years old. I mean, he's
been a premier running back for years, you know, dealing
with some slight decline and some durability stuff, but he
had over fifteen hundred scrimmage yards last year. You know,
some of those traits are still there. His the cast
around him, the offensive line is really bad. He is
(13:22):
not quite as explosive as he can be, but he
can still bust that play that should be a three
yard gain and turn it into a thirty yard gain.
He has had all eight seasons of his career, He's
had more than six hundred rushing yards, more than four
thousand receiving yards, over one thousand scrimmage yards. That is
tied for the most of the NFL history with Hall
of Famer Marshall fulk And despite missing the Saints' last
(13:46):
three games last year, he's still accounted for twenty six
percent of their offense, the seventh highest mark in the NFL.
Very impressive at how high of a level Avan Kamara
is for a guy who really relies on his athleticism
that is now staring down age thirty. Has had a
little slight decline, does not have a good system, quarterback,
offensive line, supporting cast around him, but still very productive,
(14:10):
still very good. Belongs on this list at number ten.
Some really good honor we'll mentions here as well too.
Bucky Irving of the Tama Bay Buccaneers, who really came
on strong down the stretch last year for Tampa. He's
I think one of those Fantasy football type sleepers here.
Aaron Jones for the Vikings, DeVante a Chain, Breis Hall,
James Connor getting some votes as well too, Kyron Williams
(14:34):
of the Rams, David Montgomery of the Lions. Those are
your honorable mentions for the running backs. We've got to
get to a break here and we come back on
the other side. Cam Hayward is on the list for
defensive tackles. But where I'll tell you right here on
the Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
This is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Huhler and Arthur
Motes on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold scan.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
R Rolling, rolling, rolling along on the Blitz here having
some fun. It's listen, folks, it's offseason. It's list season
right as we've joked in the past here in the
final days of the Basement Tour, and one of our
favorite lists to go through every year is what we've
been doing on the show today. Our buddy Jeremy Faller
(15:34):
of ESPN speaks to over seventy anonymous executives, coaches, scouts
across the NFL and compiles their thoughts, their lists of
the best ten players at each position in the NFL
so far today, we have done edge rushers, We've done safeties,
We've done running backs. Let's finish with d defensive tackles, folks.
(15:55):
Oh yeah, you gotta give some love to the defensive tackles. Right,
And like I told you, Cam Hayward is on this list.
But exactly where is Cam Hayward on this list? Well,
guess what we're gonna find out right now. According to
Jeremy Fowler, the top three players in this list received
a high volume of the rankings and then there was
(16:17):
a sizeable drop off. So let's see who league execs
and scouts and coaches think are the best interior linemen
in the league. Number one on the list, Dexter Lawrence,
the third of the New York Giants. Yeah, we got
to see this up close and personal. He is, like,
he is just so disruptive. There are some Aaron Donald
(16:39):
light elements to his game, right, kind of like what
we were talking about with Ed Reid earlier. With some
of these safeties, there's some Aaron Donald light, you know,
I always laugh like we always got to compare people
to the greatest to ever do it. But I think
Dexter Lawrence is in that same kind of vein. Not
not obviously as great as Aaron Donald, but man, he
(17:01):
just dominates the interior of that line. He's got the power,
he's got the speed, he's got the footwork, the finesse,
the flexibility, the strength. He puts up big sack numbers,
big tackle numbers, big in the pass game, big in
the run game. He's he's just incredible. I mean he legitimately,
(17:22):
I think, you know, should be in the conversation for
defensive Player of the Year, and he did so last year.
You know, Brian Burns wasn't exactly healthy, Keeveon Thibodeau wasn't
exactly healthy, and he was still a game wrecker. And
now you put Abdul Carter next to him, and wow,
that Giants defensive line could be one of the best
(17:43):
National Football League. Who knows what they got going on
with the rest of the roster, but that defensive front
should be really stinking good for New York. Dexter Lawrence
leads off our interior defensive lineman at number one, number
two not surprising. He was number one on last year's list.
Now he's number two. It's Chris Jones of the Kansas
City Chiefs. You know, he maybe wasn't quite as disruptive
(18:10):
in twenty twenty four as he was in the previous seasons,
but still a disruptor, still a future Hall of Famer,
Still been one of the best interior pass rushers in
the NFL for a long time. You know, he wins
on the interior. He's disruptive on the interior. You know,
(18:31):
he could take on the run, he could take on
the pass. And yeah, he I think is losing a
little bit of a step here at thirty one years old.
He's played a lot of football with the Chiefs, going
you know, to the Super Bowl, what five of the
last six years. But I still think he belongs to
(18:51):
the top of this list, and I have no problem
with him being number two. The only question is can
he still maintain that absolutely elite production. Number three on
this list is Jalen Carter, the young Bull of the
Philadelphia Eagles, just twenty four years old. Last year he
was an honorable mention. He's one of the guys with
(19:13):
a lot of vertical mobility right. I mean, he's number
three on this list, so he can only go a
couple spots higher. But he was an All Pro, he
was a pro bowler, obviously a Super Bowl champion. You know,
four and a half sacks doesn't jump off the page,
but he's just it's it's like, you know, it's it's
the same kind of thing that we would talk about
with guys like Casey Hampton, Like he is insanely disruptive.
(19:37):
And while it doesn't always translate to the stat sheet,
you watch it on film and it's it's it's wowing.
I mean, it jumps off the film, if not the
stat sheet. And you know, he's just twenty four years old,
and I think only going to get better and better
and better. That defensive line of Philadelphia. I know that
(19:58):
defense lost lost a couple couple of pieces, but that
defensive front should still be nasty, nasty. And Jalen Carter
a deserving number three. Number four, one of the guys
who motes and I always talk about maybe a lot
like Danielle Hunter on the Edge Rusher Conversation. Another guy
that we talk about, as we feel is criminally underrated
across the NFL. But he's number four on this list,
(20:21):
so I don't know if this is underrated. Jeffrey Simmons
of the Tennessee Titans. He was number four last year,
he's number four this year. Still twenty seven years old,
right in the middle of his prime. He is one
of the best in the league at this I think
a couple of years ago he was number two. He
doesn't quite have the pass rush explosion of maybe some
(20:41):
of the you know, the Dexter Lawrences and the Chris
Jones is the truly, you know, future Hall of Fame
types at this position, but he is dominant against the run,
and he is again a high end, All Pro Pro
Bowl caliber defensive tackle. And you know, kind of similar
to the conversations that we have about Dexter Lawrence, like
(21:03):
he is the focal point of that Titans defense. If
he's not having success, they're not having success. And man,
he just he gives interior defense is a whole heap
of problems. And he's not really talked about. I mean
amongst executives and coaches and people like this obviously, but
amongst media people, amongst fans of the league. I don't
think he gets as much shine as he deserves. Still
(21:25):
just twenty seven years old and has been doing it
at a high level for a long time. Jeffrey Simmons
number four on this list. Number five is Quinn Williams
of the New York Jets, twenty seven years old. He
was number two last year, falls to number five this year.
But you know what, amongst a Jets organization that has
not had many constants right, has not had a lot
(21:46):
of consistency, both from the front office and the coaching
staff to the roster, Quinn Williams has been that for them.
He's got twenty three and a half sacks over the
last three years into three straight Pro Bowls. He's a
three down player. I don't think he is like spectacular.
He's not elite, but he's just another one of those
(22:09):
very solid. Doesn't have a lot of weaknesses to his game.
He could get after the quarterback. He can be disruptive
in the run game, but he you know, he's a
guy you got a game plan for, and he's a
guy that doesn't have a lot of help around him
as well and still is able to have a lot
of success and be disruptive. He's a worthy number five
(22:31):
here at Quinn Williams and he's one of those guys.
I gotta think, man, if the Jets don't turn it around,
he might be he might be looking for a new
home as he's getting closer and closer to thirty. Leonard
Williams of the Seattle Seahawks is number six. He's been
a mainstay on this list for a long time. He
is thirty one years old. But I tell you what
(22:53):
I mean. He had a career high in quarterback hits
last year with twenty eight. Career high and tackles for
loss was sixteen, and that's an his tenth year in
the National Football League, sixty four tackles three PBUs had
a ninety two yard pick six as well. He's got length,
he's got range, he's got power, He's got a unique
skill set. Leonard Williams number six on this list here
(23:18):
of defensive interior, defensive lineman defensive tackles. Number seven Nomdi
Mattabuke of the Baltimore Ravens, the name that we are
very familiar with. He was number five last year. He's
number seven this year. Just twenty seven years old. Not
quite the same, you know, statistically productive season in twenty
(23:39):
twenty four. Is he dead in twenty twenty three, when
he had thirteen sacks in twenty twenty three, just six
and a half sacks last year. But I you know,
like I said, they made a defensive coordinator change. They
really shifted philosophies during their bye week. Remember we talked
about this when we were talking about safeties and Kyle Hamilton,
and I think a lot like Kyle Hamilton when they
(24:01):
figured out that defense, when they stabilized that defense, and
that defense as a whole got much better down the stretch.
So did Kyle Hamilton, so did Nomni Mattibuke. I think
you give them a little bit of a benefit of
the doubt. Or they made a defensive coordinator change. They
scrapped a lot of stuff at the bye week and
then it started to come together for everybody. But he
(24:24):
is He's another one of those guys that you know.
He ain't Chris Jones or Dexter Lawrence, but he's a problem.
He's number seven on this list, Mattabuk, and we're gonna
see plenty of him this year in Baltimore. Number eight,
another one of these names, it's been on this list forever,
that's been doing this at a high, high clip. For
a long time. DeForest Bruckner, of course, started his career
(24:45):
having success with the Niners, right has now been with
the Colts for a long time. He has averaged eight
and a half sacks per season since twenty eighteen. Another
one of those very underrated I think in the general
populous conversation he missed five games last year but was
still productive enough to be on this list in thirty
(25:06):
years old now. But I think a lot like Cam
Hayward like, I think this guy's still gonna be playing
at a high level four or five years from now
because he has a game and a skill set that
will translate with his length, with his technique. You know,
he's not been one of these guys that's been predicated
upon athleticism and as soon as he loses that, it's gone.
I mean, he's six foot seven, he's long, he's got
(25:27):
great technique. I think he's going to continue to be
very productive for a long time. To Forest Bruckner Buckner
part of me. Number eight on this list at age thirty,
another thirty year old who we've talked a lot about,
who's been doing this at a very high level for
a long time. As a Super Bowl champion Vidavey of course,
of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's now thirty. Man, seeing
a lot of these guys turn thirty, it's making me
(25:48):
feel old at age thirty four seven sacks last year,
typical you know, run disruptor he is, you know, at
age thirty. Again, I don't think he's quite what he was,
you know, five years ago when the Bucks were winning
a Super Bowl. But he is, without a doubt, still
one of the best in the league. He was, without
a doubt, still playing at a very high level. I
(26:10):
mean ten TFLs last year to go with his seven sacks.
Those were both career high marks for him. So while
the overall disruptiveness might not be there, man, he is
really finding ways to get home and to be effective.
And he's also they've been dropping him into coverage occasionally.
At three hundred and forty five pounds. He's just a
versatile dude, one of the best you know of his
(26:33):
age group, at his position group, and another guy who
I think is going to continue to be part of
this conversation for a long time. And finally number ten
on this list, but number one in our hearts. After
being left off this list last year at age thirty five.
He's back on it at age thirty six. Baby, That
is Cam Hayward, of course, coming off another first team
(26:55):
All Pro season eight sacks, twenty quarterback hits, eight batted
passes down. He was healthy last year, or at least
healthier than he was in twenty twenty three, and back
to where he's been now for a decade. Just you know,
when he gets into the backfield, he makes the play.
(27:15):
He's been credited. Like I said, he had eight batt passes,
but was credited with forcing seventeen incompletions all year. The
eight sacks, I mean, it's just I think, especially to
look at the Steelers run defensive splits when he's on
the field versus when he's off the field. Cam Hayward
man like a fine wine from France, like a fine
(27:36):
wine from Napa Valley, like a fine wine from wherever
you like to get your fine wine. God bless Cam Hayward.
Still number ten and well deserving on this list. The
Hottawbale mentions Christian Wilkins of the Raiders, Derek Brown, who
I really like his game. You know, he missed a
lot of time last year with an ACL injury, but
(27:57):
I hope he's healthy and back because I think he's
been one of the most fun and underrated defensive linemen
in the NFL for a long time. I really liked
him coming out of Auburn. Derek Brown gets an Honorable
mentioned shout here, as does Zach Allen of the Denver Broncos.
I tell you what, the Broncos with a lot of
guys on the Honorable mentions list on that defense. That
(28:18):
Broncos defense I think is prime to have a pretty
solid year with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year
and Pat certain as well too. But there's your list
for defensive lineman Cam Heyward at number ten. Let's take
a break here. It'll be our final break. When we
come back on the other side, you know how we'll
close this thing down. I want to get to your tweets,
your questions, your comments, your concerns, your reactions at wes
(28:40):
Leyuler on Twitter, on x if you want to get
at me, to get involved before we get up out
of here. It is the Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
This is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Euler and Arthur
Motes on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Goal Scan R.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Final segment of the Steelers Blitz here on this edition,
off season edition of Blitz. And we've had some fun
going over some lists, going over some positional rankings today.
But you know the drill, You know how we got
to close things down. The time is yours. We go
to the tweets to get us out of here. Your questions,
your comments, your concerns, your reactions, and your thoughts and criticisms,
(29:46):
anything and everything in between that you got for us.
You can always find me on Twitter on x at
Wesley Yuler if you want to get involved with the program.
Our buddy Steeler Nation nine to twenty Tyler up in
Wisconsin leads off and said, hoping you all had a
great Fourth of July and still have all ten fingers
in your feet are washed. You gotta love the inside
(30:07):
jokes on the show. Here, Tyler says, Unfortunately, I don't
think I'm gonna make it to the Berg this year
for any games due to work related issues. But I
gotta know if you could add one free agent still,
who would it be? And why? Well, Tyler, I'll be
I'll be bummed, not to see you this year. But
it's all good man, we'll see you. We'll see you
before too much longer. I'm sure if I could still
(30:28):
add one free agent, who and why? I mean, it
feels like it would be a wide receiver, right Amari
Cooper Gabe Davis kind of at the top of the list.
I know there's some other names out there, but those
would probably be the two. And you know, signing a
Marii Cooper, signing Gabe Davis, I wouldn't like jump up
in my seat and fist pump and you know, suddenly
(30:50):
think that the Steelers are the best team in the AFC.
But I absolutely think adding one of those guys would
make you a better team. You know that proverbial. Kevin
Colbert used to talk about it. Omark con has mentioned
it a few times. But like it's known, the Steelers
like to operate as if they had to go play
a game and any given Sunday, and they could do
(31:13):
so right like even during March and April, like they
want to leading up to free agency in the draft,
like they want to have a roster that they still
feel confident about but that they could continue to add
to and improve. And I think right now, the Steelers
have a roster they feel confident about. The Steelers could
go play a game on Sunday, absolutely, but I think
we would all feel better if they had a Gabe
(31:35):
Davis orn Amari Cooper or another reinforcement to that wide
receiver room before going and playing a game on Sunday. So,
now that the defense feels filled out, you've added an
extra tight end. It really feels to me like, hey,
I wouldn't hate adding a veteran offensive lineman, like a
(32:00):
utility guy who can play a lot of different positions,
but those guys don't really exist in free agency at
this point on the offensive line. I mean, look at
the contract that Dan Moore Junior got from Tennessee. Like,
if you are a solid offensive lineman, if you are
a capable NFL offensive lineman, you're not lingering around in
free agency. But there are still a couple capable NFL
wide receivers that are lingering around in free agency. And
(32:22):
I think that's a pretty easy one. If you could
give me Gabe Davis, So you could give me Amari
Cooper again, Like, I'm not all of a sudden gonna
be screaming to the heavens that were about the climb
stairway to seven. But I do think it would make
the Steelers a better team, a better offense, a more
well rounded unit than they are right now. Mike tweets
(32:44):
and says, am I the only one nervous about Metcalf
and Ramsey. The players they have a history of behavior issues,
have had some things during their time in Seattle in Miami,
both them off the field, and then those guys, you know,
kind of fighting in some of the times that they've
faced each other. When Ramsey was with LA, you know,
(33:05):
no drama. Let's keep it on the up and up
during training camp and the regular season. I listen, I
get what you're saying, Mike, and I think Arthur Motes.
I don't think I know. Arthur Motes could speak to
this better than I can. But I think a lot
of times we've seen we've seen across sports. You see
it often like guys who didn't get along with another
(33:27):
guy or another team and then they end up being
teammates at some point. I know, you know, when Jalen
Ramsey was in LA and DK Metcalf obviously in Seattle,
those guys played twice a year and it was. You know,
it was kind of like Jamar Chase and MIKEA. Fitzpatrick, right,
I mean they're always taunting each other, always trash talking
each other, always getting in each other's face. But you
know what if if the Bengals suddenly added MIKEA. Fitzpatrick
(33:51):
or the Miami Dolphins added Jamar Chase. I bet you
those guys would get along right away and would put
all their put all their beef behind them. And I
know both of those guys in dkf and Jalen Ramsey
are you know, kind of volatile personalities, but those are
all over the National Football League, you know, George Pickens
was was a lot like that. Like and I'm not
saying that's perfect. I'm not saying that's ideal, but when
(34:14):
you get the production in the talent level that the
DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey have, I I'm not worried
about drama amongst the team anything like that. Listen the Steelers,
there is no denying the Steelers have a lot of
big personalities. Jalen Ramsey is a big personality. DK Metcalf
is a big personality. Aaron Rodgers is a big personality. TJ. Watt.
(34:37):
While he's maybe not the biggest just personality, he's obviously
a huge storyline as we go forward his contract and
we get closer and closer to training camp, into the preseason,
in regular season, and the longer that takes to get resolved.
So I would be being naive or maybe like way
too much of a homer if I sat here and
I told you there's no potential for anything to go wrong.
(34:59):
There's no POTENTI for any drama to pop up between
now and February. That would be disingenuous. But DK Metcalf
and Jalen Ramsey have always been professionals, even with some
of the distracting stuff. Aaron Rodgers has always been a professional,
even with some of the distracting stuff. TJ. Watt has
always been a professional. I expect that to continue. And yeah,
(35:22):
any beef, any maybe personal beef too, that Metcalf and
Ramsey had in the past, I don't expect to be
a big deal. I know this is an example that
will go over a lot of your heads because I
know hockey is not a crazy popular sport. But like
the Florida Panthers just won the Stanley Cup like a
month ago, right. The Florida Panthers traded for Brad Marshawn
from Boston. Marshawn and the Florida Panthers they used to
(35:44):
hate each other. He used to go at each other's
next Boston and Florida was a mini rivalry there for
a little while. They met in the playoffs not too
long ago. In Florida trades for Brad Marshawn and he
fits right in, and he plays great, and he helps
them win a Stanley Cup. And now he's a legend
of that group that franchise. So these guys are professionals.
These guys are competitors. You compete with the guys lining
(36:06):
up across from you. You become brothers with your teammates,
and I think that assimilation happens pretty quickly. A couple
more here, Uh, let's see dot dot dot dot. T
Mac tweets and says, of the thirty two starting quarterbacks
around the NFL, how many would you take ahead of
Aaron Rodgers. Okay, now this is a good question, t
Mac because you didn't give any parameters here. But I
(36:30):
think we're I think we're I think what you're saying
is for this season, because that's a more fun conversation
and I think a little more realistic because if you
were to open it up and say, no, we're talking
long term, Well, okay, Aaron Rodgers has already said that
this is probably his last year, and then you're bringing
in a lot of guys into the conversation that have
you know, the cam Wards of the world that haven't
(36:52):
even played a snap of the NFL football. And then
guys coming up with their rookie season, like you know,
like a Drake may who or somebody like that, or
a Caleb Williams. You know, then it just becomes a
whole I think, a conversation that can go many different
ways and a lot of different rabbit holes. So let's
(37:13):
go of the thirty two NFL quarterbacks for this season.
How many would you take before Aaron Rodgers for twenty
twenty five alone. Well, there's the four big ones obviously,
I mean Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson. Those
four are the four best quarterbacks in the NFL. We
could argue about the pecking order or whatever, but those
are the four. I still think Matthew Stafford is playing
(37:35):
at a very elite level that would be five. I
think it would be very hard to argue against a
Jalen Hurts and a Josh Herbert as well. That's seven.
But you know what then after that, I think is
when it really starts to become an interesting conversation. There's
(37:57):
that kind of mid tier of guys, right, Like you'd
rather have a Baker Mayfield type? Would you rather have
a Geno Smith type? Would you rather like one of
those guys that are quality starters in the NFL, still
like in their prime range of age, but they obviously
have never gotten close to the heights that Aaron Rodgers has.
(38:18):
I think I think you would. I think you could
come up and hey, you know what, I'd put Jane
Daniels on that list as well too, So that's eight
i'd put probably, I think i'd put Jared Goff on
that list. That would be nine. Could you say, Jordan
Love ten? I think you'd. I think you could come
(38:38):
up with about about ten eleven twelve that would be
reasonable to take ahead of Aaron Rodgers. Like, no, like you,
you wouldn't be stretching very much. But I think once
around you get I think around the time you get
to that ten eleven twelve mark is where you could
where you could really start to say you would take
Aaron Rodgers, particularly just for this season. I think again,
(39:01):
there's that clear cut seven or eight that definitely have
to come ahead of him, and then there's probably three
or four guys in the middle that you could argue
with him. But then after that, I think that's right
about where Aaron Rodgers is. If he is the ninth, tenth, eleventh,
twelfth best quarterback in the NFL this year, I think
(39:23):
the Steelers have a chance to have a really good season.
Is it going to be enough to beat the Chiefs
and the Bills and the Ravens? Who knows? Maybe not?
Probably not. I mean there are some elite teams in
the AFC and some just incredible quarterbacks. But I do
think that it would make the Steelers a much better
team than last year. I do think it would give
them a legit chance to go on a run in
(39:44):
the postseason. And yeah, last year, I would say Russell
Wilson was probably somewhere around the fifteenth to twentieth best
quarterback in the NFL. Same with Justin Fields. If you
can move up closer to the ten range, eleven range,
twelve range. That's that's significant. That is if you've got
(40:04):
that first tier, your four unicorns, right, and then you've
maybe got the next Matthew Stafford's Herbert's Hertzes of the world,
Jaden Daniels. But then I think Aaron Rodgers could be
potentially in that kind of next year with anybody. How
does somebody like CJ. Stroud factor into this? Does he
bounce back in his third season after a great rookie
(40:26):
year and an okay sophomore year. Could someone like Caleb
Williams take off? Could someone like Drake may take off?
Does Jayden Daniels take a little bit of a step
back after a historic rookie season in Washington? All these
fair questions. But yeah, I think you could say anywhere
from the eight nine to probably the thirteen to fourteen range,
(40:48):
but I would probably go in the in the ten
to twelve range. That's a good question, though. T mac
last one of the day here from Paul tweets and
says any worry that John new Smith was a one
year wonder A lot of mediocre seae SEA in one
very stellar season. Yeah, Like, I don't know if mediocre
is the way I would put it. I mean a
lot of those mediocre seasons, like John new Smith was
(41:09):
having five hundred some yards and four or five touchdowns.
I don't know if that's mediocre. That's pretty solid. But
I do think it's fair to wonder if last year
was like will be his statistically best season nearly nine
hundred yards receiving and nine touchdowns. That was the best
single season of production in Miami Dolphins franchise history for
(41:30):
a tight end. So if you want to say that
he won't give you nine hundred yards and you know,
nine touch close to one thousand yards and double digit touchdowns,
I think that's fair. But if he goes out there
and has six hundred some yards and five or six touchdowns,
I still think that's great for this offense. I don't
know if I would call that mediocre. It's not the again,
(41:52):
the kind of number two wide receiver, number two pass
catcher numbers that we might be looking for. But you
combine that with with what Dk Metcalf's gonna do, with
what Pat Fryarmouth will give you, what some of the
other wide receivers will give you, I don't think that
that would be the worst case either. So if you
want to say worried that last year will be his
(42:15):
best year of his career. I mean, I think that
that's fair to say. But I don't expect that he's
gonna come in here and all of a sudden have
three hundred yards and two touchdowns again either. I do
think he will still be a quality player for this offense.
So there you go. There's your tweets, there's your times
yours for today. If you missed it during the offseason,
(42:38):
here you know we I'll book I bookmark these tweets.
I know some of you, you know you listen and
more in podcasts this time of year. You listen back
in the Steelers Nation radio loop more this time of year.
So if you are catching us in different format, you
can go ahead and get those thoughts, those tweets in.
I'll book mark them and I'll save them for our
next show. How about that that do it for me? Today?
(43:01):
Had a lot of fun on this one today. I
had a lot of fun this week. I mean, I
obviously missed my co host Arthur Nathan Motes the third,
but he's got some well deserved time off, and you
and I had some nice conversations together in the interim,
So take care now bye bye, then big thanks to
the power Grade and Mega wats. You know I appreciate
your participation every single day, but especially on the days
(43:21):
that I am in here solo. Take care, I'll talk
to you soon. As always, you know where to find us.
It's on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Kueler and Moats are on the air. This is the
Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Gold. Askin are Steelers Nation Radio?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. How we do it? Well, that's
good me too, our number two West Euler with you
here on the Steelers Blitz. It is a West Solo week.
It's the Cayman Islands. By the way, I told you,
I couldn't remember exactly what tropical vacation destination Mozi is on.
I think that's it. Who knows though, all those different
(00:55):
the Caribbean and Bora Bora and the mal Deves in
the Cayman Island and all these different places, I don't know.
I'm pretty well versed in the United States of America,
I'm pretty well versed in Canada. I'm pretty well versed
in Europe. Other than that, you're gonna have to help
me out. I'm gonna need a map. I can't do it.
But it's a West Solo day here today. As Motzi
(01:17):
gets some much deserved vacation and some sunshine, I'll be
getting mine soon as well too. As we get closer
and closer and everybody kind of getting their last little
breathers before we all report to training camp. Before we
know it. We are continuing this conversation today. We bounced
around a little bit, but we've looked at some of
these lists. Our buddy, Jeremy Fowler compiles every offseason anonymously
(01:42):
polls a bunch of people from around the league, GM's owners,
I don't think owners actually, but GMS scouts, coaches, everybody
in that realm for the top ten players at each
position list. We've done safeties and edge rushers in the
first hour of the show. I do want to give
some love to the offensive side of the guys here
before we close with defensive tackles. So let's talk about
(02:05):
running backs and what a year for running backs. Running
Backs are back baby, at the forefront of conversation for
most of the best teams in the league. I mean,
the Eagles had an elite running back, The Ravens had
an elite running back. The Detroit Lions had an elite
running back. All these teams either Super Bowl champions, are
(02:26):
playing deep into the season. The running back is back baby,
and number one on this list. I made a joke
at the end of the first hour, I wonder if
it'll be that running back from Philadelphia. Yeah, Saquon Barkley
number one. And what's crazy to me is he got
there was one part of these seventy plus people that
(02:47):
Jeremy Fowler pulled about the top ten running backs in
the NFL, there was actually somebody who didn't have Saquon
number one on their list, only one person, But Saquon
was not unanimous first place, which is insane to me.
There are a lot of great running backs around the
National Football League, without a doubt, but I think you
need to get your head screwed on straight if you
don't think Saquon was number one last year, he was
(03:10):
number four in the previous year. He had one of
the greatest single seasons for a running back in NFL history.
Full stop, regular season, postseason, Super Bowl Champion, transcendent. If
you include the entire year including the playoffs, Saquon had
two five hundred and four rushing yards, seven touchdowns of
(03:36):
sixty plus yards. He had seven touchdowns alone of sixty
or more yards. That's the most in a single season
in NFL history. He gives you the volume, he gives
you the explosiveness. He can catch passes out of the backfield.
One of the best period seasons period ever period for
(03:58):
a running back in the NFL. Well, you pull up
any season, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Earlcampbell, Franco. I don't
care you name the great NFL running backs, Ladanian, Tomlinson,
Adrian Peterson, Sean Alexander on down the list. His season
is better than or stands up right next to all
(04:20):
of them. And of course because he got the ultimate
team goal the Super Bowl as well too, and was
the most crucial part of that for Philadelphia. Yeah, or
probably the most deserving number one of anybody that's number
one on all of these lists. Saquon Barkley, Derreck Henry's
number two. Not surprising to me. He was number nine
(04:40):
on last year's rankings. But I tell you what, like
he he bounced back in a big way into his
thirties last year. Eight hundred and thirty yards after contact.
That's one hundred and ninety one more yards than the
next closest player in the league. Just baffling. He will
slow down at some point. Father Time is undefeated, but
(05:02):
still even at his age, no one wants to tackle him.
Even if at his age he's still got breakaway speed
five point nine yards per rush last season. That's ridiculous.
That's the highest mark by anyone in the league with
over two hundred and fifty carries since Adrian Peterson when
he won the MVP in twenty twelve. It's just insane.
(05:25):
Derek Henry one of the best to ever do it,
and he's number two on this list. Number three Jamiir Gibbs,
who's just got a crazy, insane bright future heading into
now his third league in the season. He was number
eight last year. He's number three this year, still just
twenty three years old. First Lion to lead the NFL
(05:48):
in scrimmage touchdowns since Barry Sanders in nineteen ninety one.
He had twenty touchdowns last year. Big part of me
having a pretty good fantasy football season was Jamiir Gibbs.
Thanks buddy. He just has breakaway speed six point four
yards per touch that's the highest of anyone in the
NFL over the past decade. He is I think what
(06:11):
everybody thought, like, you know, one of these Reggie Bush
Tavon Austin types could be at the next level. He's
only five foot nine, two hundred pounds, but my goodness,
he's a lightning bolt, and you combine him with David Montgomery,
it's special. He was outstanding down the stretch even without
David Montgomery. Jamier Gibbs, he's one of the best in
(06:33):
the world right now. He's only twenty three years old.
He ain't going anywhere. He's number three on this list,
just edging out another twenty three year old who ain't
going anywhere. And Bjon Robinson. He was number six last year,
he's number four this year. Four over fourteen hundred yards
and fourteen touchdowns last season, crazy, crazy productive. You know,
(06:55):
he's one of three players in NFL history to have
twenty four hundred rushing yards and one hundred receptions in
their first two seasons. The only others Hall of Famers Ladanian,
Tomlinson and Edgrin James. Pretty good company to keep. He
is again, you know, with Bijon Robert or with Jamier Gibbs.
Part of me, these guys for the next seven eight
(07:15):
years are going to be at the top of this list.
Three hundred and sixty five touches last year for Bijon
that was second most behind only Saquon Barkley. And I
think now with Michael Pennox junior coming into the fold.
You know, what's the best best friend of a young
quarterback is a great running back, and and certainly Bjeon
(07:36):
Robinson is that at number four on this list. Number five,
taking a little bit of a step back but still
getting the benefit of the doubt is Christian McCaffrey. He
was number one last year, he's number five this year.
You know, he's missed ten or more games and three
of the last five seasons. That's we all know the
only thing that holds him back. He is incredible, But
it's just the durability that's the question. He's twenty nine
(07:59):
years old. You know, he is not thirty two thirty three.
But he's not a spring chicken anymore. Can he get
back to his form that he had in twenty twenty
three when he was firmly in the MVP conversation? I mean,
you know, he he is a very interesting case because
when he's healthy, his numbers are among the best. I mean,
(08:21):
there's only four players let me look real quick, one, two, three. Yeah,
there's only four players in NFL history that have four
seasons of eighteen hundred scrimmage yards and double digit touchdowns.
It's Hall of Famers, Ladenian Tomlinson, Marsha falk, Emmitt Smith,
and Walter Payton ed it's Christian McCaffrey. But the other
(08:42):
side of that is he's missed ten or more games
in three of the last five years. He can be
the best player on the field at times, he's just
got to consistently stay on the field. Christian McAffrey is
still number five on this list. Number six Josh Jacobs
his first year with the Green Bay Packers. He was
number seven last year. Moves up a spot this year.
He is I think to me he is not the
(09:04):
elite name that a lot of these guys at the
top of the list are, but I think he's kind
of the best of that next tier. Over thirteen hundred
rushing yards last year, fifteen touchdowns. He was healthy, he
was productive, He's, you know, a great asset for Jordan Loves.
Jordan Love is getting into his you know, starts here
(09:25):
in his National Football League career and being the guy
for the Packers. Josh Jacobs has had over one thousand
yards and five touchdowns every year since twenty nineteen, lone
player in the NFL to do that. Over a thousand
scrimmage yards and five touchdowns. Again he is He is
not that I think future Hall of Fame Saquon Barkley
(09:48):
Derrick Henry type, but he is a quality, top notch,
top level NFL running back. He comes in at number six,
Number seven Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts. He was
number five last year, number seven this year. Still just
twenty six years old. He's been doing it at a
high level for a long time. Fourteen hundred yards, eleven touchdowns,
and doing all of that with an offense that was
(10:10):
crazy and just bad all over the place quarterback play
in a weird way. I think Jonathan Taylor is slightly underrated.
He is on an offense that doesn't do much besides
run the ball successfully. And I think if he was
in a situation like a Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley
or Jamiir Gibbs, I think a lot more people would
(10:32):
talk about him like they were early in his career.
Still in that Josh Jacobs conversation. Top notch, top level,
very high end running back, coming in at number seven
this year at number eight off the perhaps best season
of his career. It's James Cook of the Buffalo Bills.
Last year, he was an honorable mention. This year, he
(10:53):
comes in at number eight. Sixteen touchdown season last year,
three point one rush yards before contact, fifth highest mark
in the NFL. He's explosive, He's dangerous. He could do
it out of the backfield. You know, can he continue that?
(11:14):
He's just twenty five years old. There's a lot of
conversations in Buffalo. Is he a running back that you
want to pay or is he just one of those
guys that you kind of let walk and you find
the next guy. How great can he be? Like, we
know he's very good. He had an outstanding season last year,
but can he be elite? You know, can he be
a Josh Jacobs or you know, Derreck Henry or a
(11:35):
Christian McCaffrey. Can he give you consistently that type of production?
That's the question in Buffalo. But he has certainly earned
his spot on this list at number eight. Number nine,
formerly of the AFC North, coming off his first year
with the Houston Texans, is Joe Mixon. He was also
an honorable mention last year, finds himself at number nine
this year. Pretty good season, rejuvenated, you know, after being
(11:58):
traded from Cincinnati Ti to Houston four point one yards
per carry. He is. He's not the guy that he was,
you know, when the Bengals were going to the Super
Bowl four or five years ago, but he is still
a very quality back. Thirteen hundred yards from scrimmage over
(12:19):
the past four seasons, at least nine touchdowns as well two.
I mean he he is, you know, a guy who
finds ways to give you production. Ninety four point six
scrimmage yards per game last year. That was only behind
DeAndre Hopkins and Aaron Foster in Houston Texans history. So productive.
(12:40):
Maybe not the big splash explosion that you saw from
him at times, but still consistent quality production. Joe Mixon
at number nine and then at number ten, still doing
the dang things. Still not even thirty years old yet,
which is hard to believe for as long as he's
been an incredible player in the league. Is Alvin Kamara.
He was an honorable mention last year. Back on the
(13:01):
list this year, twenty nine years old. I mean, he's
been a premier running back for years, you know, dealing
with some slight decline and some durability stuff, but he
had over fifteen hundred scrimmage yards last year. You know,
some of those traits are still there. His the cast
around him, the offensive line is really bad. He is
(13:22):
not quite as explosive as he can be, but he
can still bust that play that should be a three
yard gain and turn it into a thirty yard gain.
He has had all eight seasons of his career, He's
had more than six hundred rushing yards, more than four
thousand receiving yards, over one thousand scrimmage yards. That is
tied for the most of the NFL history with Hall
of Famer Marshall fulk And despite missing the Saints' last
(13:46):
three games last year, he's still accounted for twenty six
percent of their offense, the seventh highest mark in the NFL.
Very impressive at how high of a level Avan Kamara
is for a guy who really relies on his athleticism
that is now staring down age thirty. Has had a
little slight decline, does not have a good system, quarterback,
offensive line, supporting cast around him, but still very productive,
(14:10):
still very good. Belongs on this list at number ten.
Some really good honor we'll mentions here as well too.
Bucky Irving of the Tama Bay Buccaneers, who really came
on strong down the stretch last year for Tampa. He's
I think one of those Fantasy football type sleepers here.
Aaron Jones for the Vikings, DeVante a Chain, Breis Hall,
James Connor getting some votes as well too, Kyron Williams
(14:34):
of the Rams, David Montgomery of the Lions. Those are
your honorable mentions for the running backs. We've got to
get to a break here and we come back on
the other side. Cam Hayward is on the list for
defensive tackles. But where I'll tell you right here on
the Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
This is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Huhler and Arthur
Motes on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold scan.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
R Rolling, rolling, rolling along on the Blitz here having
some fun. It's listen, folks, it's offseason. It's list season
right as we've joked in the past here in the
final days of the Basement Tour, and one of our
favorite lists to go through every year is what we've
been doing on the show today. Our buddy Jeremy Faller
(15:34):
of ESPN speaks to over seventy anonymous executives, coaches, scouts
across the NFL and compiles their thoughts, their lists of
the best ten players at each position in the NFL
so far today, we have done edge rushers, We've done safeties,
We've done running backs. Let's finish with d defensive tackles, folks.
(15:55):
Oh yeah, you gotta give some love to the defensive tackles. Right,
And like I told you, Cam Hayward is on this list.
But exactly where is Cam Hayward on this list? Well,
guess what we're gonna find out right now. According to
Jeremy Fowler, the top three players in this list received
a high volume of the rankings and then there was
(16:17):
a sizeable drop off. So let's see who league execs
and scouts and coaches think are the best interior linemen
in the league. Number one on the list, Dexter Lawrence,
the third of the New York Giants. Yeah, we got
to see this up close and personal. He is, like,
he is just so disruptive. There are some Aaron Donald
(16:39):
light elements to his game, right, kind of like what
we were talking about with Ed Reid earlier. With some
of these safeties, there's some Aaron Donald light, you know,
I always laugh like we always got to compare people
to the greatest to ever do it. But I think
Dexter Lawrence is in that same kind of vein. Not
not obviously as great as Aaron Donald, but man, he
(17:01):
just dominates the interior of that line. He's got the power,
he's got the speed, he's got the footwork, the finesse,
the flexibility, the strength. He puts up big sack numbers,
big tackle numbers, big in the pass game, big in
the run game. He's he's just incredible. I mean he legitimately,
(17:22):
I think, you know, should be in the conversation for
defensive Player of the Year, and he did so last year.
You know, Brian Burns wasn't exactly healthy, Keeveon Thibodeau wasn't
exactly healthy, and he was still a game wrecker. And
now you put Abdul Carter next to him, and wow,
that Giants defensive line could be one of the best
(17:43):
National Football League. Who knows what they got going on
with the rest of the roster, but that defensive front
should be really stinking good for New York. Dexter Lawrence
leads off our interior defensive lineman at number one, number
two not surprising. He was number one on last year's list.
Now he's number two. It's Chris Jones of the Kansas
City Chiefs. You know, he maybe wasn't quite as disruptive
(18:10):
in twenty twenty four as he was in the previous seasons,
but still a disruptor, still a future Hall of Famer,
Still been one of the best interior pass rushers in
the NFL for a long time. You know, he wins
on the interior. He's disruptive on the interior. You know,
(18:31):
he could take on the run, he could take on
the pass. And yeah, he I think is losing a
little bit of a step here at thirty one years old.
He's played a lot of football with the Chiefs, going
you know, to the Super Bowl, what five of the
last six years. But I still think he belongs to
(18:51):
the top of this list, and I have no problem
with him being number two. The only question is can
he still maintain that absolutely elite production. Number three on
this list is Jalen Carter, the young Bull of the
Philadelphia Eagles, just twenty four years old. Last year he
was an honorable mention. He's one of the guys with
(19:13):
a lot of vertical mobility right. I mean, he's number
three on this list, so he can only go a
couple spots higher. But he was an All Pro, he
was a pro bowler, obviously a Super Bowl champion. You know,
four and a half sacks doesn't jump off the page,
but he's just it's it's like, you know, it's it's
the same kind of thing that we would talk about
with guys like Casey Hampton, Like he is insanely disruptive.
(19:37):
And while it doesn't always translate to the stat sheet,
you watch it on film and it's it's it's wowing.
I mean, it jumps off the film, if not the
stat sheet. And you know, he's just twenty four years old,
and I think only going to get better and better
and better. That defensive line of Philadelphia. I know that
(19:58):
defense lost lost a couple couple of pieces, but that
defensive front should still be nasty, nasty. And Jalen Carter
a deserving number three. Number four, one of the guys
who motes and I always talk about maybe a lot
like Danielle Hunter on the Edge Rusher Conversation. Another guy
that we talk about, as we feel is criminally underrated
across the NFL. But he's number four on this list,
(20:21):
so I don't know if this is underrated. Jeffrey Simmons
of the Tennessee Titans. He was number four last year,
he's number four this year. Still twenty seven years old,
right in the middle of his prime. He is one
of the best in the league at this I think
a couple of years ago he was number two. He
doesn't quite have the pass rush explosion of maybe some
(20:41):
of the you know, the Dexter Lawrences and the Chris
Jones is the truly, you know, future Hall of Fame
types at this position, but he is dominant against the run,
and he is again a high end, All Pro Pro
Bowl caliber defensive tackle. And you know, kind of similar
to the conversations that we have about Dexter Lawrence, like
(21:03):
he is the focal point of that Titans defense. If
he's not having success, they're not having success. And man,
he just he gives interior defense is a whole heap
of problems. And he's not really talked about. I mean
amongst executives and coaches and people like this obviously, but
amongst media people, amongst fans of the league. I don't
think he gets as much shine as he deserves. Still
(21:25):
just twenty seven years old and has been doing it
at a high level for a long time. Jeffrey Simmons
number four on this list. Number five is Quinn Williams
of the New York Jets, twenty seven years old. He
was number two last year, falls to number five this year.
But you know what, amongst a Jets organization that has
not had many constants right, has not had a lot
(21:46):
of consistency, both from the front office and the coaching
staff to the roster, Quinn Williams has been that for them.
He's got twenty three and a half sacks over the
last three years into three straight Pro Bowls. He's a
three down player. I don't think he is like spectacular.
He's not elite, but he's just another one of those
(22:09):
very solid. Doesn't have a lot of weaknesses to his game.
He could get after the quarterback. He can be disruptive
in the run game, but he you know, he's a
guy you got a game plan for, and he's a
guy that doesn't have a lot of help around him
as well and still is able to have a lot
of success and be disruptive. He's a worthy number five
(22:31):
here at Quinn Williams and he's one of those guys.
I gotta think, man, if the Jets don't turn it around,
he might be he might be looking for a new
home as he's getting closer and closer to thirty. Leonard
Williams of the Seattle Seahawks is number six. He's been
a mainstay on this list for a long time. He
is thirty one years old. But I tell you what
(22:53):
I mean. He had a career high in quarterback hits
last year with twenty eight. Career high and tackles for
loss was sixteen, and that's an his tenth year in
the National Football League, sixty four tackles three PBUs had
a ninety two yard pick six as well. He's got length,
he's got range, he's got power, He's got a unique
skill set. Leonard Williams number six on this list here
(23:18):
of defensive interior, defensive lineman defensive tackles. Number seven Nomdi
Mattabuke of the Baltimore Ravens, the name that we are
very familiar with. He was number five last year. He's
number seven this year. Just twenty seven years old. Not
quite the same, you know, statistically productive season in twenty
(23:39):
twenty four. Is he dead in twenty twenty three, when
he had thirteen sacks in twenty twenty three, just six
and a half sacks last year. But I you know,
like I said, they made a defensive coordinator change. They
really shifted philosophies during their bye week. Remember we talked
about this when we were talking about safeties and Kyle Hamilton,
and I think a lot like Kyle Hamilton when they
(24:01):
figured out that defense, when they stabilized that defense, and
that defense as a whole got much better down the stretch.
So did Kyle Hamilton, so did Nomni Mattibuke. I think
you give them a little bit of a benefit of
the doubt. Or they made a defensive coordinator change. They
scrapped a lot of stuff at the bye week and
then it started to come together for everybody. But he
(24:24):
is He's another one of those guys that you know.
He ain't Chris Jones or Dexter Lawrence, but he's a problem.
He's number seven on this list, Mattabuk, and we're gonna
see plenty of him this year in Baltimore. Number eight,
another one of these names, it's been on this list forever,
that's been doing this at a high, high clip. For
a long time. DeForest Bruckner, of course, started his career
(24:45):
having success with the Niners, right has now been with
the Colts for a long time. He has averaged eight
and a half sacks per season since twenty eighteen. Another
one of those very underrated I think in the general
populous conversation he missed five games last year but was
still productive enough to be on this list in thirty
(25:06):
years old now. But I think a lot like Cam
Hayward like, I think this guy's still gonna be playing
at a high level four or five years from now
because he has a game and a skill set that
will translate with his length, with his technique. You know,
he's not been one of these guys that's been predicated
upon athleticism and as soon as he loses that, it's gone.
I mean, he's six foot seven, he's long, he's got
(25:27):
great technique. I think he's going to continue to be
very productive for a long time. To Forest Bruckner Buckner
part of me. Number eight on this list at age thirty,
another thirty year old who we've talked a lot about,
who's been doing this at a very high level for
a long time. As a Super Bowl champion Vidavey of course,
of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's now thirty. Man, seeing
a lot of these guys turn thirty, it's making me
(25:48):
feel old at age thirty four seven sacks last year,
typical you know, run disruptor he is, you know, at
age thirty. Again, I don't think he's quite what he was,
you know, five years ago when the Bucks were winning
a Super Bowl. But he is, without a doubt, still
one of the best in the league. He was, without
a doubt, still playing at a very high level. I
(26:10):
mean ten TFLs last year to go with his seven sacks.
Those were both career high marks for him. So while
the overall disruptiveness might not be there, man, he is
really finding ways to get home and to be effective.
And he's also they've been dropping him into coverage occasionally.
At three hundred and forty five pounds. He's just a
versatile dude, one of the best you know of his
(26:33):
age group, at his position group, and another guy who
I think is going to continue to be part of
this conversation for a long time. And finally number ten
on this list, but number one in our hearts. After
being left off this list last year at age thirty five.
He's back on it at age thirty six. Baby, That
is Cam Hayward, of course, coming off another first team
(26:55):
All Pro season eight sacks, twenty quarterback hits, eight batted
passes down. He was healthy last year, or at least
healthier than he was in twenty twenty three, and back
to where he's been now for a decade. Just you know,
when he gets into the backfield, he makes the play.
(27:15):
He's been credited. Like I said, he had eight batt passes,
but was credited with forcing seventeen incompletions all year. The
eight sacks, I mean, it's just I think, especially to
look at the Steelers run defensive splits when he's on
the field versus when he's off the field. Cam Hayward
man like a fine wine from France, like a fine
(27:36):
wine from Napa Valley, like a fine wine from wherever
you like to get your fine wine. God bless Cam Hayward.
Still number ten and well deserving on this list. The
Hottawbale mentions Christian Wilkins of the Raiders, Derek Brown, who
I really like his game. You know, he missed a
lot of time last year with an ACL injury, but
(27:57):
I hope he's healthy and back because I think he's
been one of the most fun and underrated defensive linemen
in the NFL for a long time. I really liked
him coming out of Auburn. Derek Brown gets an Honorable
mentioned shout here, as does Zach Allen of the Denver Broncos.
I tell you what, the Broncos with a lot of
guys on the Honorable mentions list on that defense. That
(28:18):
Broncos defense I think is prime to have a pretty
solid year with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year
and Pat certain as well too. But there's your list
for defensive lineman Cam Heyward at number ten. Let's take
a break here. It'll be our final break. When we
come back on the other side, you know how we'll
close this thing down. I want to get to your tweets,
your questions, your comments, your concerns, your reactions at wes
(28:40):
Leyuler on Twitter, on x if you want to get
at me, to get involved before we get up out
of here. It is the Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
This is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Euler and Arthur
Motes on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Goal Scan R.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Final segment of the Steelers Blitz here on this edition,
off season edition of Blitz. And we've had some fun
going over some lists, going over some positional rankings today.
But you know the drill, You know how we got
to close things down. The time is yours. We go
to the tweets to get us out of here. Your questions,
your comments, your concerns, your reactions, and your thoughts and criticisms,
(29:46):
anything and everything in between that you got for us.
You can always find me on Twitter on x at
Wesley Yuler if you want to get involved with the program.
Our buddy Steeler Nation nine to twenty Tyler up in
Wisconsin leads off and said, hoping you all had a
great Fourth of July and still have all ten fingers
in your feet are washed. You gotta love the inside
(30:07):
jokes on the show. Here, Tyler says, Unfortunately, I don't
think I'm gonna make it to the Berg this year
for any games due to work related issues. But I
gotta know if you could add one free agent still,
who would it be? And why? Well, Tyler, I'll be
I'll be bummed, not to see you this year. But
it's all good man, we'll see you. We'll see you
before too much longer. I'm sure if I could still
(30:28):
add one free agent, who and why? I mean, it
feels like it would be a wide receiver, right Amari
Cooper Gabe Davis kind of at the top of the list.
I know there's some other names out there, but those
would probably be the two. And you know, signing a
Marii Cooper, signing Gabe Davis, I wouldn't like jump up
in my seat and fist pump and you know, suddenly
(30:50):
think that the Steelers are the best team in the AFC.
But I absolutely think adding one of those guys would
make you a better team. You know that proverbial. Kevin
Colbert used to talk about it. Omark con has mentioned
it a few times. But like it's known, the Steelers
like to operate as if they had to go play
a game and any given Sunday, and they could do
(31:13):
so right like even during March and April, like they
want to leading up to free agency in the draft,
like they want to have a roster that they still
feel confident about but that they could continue to add
to and improve. And I think right now, the Steelers
have a roster they feel confident about. The Steelers could
go play a game on Sunday, absolutely, but I think
we would all feel better if they had a Gabe
(31:35):
Davis orn Amari Cooper or another reinforcement to that wide
receiver room before going and playing a game on Sunday. So,
now that the defense feels filled out, you've added an
extra tight end. It really feels to me like, hey,
I wouldn't hate adding a veteran offensive lineman, like a
(32:00):
utility guy who can play a lot of different positions,
but those guys don't really exist in free agency at
this point on the offensive line. I mean, look at
the contract that Dan Moore Junior got from Tennessee. Like,
if you are a solid offensive lineman, if you are
a capable NFL offensive lineman, you're not lingering around in
free agency. But there are still a couple capable NFL
wide receivers that are lingering around in free agency. And
(32:22):
I think that's a pretty easy one. If you could
give me Gabe Davis, So you could give me Amari
Cooper again, Like, I'm not all of a sudden gonna
be screaming to the heavens that were about the climb
stairway to seven. But I do think it would make
the Steelers a better team, a better offense, a more
well rounded unit than they are right now. Mike tweets
(32:44):
and says, am I the only one nervous about Metcalf
and Ramsey. The players they have a history of behavior issues,
have had some things during their time in Seattle in Miami,
both them off the field, and then those guys, you know,
kind of fighting in some of the times that they've
faced each other. When Ramsey was with LA, you know,
(33:05):
no drama. Let's keep it on the up and up
during training camp and the regular season. I listen, I
get what you're saying, Mike, and I think Arthur Motes.
I don't think I know. Arthur Motes could speak to
this better than I can. But I think a lot
of times we've seen we've seen across sports. You see
it often like guys who didn't get along with another
(33:27):
guy or another team and then they end up being
teammates at some point. I know, you know, when Jalen
Ramsey was in LA and DK Metcalf obviously in Seattle,
those guys played twice a year and it was. You know,
it was kind of like Jamar Chase and MIKEA. Fitzpatrick, right,
I mean they're always taunting each other, always trash talking
each other, always getting in each other's face. But you
know what if if the Bengals suddenly added MIKEA. Fitzpatrick
(33:51):
or the Miami Dolphins added Jamar Chase. I bet you
those guys would get along right away and would put
all their put all their beef behind them. And I
know both of those guys in dkf and Jalen Ramsey
are you know, kind of volatile personalities, but those are
all over the National Football League, you know, George Pickens
was was a lot like that. Like and I'm not
saying that's perfect. I'm not saying that's ideal, but when
(34:14):
you get the production in the talent level that the
DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey have, I I'm not worried
about drama amongst the team anything like that. Listen the Steelers,
there is no denying the Steelers have a lot of
big personalities. Jalen Ramsey is a big personality. DK Metcalf
is a big personality. Aaron Rodgers is a big personality. TJ. Watt.
(34:37):
While he's maybe not the biggest just personality, he's obviously
a huge storyline as we go forward his contract and
we get closer and closer to training camp, into the preseason,
in regular season, and the longer that takes to get resolved.
So I would be being naive or maybe like way
too much of a homer if I sat here and
I told you there's no potential for anything to go wrong.
(34:59):
There's no POTENTI for any drama to pop up between
now and February. That would be disingenuous. But DK Metcalf
and Jalen Ramsey have always been professionals, even with some
of the distracting stuff. Aaron Rodgers has always been a professional,
even with some of the distracting stuff. TJ. Watt has
always been a professional. I expect that to continue. And yeah,
(35:22):
any beef, any maybe personal beef too, that Metcalf and
Ramsey had in the past, I don't expect to be
a big deal. I know this is an example that
will go over a lot of your heads because I
know hockey is not a crazy popular sport. But like
the Florida Panthers just won the Stanley Cup like a
month ago, right. The Florida Panthers traded for Brad Marshawn
from Boston. Marshawn and the Florida Panthers they used to
(35:44):
hate each other. He used to go at each other's
next Boston and Florida was a mini rivalry there for
a little while. They met in the playoffs not too
long ago. In Florida trades for Brad Marshawn and he
fits right in, and he plays great, and he helps
them win a Stanley Cup. And now he's a legend
of that group that franchise. So these guys are professionals.
These guys are competitors. You compete with the guys lining
(36:06):
up across from you. You become brothers with your teammates,
and I think that assimilation happens pretty quickly. A couple
more here, Uh, let's see dot dot dot dot. T
Mac tweets and says, of the thirty two starting quarterbacks
around the NFL, how many would you take ahead of
Aaron Rodgers. Okay, now this is a good question, t
Mac because you didn't give any parameters here. But I
(36:30):
think we're I think we're I think what you're saying
is for this season, because that's a more fun conversation
and I think a little more realistic because if you
were to open it up and say, no, we're talking
long term, Well, okay, Aaron Rodgers has already said that
this is probably his last year, and then you're bringing
in a lot of guys into the conversation that have
you know, the cam Wards of the world that haven't
(36:52):
even played a snap of the NFL football. And then
guys coming up with their rookie season, like you know,
like a Drake may who or somebody like that, or
a Caleb Williams. You know, then it just becomes a
whole I think, a conversation that can go many different
ways and a lot of different rabbit holes. So let's
(37:13):
go of the thirty two NFL quarterbacks for this season.
How many would you take before Aaron Rodgers for twenty
twenty five alone. Well, there's the four big ones obviously,
I mean Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson. Those
four are the four best quarterbacks in the NFL. We
could argue about the pecking order or whatever, but those
are the four. I still think Matthew Stafford is playing
(37:35):
at a very elite level that would be five. I
think it would be very hard to argue against a
Jalen Hurts and a Josh Herbert as well. That's seven.
But you know what then after that, I think is
when it really starts to become an interesting conversation. There's
(37:57):
that kind of mid tier of guys, right, Like you'd
rather have a Baker Mayfield type? Would you rather have
a Geno Smith type? Would you rather like one of
those guys that are quality starters in the NFL, still
like in their prime range of age, but they obviously
have never gotten close to the heights that Aaron Rodgers has.
(38:18):
I think I think you would. I think you could
come up and hey, you know what, I'd put Jane
Daniels on that list as well too, So that's eight
i'd put probably, I think i'd put Jared Goff on
that list. That would be nine. Could you say, Jordan
Love ten? I think you'd. I think you could come
(38:38):
up with about about ten eleven twelve that would be
reasonable to take ahead of Aaron Rodgers. Like, no, like you,
you wouldn't be stretching very much. But I think once
around you get I think around the time you get
to that ten eleven twelve mark is where you could
where you could really start to say you would take
Aaron Rodgers, particularly just for this season. I think again,
(39:01):
there's that clear cut seven or eight that definitely have
to come ahead of him, and then there's probably three
or four guys in the middle that you could argue
with him. But then after that, I think that's right
about where Aaron Rodgers is. If he is the ninth, tenth, eleventh,
twelfth best quarterback in the NFL this year, I think
(39:23):
the Steelers have a chance to have a really good season.
Is it going to be enough to beat the Chiefs
and the Bills and the Ravens? Who knows? Maybe not?
Probably not. I mean there are some elite teams in
the AFC and some just incredible quarterbacks. But I do
think that it would make the Steelers a much better
team than last year. I do think it would give
them a legit chance to go on a run in
(39:44):
the postseason. And yeah, last year, I would say Russell
Wilson was probably somewhere around the fifteenth to twentieth best
quarterback in the NFL. Same with Justin Fields. If you
can move up closer to the ten range, eleven range,
twelve range. That's that's significant. That is if you've got
(40:04):
that first tier, your four unicorns, right, and then you've
maybe got the next Matthew Stafford's Herbert's Hertzes of the world,
Jaden Daniels. But then I think Aaron Rodgers could be
potentially in that kind of next year with anybody. How
does somebody like CJ. Stroud factor into this? Does he
bounce back in his third season after a great rookie
(40:26):
year and an okay sophomore year. Could someone like Caleb
Williams take off? Could someone like Drake may take off?
Does Jayden Daniels take a little bit of a step
back after a historic rookie season in Washington? All these
fair questions. But yeah, I think you could say anywhere
from the eight nine to probably the thirteen to fourteen range,
(40:48):
but I would probably go in the in the ten
to twelve range. That's a good question, though. T mac
last one of the day here from Paul tweets and
says any worry that John new Smith was a one
year wonder A lot of mediocre seae SEA in one
very stellar season. Yeah, Like, I don't know if mediocre
is the way I would put it. I mean a
lot of those mediocre seasons, like John new Smith was
(41:09):
having five hundred some yards and four or five touchdowns.
I don't know if that's mediocre. That's pretty solid. But
I do think it's fair to wonder if last year
was like will be his statistically best season nearly nine
hundred yards receiving and nine touchdowns. That was the best
single season of production in Miami Dolphins franchise history for
(41:30):
a tight end. So if you want to say that
he won't give you nine hundred yards and you know,
nine touch close to one thousand yards and double digit touchdowns,
I think that's fair. But if he goes out there
and has six hundred some yards and five or six touchdowns,
I still think that's great for this offense. I don't
know if I would call that mediocre. It's not the again,
(41:52):
the kind of number two wide receiver, number two pass
catcher numbers that we might be looking for. But you
combine that with with what Dk Metcalf's gonna do, with
what Pat Fryarmouth will give you, what some of the
other wide receivers will give you, I don't think that
that would be the worst case either. So if you
want to say worried that last year will be his
(42:15):
best year of his career. I mean, I think that
that's fair to say. But I don't expect that he's
gonna come in here and all of a sudden have
three hundred yards and two touchdowns again either. I do
think he will still be a quality player for this offense.
So there you go. There's your tweets, there's your times
yours for today. If you missed it during the offseason,
(42:38):
here you know we I'll book I bookmark these tweets.
I know some of you, you know you listen and
more in podcasts this time of year. You listen back
in the Steelers Nation radio loop more this time of year.
So if you are catching us in different format, you
can go ahead and get those thoughts, those tweets in.
I'll book mark them and I'll save them for our
next show. How about that that do it for me? Today?
(43:01):
Had a lot of fun on this one today. I
had a lot of fun this week. I mean, I
obviously missed my co host Arthur Nathan Motes the third,
but he's got some well deserved time off, and you
and I had some nice conversations together in the interim,
So take care now bye bye, then big thanks to
the power Grade and Mega wats. You know I appreciate
your participation every single day, but especially on the days
(43:21):
that I am in here solo. Take care, I'll talk
to you soon. As always, you know where to find us.
It's on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
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