HR2: 21 Picks

0:00We see you. Your calendar's color coded. Your outfit for tomorrow is already laid out. You have everything in top-aware labeled in your fridge. You buy in bulk. You meal prep. You know what you're doing in 2027. You're a planner. And we're here to say you don't have to do it all. S&T Bank makes banking easy. From our friendly team to our online and mobile solutions, we do more so you can do less. Stop by your local branch. Visit STBank.com or call 800-325-2265 S&T Bank. Member FDIC. Good evening, Steeler Nation. How are we doing? Well, that's good. Us two. Our number two here of the drive on this Thursday, March 5th, 2026. And Matt, we have a fun exercise. This is, I think, something we'll probably do again, post-free agency. Yeah, that makes sense.

1:04When you need to be a little more defined and maybe some of these guys that we're really interested in now, if you go out and you nab someone in free agency, it knocks that down the list of priorities. But we'll have a bunch of different draft exercises that we are going to do between now and the end of April. We'll have mock drafts. We'll have the, what I can't wait for, what we'll probably start doing once a week after free agency. The Steelers are on the clock at pick one. Who you taking? Then they're on the clock at pick two. It's harder than you think. It's harder than you think, but it's a lot of fun. It is. So we'll have a bunch of those exercises. And the one of them that we'll do a few times between now and the end of April that we're going to do for the first time today is the prospects you would trade right now for, or you would trade pick 21 for right now. So for example, I don't think that this is going to surprise anybody, but I'm sure both of us would give up the Steelers 21st overall pick right now, sign in blood for Fernando Mendoza. Of course. So I have not given this much thought, but I will say, you know, I started doing however you want. Well, you'll be proud of me because yesterday,

2:04you were like, let's not make any list ahead of time. Let's just do it. Yeah. Last night, I'm down on the basement. And I'm doing my weird world of Matt Williamson. I'm thinking too much about football while I, by the way, watched the watch the finale of Night of the Seven Kingdoms last night. Oh, fun, huh? Awesome. I love those areas. It's just six episodes. They're all like 30, 40 minutes long. It's, it's Game of Thrones, but it's not crazy difficult to follow like Game of Thrones. Right, right. There's not that many characters. And it's funny. Like each, each episode, there's like one or two like gut busting funny jokes or moments. Oh, yeah. Highly, highly recommend Night of the Seven Kingdoms. I was a fan. So as I finished that last night and it's that time of night and where I'm like, do I start a new show or something? I really only want to stay up for another 20, 30 minutes. I start thinking about this exercise. I was literally like, pull it up my phone to do the notes app. And I was like, you know what? I'm just going to, let's do it live tomorrow. I'm going to save it for Matt. So what I want to do here is we'll roll through these names and we'll see. There'll be a point that we'll get to on this big board that will clearly go, okay, we're done. We're done. But I want to see how many were both yes on.

3:07Mm-hmm. The ones that we differ. And then when we revisit that in a couple weeks, like, hey, we had nine or 10 guys that we were yes on. We each had one or two where we were different, where you said yes, I said yes, vice versa. So, and then we can kind of keep tabs on this, you know, a few weeks from now, check in, see how it's changed, all those different things. If that's cool with you. Absolutely. Now I wanted to preface it by how I look at it. Look at how however you want. Sure. Like, you mentioned styles. Like, the answer for styles is yes, but there's going to be a, and then I am shopping Patrick Queen. You know what I mean? Like, sure. If I traded 21 for styles right now, now I'm going to then do other things. I like that. I love that because it's not just like, okay, we're just going to live with it. And I'll be honest, my bet is particularly in this draft, that I don't think I'm going to trade 21 as willy nilly as you might think. I just, it's just such an important draft. Any any first round

4:10pick is just so important in this league for me to give to throw that away in March, early March, when some team might call and be like, we can't get Justin Jefferson signed. We need your first this year next year. Like, I don't have a first. I mean, or whatever. Like, it's not going to be easy for me to give it up. Okay. So if I'm on the fence, I'm probably going to keep the pick. Okay. Because I do think people are going to fall to them in this draft more than we might think. Okay. Receivers and I feel like then I might be a little more liberal with my list than you are. But I like your, you have to explain what goes with it. So like, for example, Fernando Mendoza, yes. I'm probably wouldn't call Rodgers. I'm calling up Aaron Rogers and I'm saying, hey, you know, all that hanky-panky that you were talking about with your wife on the Pat McVee show yesterday, you got plenty of free time to hanky-panky. We're going, we're going with the young rookie out of Indiana. Or I would be like, you want to come mentor the young rookie out in Indiana and we're trading Rudolph or, you know, but I'm definitely not in on Willis or anybody else. You just take them

5:12and that one's easiest one of all. That's the just take a franchise for the first time pick. Yes. So I'm going to go through here and I'll just, I have McShay's big board up here. So we'll do this in his order. This isn't necessarily a word, but it's there. You know, he's got Jeremiah love. This is number one prospect. Some others have sunny style, some of Caleb Downs, you know, but he starts with Jeremiah love. Number one. Yes. Yes. And I'm not like trading Warren or anything. I'm just adding them to the office. And I would, I would thank Kenneth Gainwell for his service. Yeah. I'm done. Yeah. Obviously. I mean, if it, it would really screw up Omar's plans, I'm sure. Totally. Because that's like, because I don't love the idea of taking a running back in the first mile, but eventually there's a breaking point where he's too good and you just say, yeah, he's one of the two or three. We'll catch up also. Well, we need to have this conversation at some point. Maybe we can do this in the next segment. You're, you're chipped down on one person from this class to make Canton in 15 years to be a strong candidate. Probably him or one of the Ohio State guys. Yeah. One of the Ohio State defenders. Yeah. So we're both yes on Jeremiah love.

6:12Yeah. Now there are going to be a bunch of edge guys that we're going to talk about. And I know we just kind of talked about two sides of my mouth. I'm like, I'll take styles, trade queen. But I'm not going to just like take every edge guy and trade her began what, you know what I mean? That's right. Yeah. I mean, that's why I'm just going to stick with where I'm at. Orville, Reese and David Bailey are very interesting conversations to me in, in this regard. And Bailey's a no and Reese is a yes. And I know Reese isn't super excited about it. But I mean, like you're playing a linebacker in for a year or two. Yeah. And you're going to moonlight as an edge rusher. And I'll blitz you and all those things. I know it doesn't make you thrilled. Maybe we will trade TJ in a year or can't get a deal done with her big. But I'd probably trade queen then after that too. And I'd like queen a lot. It's not like he's just disposal piece. But if you if you get one of these luxury guys like a love or a Reese or you know, whether you type of dudes, well, you got to open up some resources too to get your the things you really need because these are ones. These aren't needs. You know, that's why I think you're right.

7:15Reese's that Reese's are different conversation because you could play him off ball. And at least anything else with them. Whereas man, like David Bailey, you're never going to be in a position to get somebody that talented at pick 21. But he would maybe be your fourth guy at edge rusher. Right. I mean, okay. Maybe you do move high Smith or something. But it's like, I don't know how I mean, I'm not giving up a premium pick that could have been my number one receiver for that. Okay. So we're both yes on Jeremiah love. We're both yes on Mendoza. Yeah. Sonny styles. Yes. Because he's that good too. I think I think he's the kind of the like the border. You better be a great prospect. The blue chip prospect. And I think styles is and if queen wasn't up after this year, maybe I wouldn't. If this this is a year ago and you just signed him. I've never seen a fight. Or if Peyton Wilson just came off of an outstanding season. Yeah. But I'm sitting or thinking styles might be my Lambert for 12 years. You know what I mean? And he might be he might be Ryan Shayzer all over again. Yeah. And I might wouldn't have much invested in terms of money at linebacker. You know, so he's a yes. But if he was a

8:2110 10% less product, I'd probably say no. Like you better be pretty special in a position like that. So we have love. We have Mendoza. We have styles Caleb Downs. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. I think so. So those four. I mean, that's a need. He'd be your starter. You haven't right now. They don't have a starting safety unless you think it's a Ramsey. Maybe styles is different because you could just argue with me the value of the position. But I feel like those four are pretty chalky, pretty easy. Yes. Is love styles. Downs. Mendoza. They're just great players. Yes. So we agree on the especially downs of Mendoza. I mean, they're the two positions. I mean, they're two of your two positions. Exactly. Right. Uh, Orville Reese. We both yes on him. Yeah. I think he's good enough that he say and you could do different stuff with him. Yes. Okay. So that's the top five on McShay's big board. Number six is David Bailey. I'm tempted. But I'm out. I'm out because it's just I don't need to complicate it. It's too much for ed rushers at the moment. Exactly. Right. And I don't think he's a tremendous prospect. If he was Nick Bosa coming out,

9:27you might convince me. You know what I mean? Uh, number seven on. So so far, we're six yeses and one no. Yeah. Uh, number seven on McShay's big board is Vega, Iona guard at a Penn State. He may actually be there. Would you take it right this minute? We picked them in the first round of a mock recently. We did. Kind of warming up to the idea. I do think he is one of the top 10 players in this draft. That's why it's so hard for me to pass up. Yeah. Because again, I know for right now and for all your needs and that, but I'm I think I'm doing it. And again, I know that you have to be careful when you do these hypothetical things because I know that this is not how the Steelers think. Right. But like for an exercise like this, I want the best players possible. I'll figure out positional value and how it fits into my if I can get a guy who might be the seventh best player in the draft with my 21st pick. I know. Like maybe it's not the best way to build a puzzle. It's not drafting the guard in round one. Maybe the best way is given Isaac a little raise. Draft on the third round. Maybe he takes over.

10:34But I really like this player. Same. And I just think what the line could be four fifths of it are sat. He's top 10 top 12 on everybody's big board. Yeah. Yeah. Everybody's big board. I think that's a yes for me. I think that's a yes for me too. Now this is one that could very easily change next week because if they bring back say Malu or then you bring back somebody else, then then you're done. Okay. So so far six yes is one no for David Bailey. Number eight on his big board Ruben Bain Jr. Adam Miami. That's a no. That's a no. Number nine. Francis Maui Goa tackle out of Miami. Yes. Because I'm playing him at left guard. That's my conversation. And maybe he's my left tackle. Maybe he's your left tackle worst case scenario. He's a very good guard. I think I think I would with him. I think I would too. I think those are probably going to be the only two offensive linemen. I would say yes for me. Like I don't know about like freeing and fond of some of those guys. Like left tackles going to be a need, but it might not be need for at least a year if not longer.

11:38And they're not Walter Jones or probably didn't you know what I mean. And I think you could do like Zach Barton type stuff at guard and be one of the best. Miami dude. Yeah. Maui Goa. If worst case scenario, if he plays left guard for you, he might be an all pro. He might be as good as guard as Vega. Yeah. Yeah. Carnell Tate wide receiver Ohio State. Yes. Yes. That that one to me is I think he's my receiver one. I just put my list in. He's my watch. He's my receiver one. It's lemon too or Tyson too. Boston Boston too. Yeah. I like it. Yeah. A curve ball from Matt Williamson. Okay. So Carnell Tate is a yes. So through 10 here on the big board, we have eight yeses and two nose. The only nose being sorry. Yeah. The only nose being David Bailey and and and Ruben Bane Jr. The true edge. Number 11 man soared the lane. No. I don't think so. I think I'm going to patch my little two back together a little different. And a little too much uncertainty there for. Yeah. That was Jalen Ramsey coming out sure, but

12:41I'm with you on that. Uh, wide receiver number two, Makai lemon. I know everyone's to say yes. I'm going to say no. I'm going to say no. Okay. I just think what if Vega's there at 21 or one of these guys we brought up and I can't take him because I took lemon. Like there's a chance that lemons on the board at 21 and he's not your first choice even. Yes. You know what I mean? I don't want to have to take the third guy on my board at 21 because he might be there. That's just kind of my logic with it. I think that makes a lot of sense. Yeah. And for me, I think he's a it's a very good player. He could very well be the best wide receiver of this draft. Yep. And if the Steelers take him at pick 21, I'm not going to be in the least bit upset. I might be thrilled. But I just I I think he's a little more scheme specific than some of these other wide receivers. I do think he fits McCarthy. I do think he does fit. I think he fits his his start his his yes. That that 11 personnel that we're going to live in with three wide receiver on the field.

13:41I do think he's a fit for the Steelers. But for the long term, you know what I mean? I tend days from now. I might be like, yes, I will do. Sure. Because see him all who signed a corner signed. That's right. No. But no, I receive right. 13 Monroe feeling out of Georgia. Is a feeling of free. I'm free. Okay. I haven't seen that. No, it's free. No, it's free. It's free. It's free. It's free. I keep. No, but I like them and left tackles are really, really valuable. And you should probably never turn your nose up at a left tackle. Because you might be like, Cook's not as good as I thought. And Jones neck is bad. And we really need one. But I'm not going to just give you 21 form right now. Not right now. No. Might change my opinion on that in another week or two. Certainly. Maybe. If if they're not that active in the offensive line market and free agency. 14 on this list, Spencer Fano tackle slash guard. Same thing. But I didn't know that he'd be as good a guard. As the Miami dude, you know what I mean?

14:41I think I think Fano is a good pro prospect. I just I don't I would rather go Maui Goa. If I'm going to bump one into if I'm going to bump one into guard. Yes. And I'll wait and see how that one plays out. Okay. So so far know we're through 14. No disagreements. 15. Jordan Tyson wide receiver from Arizona state. No, because the medical's might be bad. So this is that that's the kicker for me. Yeah, I so know. I put him forth on my receiver list. I'm sorry to do this to you. But I wish I knew more about your medical's because I it's almost for him. It's almost like an incomplete for me. Because if I knew that his medical stuff was green light, he would absolutely be a yes for me. But I just get what I'm saying. But we're not going to know that until we see where he gets drafted in late April and can kind of read the tea leaves. Yeah, we may leave the south side Thursday night and he's not picked. And we're like, oh, he's about 21 for him. Exactly right. Or he might go pick 13 and we're like, oh, well, okay. Well, the medical stuff is fine then. Sure to get on with 21. So that one's almost like a risk. That's like a tough, but as I sit here now, I can't say yes.

15:43If I if I knew the medical stuff and it was clear, it's an easy yes. Sure. But I can't say yes as much as I do. And if we as much knowledge as NFL does, we probably would know that decision. Yes, we just are never going to correct. 16 tight end one. Can you on sedic? No, but I respected and I understand it. The same. Yeah, same. It's just tough because of what you have there already. And what, uh, you know, that position, I don't even know if D values the right term, but maybe not as crucial of the element of the offense now with with Arthur Smith gone. I would probably shop for our move if I did it. And that's appealing. It's not a terrible idea. Right. But then that's going to get you a third round pick or something. I'm still not going to be able to fill my number one need on draft day. Uh, let's see here. 17 Denzel Boston wide receiver out of Washington. No, and I like him a ton, but it's the same conversation. Like he might be there and interesting. You know, I thought I thought he would have been, I thought he would have been a yes for you, but that's interesting. I like it just because when you told me he was wide receiver, too, for you,

16:45yeah, I really, really like him. He's six, four and he can return punts and, you know, he does a lot of really good things. It's just it's hard for me to give up number 21 right this minute. 18. I think this is an easy no. Caldrick Falk, Ed rusher out of easy, no, he wouldn't be 18 on my board. Are there any other wide receivers we're going to say yes for probably not? No. Omari Cooper, Jr. He's number 19 on McShay's big. Is he really? Yeah. Conceptions are no. That's what I mean. If he's the one who's the first one pick, I wouldn't want to say that would disapprove. 20th overall on his big board. And a need, safety, Dylan Feneman out of Oregon. Maybe because I love him, but what hurts them in this conversation to me is I can give you six free agents that I can that I can get it. I think at a reasonable level. They're coming off their first contract. And it's a really deep safety draft. And I also don't know what Patrick Graham

17:48does he need the best pair of safeties in the league? He's never had that in the club. I bet he can make do with a decent free agent signing in a third-round pick and use the pick somewhere else. Sure. But there absolutely can be the case. One draft day where I'm like, I'll give you 21 and one of the third-round picks to move up for the amendment. But today I can't concede the pick. But I get the idea. It's kind of the down situation. You just plug them in and now I just use my reach. I don't sign up safety. Right. Right. I think this is one that we could have a clear yes or no in another week or so. Yeah, yeah. And then Matt, after that, I don't know if there's really any people that are even worth, you know, Blake Miller at a Clemson, Peter Woods at a Clemson, Jermard McCoy. For my banks. He's the only other one that I would think. I got to go know it. Mick Shea has him 33rd overall on this big board. It's also the least taste of my mouth is Dane who's definitely doubted in how to go into the second round.

18:50Into the second round. I can give you 21 for that. Cannot. I mean, concept she own a manual. McNeil Warren. Ty Simpson. But no. McCoy. No, no. Medical's might be worse than exactly right. Exactly right. Simpson's a no. Kayla Blomu's a no as much as I like him. Colton Hood. No. Maxine H or no. I mean, I like all these guys. We're not giving us 21. I'd give up 53 for a lot of these guys right now. That could be a fun exercise too. But it'd be a long way. That would be a long way. A longer way. I don't think there's anybody mentioned that I wouldn't give 53 up for. Even like the David Bailey's in Baines. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Because they're just such good cars. They're better players for that value. You can't pass it up on. Would you give 53 for Ty Simpson right now? No, I don't think I would either. I mean, eat those words because I do think he's got a really good chance to be a starter and have a good career. I just want better than good starter and good career. We've talked about it. I want to go I don't want to go shopping at Toyota and Honda for my franchise quarterback.

19:51I want to go to Mercedes Benz and Porsche and BMW. If I have to save up a year to go shopping in those fine. I'll save up for a year. All right. I'll pinch pennies for a year. All right, right, right. Eat ramen noodles. I imagine for the 53 conversation, would you say yes to a lot of these defensive line minute 53? Like banks at 53. Sure. Lee Hunter at 53. K to McDonald. I think on the contrary. Just noses are hard for me to invest in. Yeah. The others, yeah. A lot of these wide receivers. Obviously at 50. A lot. Yeah. Probably could go eight to 10 deep on receipt. I would, I would think so. That's a fun exercise. So we both had yeses on love styles. Downs, Mendoza, Reese, Vega, Maui Goa and Tate. We're both babies on Dylan Thenderman. We're going to wait and see how free agency goes. And then I'm going to keep I'm going to keep a maybe for medical reasons on Jordan Tyson. I don't think that that's going to change. Because we're not going to get any new information. Probably not. But if, but like Tyson and McCoy might work out at the pro day

20:51and be like, oh, I guess you're fine. That could happen in a month or so. Yes. And then maybe I'll change my answer to a yes for for Jordan Tyson. Well, I just, man, I love that guy's tape. It's so much. He is so much fun to watch. That was a fun exercise. Something that we'll kind of keep tabs on and continue to do as we roll along throughout the off season. We've got to get to a break more draft, more big board, more free agency conversation when we return. West Mueller, Matt Williamson, Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. You're tuned to the drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold Steelers Nation Radio. Back in the booth, back on the drive here, we will get to your tweets to close this thing down in just a few minutes. So get those in while you can at Williamson NFL. That's where you find Matt at Wesley Mueller on the ex-Twitter.

21:52Matt, an article by Ben Solack caught my eye on NFL.com. Kind of nine key questions ahead of free agency. And some of these are topics that we've discussed plenty over the last two weeks, but some of these are newer and kind of different angles. So I figured we'll run through these. For example, the first one is where will Kyler Murray land? Obviously, we've talked about that a little bit. It feels like Minnesota, New York, Miami. Is there any kind of dark horse that we haven't mentioned? Falcon. Cleveland. Cleveland's an interesting one. I look at Cleveland, Miami and the Jets, but I also think when you mention that he really doesn't cost anything against your cap, why would he go there? He might be like, it might be a point where like, oh, they're thrilled to get him. Not that the Jets don't have money, but like Miami doesn't have money. Cleveland doesn't have any money. That's the best player we can get for the show. We don't have any money in our pocket. Sure. That's the best player we can get.

22:54But I would rather do just about anything that goes to those two teams if I'm him. I think he's more marketable than that. I do too. And for him, a lot of it is like, hey, do I want to just go somewhere where I know I'm going to be the starter and it's going to be my quarterback room? Do I want to go and do the quarterback rehab thing for a year? I don't know that he's bottomed out to that point though. He's only 28 years old. And I understand why people are linking him to the Steelers too. Like, I think the Steelers at least have to have that conversation. I just don't think it's the fit. No, it's just, it would be a no. Minnesota to me is probably the most obvious. I mean, if he didn't burn the bridge, it seemed like Arizona would make sense. In our name, like, yeah. So it was if he was coming from the Jets in the same situation. Come on, Arizona. Right. There's someone we're missing. Like, Indianapolis. I was going to say the cults. Like, maybe the cults should have not transitioned Daniel Jones and just give Kyler a million as opposed to giving Daniel Jones, 28 million or whatever.

23:54Because the thing about Jones that we didn't mention the other day and we the franchise tag talk is asking on Rogers. I mean, every quarter back the year after they're Achilles, stinks. Stinks. I mean, it's really hard. And Aaron Rodgers had his in the first game of the season. And Rodgers first month with the Jets was brutal. Daniel better and better. Daniel Jones was after Halloween. Right. Like the chances of him being mobile and I don't know, man. I tell you what the whole of dice with Kyler for a million. Now, Cleveland's a good call by you because, you know, munk and seeing that and being like, I can do Lamar type things with his kill set draft around them. Maybe we found our guy. Question number two, are the Vikings in or out on 2026? They don't have a general manager. They got a lot of quarterback questions. They're dumping a lot of contract. Dumping a lot of contracts. But, you know, they still have guys like Justin Jefferson, Christian Derisaw, Byron Murphy, Jr. They are a team that they have to hit on Kyler.

24:57Or somebody like that, you know, cousins. Yeah, Gino. I mean, maybe McCarthy, the light just turns on. And we just said we haven't seen enough. And he's better than we thought. Sure. But boy, the divisions. Everyone's gonna pick him for that. That's also, yeah, the division is just brutal. I don't like the way that's phrased. I think Ben so liked those great work by the way too. But they in on 2025 or 2026. I don't think they're pushing all their chips in to win it all now. Like, this is our last chance. But it goes about saying. But I'm thinking that it is a reset year. I think it's probably a reset year, you know. I think so too. Unless JJ McCarthy ends up being a guy. Yeah. Now, Jefferson's the one that gets, you don't want to waste another Jefferson year or totally. Make him angry. We wouldn't say what do we do in here? Yeah. We won 14 games two years ago. Two years ago and just fell apart. Trade me somewhere. Question number three will offensive line spending go bananas. I think the answer is always yes.

25:57The first truth. There's a lot of money in the league right now. The second truth. It's not an amazing free agent class but has impressive depth. Tackles are terrible. There's like one or two starting tackles that will get more than Dan more money. He talks about Tyler Wonderbaum being a big part of this. He'll get over paid and he's going to get a bunch of, a bunch of money and then just a lot of other, you know, talented options that guard and tack, not as much a tackle, more so a guard. I mean, I think the answer to that is an obvious yes, because the answer is always yes. I think the always yes. Offensive lines is one of those positions. If you hit the free agent market, like Dan more junior. Dan more junior is one of the best 32 left tackles in the world. But he's getting paid like a top 10. Right. You know, it's, I mean, it's a terrible place to shop. But even like, I was slightly critical of the Steelers for not drafting an offensive line in last year. Yes. But it totally added up because they drafted so many. That the years were that and even just really paying attention to that draft

27:01through that light as it was happening in real time. Every offensive line and went at least around earlier than they should have. I mean, a major tax on them. That happens a lot too. I had to say I sit here in February and March and be like, if I'm a Steelers, I'm drafting two offensive linemen. Well, that means you're drafting seventh round or in the fifth. You know, like, that's the, that's what the draft is actually more interesting to me in this conversation than the free agent offensive lineman. Because you don't want to be in the free agent offensive linemen. The way to do it is given the draft. Of course. We're overspend there. Right. Pick your poison. Which players with a Seattle Seahawks prioritize? A lot of free agents. Kenneth Walker, Kobe Bryant, Rieke Woolen, Josh Job, Rashid Shaheed, Boya Maffe. Well, I think what they're really going to prioritize, which is a different way of looking at it, is extending Smith and the Jig Bunge and with a spoon with a spoon. And which would probably free up some cap space for this year in the process. Maybe you can make the next move at that point too.

28:02Like, all those names you mentioned are fine. They helped them win the whole thing. But I bet their head coach slash defensive coordinators, they're all replaceable too. I can coach these guys up. I can't coach up Byron Murphy with a spoon and my JSN, yeah, the safety they just drafted. And you know, like, those are all spokes in the wheel. But I'm going to pay the big dogs and coach up the other guys. Free agency question number five. How will the running back dust settle? Breeze Hall now is being tagged. What you have, Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, Rico Dattel, Travis ETN, Naji Harris, Tyler Algier, JK Dobbins, Kenneth Gainwell. It's not quite that 2024. Yeah, it's not super interesting. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Josh Jacobs, but there's a lot of guys in there who can play and certainly have value. Walker's the one everyone's going to have an eye on. Absolutely. Worries me a little because he really doesn't contribute in the passing game at all. I mean, bad in protection and he's a bad receiver.

29:04So what someone might overpay for him. I bet the Steelers are part of this though. I don't know that you can go into drafts and I can just have Johnson and Warren. I don't think you can. I think that's not a better sign. One of those names you just mentioned. Agreed. Yeah. Which edge rusher is the right edge rusher? Trey Hendrickson, 31 years old. Adafee, 0 way, 27 years old. Jalen Phillips doesn't turn 27 until May. Which is crazy. I was going to say, man, I thought he was like pushing 30. I think always finally starting to really grow into his paws. Hendrickson worries me a little that his best year was probably two years ago. I mean, he had nice things actually, he probably won't do that again. He's probably a 14 sack, 13 sack guy. And he was never a lead athlete. I think if I was paying what all of them cost, it would be Phillips. He's really good already. And he's only 27. He's not he'll be 27 and May.

30:04Yeah. Yeah. I think if I was investing in any of the three sticker price, where will Malik Willis land? I think so too. Yeah. He's been linked to the dolphins because all the green Bay connections now, but they don't have any money. Maybe. Yeah, no, no money. And whenever they get rid of two, they're going to have less money in a in a cruel twist. If I were him, I'd rather do that than the Browns or dolphins or jets. Will the, where the rise of the off-ball linebacker market keep up, you know, last year Fred Warner, Zach Bond, Nick Bolton, all got pretty sizable deals. I don't think any of these guys are those guys. But man, Devon, Devon Lloyd will get paid handsomely. Yes. Then I don't know that that's going to be what happens with Tremaine Edmonds. If he becomes, he becomes a free agent. When he comes out there, you know, it's more options in this draft class too. That's true. Do you have guys like Devon Bush and Leo Shenall and, you know, Nikobe Dean who are coming off well. Yeah, Lloyd will get paid top of the market stuff.

31:06Could be the highest paid linebacker and said and done. Yes. But I can take Rodriguez in the second round. You know what I mean? It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a lot of linebacker. And three, getting second and third round linebackers in this year's draft. Sure. Last one, Matt. And this is something that we've been asking for a long time. In fact, we just talked about it in the first hour of the show. What will the Eagles do with AJ Brown? Let's go eventually move them. I do too. But I think the money is way more complicated than anybody trying to, is this imply it might have to be like an after June first weird type of thing. That's what that was going to be. My, do you think he gets traded before, after the draft? I think the Eagles would like to move him before the draft. Yeah, obviously one picks for next year. But I know that that's going to be tough to make work in the, in the confines of their tight salary cap. Yeah. And just all the bonus money and dead money and everything that's involved with a contract like his. Yeah. And I do think they love the Vante Smith. I want to give him a bigger role and I understand that. But I'm going to say Brown does not play for the Eagles this year. But that's kind of like 60 40. Yeah, I was about, yeah, I would give her take.

32:06Yeah. I, I, I definitely would say it's more likely. But that's not a, that's not a best bet that I want to place either way. And it could get ugly. He might be like, I'm holding out there, you know, sitting in or whatever. You think he'll be doing a, like T.O. You think he'll be doing, he'll be doing a book. He'll be doing sit ups in his driveway while all the Philadelphia media is assembled around. He'll pull the weight bench out into the front of his mansion. Just start working out there and sit up and answer in questions. That's still one of the most funnest like T.O. And his standoff with the Eagles just brings his way to equipment out into his driveway and the media's interviewing him while he's doing sit ups and crunches and ab workouts. Oh, man, good stuff from a different time. We've got one more segment to go. You know what that means. We'll close things down with your tweets. You know where to get at us. If you want to get involved, West Juller, Matt Williamson, it's the Drive Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. You're tuned to the drive on your 24-7 home of the Black & Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

33:11Final segment of the drive here on this first day, about to put a bow on another award-winning addition of the drive here. Killing it. Absolutely, baby. Throughout the offseason, no sleep, no rest for the wicked. We rock and we roll into free agents into the drive. I think you just slowed down a little when the season ends. Not even a little. No. Not even a little bit. No, like one fewer show a day in my life. But that's about it. You make a head coaching change for the first time in 19 years. You host an NFL draft. All that stuff, right? All that stuff. And you know, you've got... Not complaining, but it's not like, oh, we're just put your feet up. Go get your eyes checked or go to the dentist, things like that. I've done any of this before. It is. I was laughing with my wife. Like when I first started with SNR, we would all do shows through the combine. And then it was very slow down like crazy. I think you and Dale would do three days a week. Moats and I would do two days a week. And that was about it.

34:11And I would always say to my wife, like, this is maybe a little too light. Like, I would do a little bit more. Like it was easy to do three days a week. Two days a week. I was like, this is we could be doing a little bit more. Not sure if you're making a little bit more money. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But now I'm like, now it's like, hmm, I'm not complaining. I'm certainly not complaining. I love it. I love it in the work and everything. But I'm like, I... Go random Wednesday because you're a long way. Like my oils need to change forever. Well, how about this? How about Thursday, March 26? Does that sound good to you? Okay. Is a random day to take off? Okay. Because I'm going to be in Chicago with my dad going to the Cubs opener on that day. I'm scheduled like all my stuff. Three weeks from today, schedule all your stuff. Because Wes is going to be at Rigglyfield with his Chicago dad. That is not eye-oiled, yeah. I told you this plan, but I'm sure our listeners will love him. No, I love it. My dad is from Chicago, Born and Raised. Now he's been in Pittsburgh for almost 40 years. He got his first job here with the symphony when he was when he was 23. He's now 61. So yeah, he's been here for like 38, 39 years. I didn't know this was that long, but wow.

35:12He has been converted. He still roots for the Bears, but he's a bigger Steelers fan. Still roots for the Black Hawks, but he's a bigger penguins fan. Yeah. But obviously the Bulls are. But still the Bulls, the Bulls and the Cubs are like in 2016, I was living in Philadelphia when the Cubs finally won the World Series in like the 108-year streak. I FaceTime my dad and he's crying like a baby. So he has always wanted to take me to Rigglyfield for a Cubs game. We've never been able to mark work it out because of like me working in sports and the schedule and the timing and he's retired. And he's retired now, you know, he was in the symphony. And so we are going to the Cubs home open or Thursday, March 26th. We're flying out of Pittsburgh in the morning. His like best buds are picking us up. The four of us are going to the game. We're going to dinner and we're flying home all in one day. That's crazy. He called me like two weeks ago and was like, do you think we got tickets? Do you think we can make this work? I was like, Pops, he was like, I'll pay for everything. He's like, I just want you to go with.

36:13He's like, I got the flights. My body's got the tickets. Like, I just want you to be there with us. And I was like, Pops, we'll make it happen. Let's do it. That's cool. So March 26th, I'll be taking a maintenance day. I'll be taking a veteran's day. I guess I should make an high appointment for March 26th. You got three weeks out to let you know because Wes will be in Rigglyville and I don't know. Not whatever famous food, Chicago dogs. That's what I was wanting to say, Dodger dogs for a second. I was like, that's not right. That's L.A. The beef is in there in Chicago too. Oh, it sure is. And they've got some good, some good food options there in the Wendy city for sure. Oh, yeah. Okay. I thought so. Yeah. We were talking Game of Thrones earlier. Of all like the current right now shows. It might be number one for me. So good. Yeah. So good. Matt Jordan Schultz, of course, NFL insider reporting much kind of what you alluded to in the first hour of the show that the trade market for Max Crosby is heating up. Teams have gotten, teams have gotten the sense that the Raiders are ready to make the move. So it's only going to intensify. Okay.

37:13Now, I don't think it's only the bears. Same. I think the Patriots could make a ton of sense. I heard the Eagles, but I don't know how that works. They're money, but they always make it work. I almost, when we were talking about AJ Brown, I'm like, could AJ Brown go to the Raiders and Max and, you know, something happens there? What about someone like the bills? Like just pushing all their chips in? I don't know if he could do it after DJ Moore. Yeah. I mean, yesterday you might have convinced me because I just know they're up against a cap wise. I look at like the lions. It might be slipping on you. Lions is a good one. They're starting to go backwards a little. Like, can we just make a big move to get us back on top? Hmm. I mean, there's like the box of the world that could definitely use them. You know what I mean? It's not hard to come up with teams. I don't know who makes a ton of sense. I do think he moves soon. I concur. It feels that way. It certainly, certainly feels. It's such a big contract. You'd like to know these things before the league year starts. Before the league year starts. Before free agency in the draft and all that stuff. Let's see here. Let's get to some tweets as we close this thing down.

38:16T-Mac tweets us and says, where are we on the Brian Thomas Jr. trade train? What would you be willing to give up? I like Iyuk, but coming off major injury off field issues. I think parlaying him might be bad for the nest. I get that. I understand the immense amount of variance within Iyuk move. I might even say in risk because I don't think it's going to cost you an arm in a leg. We're trading for him a year or two would have been way more. I love Brian Thomas. I'm a big fan. Love. Not as much as Kayla Williams love taking sacks last year. But I worry a little. I'd give you a second. I mean, because he's young, cost controlled, all that stuff is wonderful. You could still you're still a lot of pick up his fifth year option. But. And it's probably as good options you can get. I mean, I think he's an equal prospect as anyone coming out in the draft. Give or take. A little more refined. My only butt is the McCarthy offense.

39:17We talked a lot about this with like Nate Tyson people at the combine. Thomas is not an instant get open guy. He's kind of a long build up beat you over the top. Kind of got that guy. You know, but that's the awesome twin towers on the side. With one down Robinson or somebody doing the little stuff. But. I don't know that he's going to beat you on the quick slant. Over and over and over to death with, you know, initial quickness. So stylistically, he's not my favorite. But an opportunity to get someone that talented at this stage of his career. A one's off the table. Yeah. More or less to listen. Yeah. I mean, certainly like two threes. Third this year and a fourth next year. Or do you want to say that you just want to do it? Yeah. I don't think they need more than that. Corbin tweets us and says does Mike McCarthy being an offensive minded head coach? Guarantee that the Steelers first pick will be an offensive player.

40:18No. No, I don't think it guarantees, but I think it shades that way. Is that a fair way to put it? But I wouldn't phrase it because of who they had coaches. I think it's because the quarterbacks coming next year. It's nest. You know what I mean? Like, maybe there's a detackled that were convinced. Maybe they're light on corners and free agency and you grab one of those guys. Maybe it's them in. But that's only like four names I could come up with that are possible on defense. Where I got ten on. Well, we're 10 or I mean, two or three o'limes and two or three wide receivers. Yeah. Even more. Yes. But I know it's saying. But I think it's just more important to build a young nest for the quarterback next year than it is to. I'd love to get young and talented on defense, too. But I just think the offense needs more work for big picture. I agree. And. I we all know they got to add some wide receivers. For sure. But with how deep this class is.

41:18I they could go a different direction with the first pick and then still address that around. And two receiver can be very useful with one of their trio of third round picks. Jeremy. Sudez tweets us and says, how do you feel about signing a free agent safety and still drafting one? I feel like they're solid value in both the free agency pool and the draft class. That's my exact plan. Yeah. Yeah. And. If it's a if it's a dugger or a Malik hooker who's like your third guy. Yeah. And then you draft somebody. Or. Yeah. More like I'm signing my starter. I'm signing a starter. And then take a third or fourth round safety. Something like that. Yeah. Okay. And I'm going to get like cook from Kansas City or. What's his name? The dude. Dude from the cult. Yeah. 25 years old. That's one of my favorite targets in free agency pay him a little more than you think he should. Having for the next three or four years and then throw a third round safety in the mix. I think that's the approach. And that's why I didn't want to give up 21 for the amendment. Just because if I if you do that move, if you assign cook or one of these other.

42:22Then I don't need three starters there, you know. Last week of the day here to close us down on this Thursday goes to smooth Dave who says hypothetical. Let's say that the Steelers land Malik Willis. Now, how good of a year would he have to have to prevent you from drafting a quarterback from this class next year? I would hate to miss out on a great quarterback class and be in quarterback purgatory with a average quarterback on a nice contract. I mean, I agree with that. It's a great question. It's a great conversation. It's a very good hypothetical. Yeah. But it's also really one hard one. It's hard to answer. You know, like I can't give you like. He has to be this has to be his interception to touchdown ratio. I think he would have to be it. I don't know. Like if we just did like EPA or some advanced that if he was top 15. I don't know. I don't. I mean, if you have the fifth pick in the draft and there's a great one there, I don't think you'd say no no matter what. Because you could you could trade Willis again.

43:22Like that was a successful year. He was good. I don't know if he's the answer. I bet I can flip it for a third round pick. Sure. That's a good point. Yeah. Because he's under contract soon. If he's the 16th best quarterback in the NFL, somebody would somebody would sign up for his services. I think my short answer would be like he has to show me a lot like all like almost an all pro caliber that he can become a. Yes. I don't need him to be one of the top five quarterbacks in the league. But like, oh, he's striding that direction. And he's only 26 27. Yeah. You know, like Greco sell the usual had a great conversation about this. He's like, Willis only through 200 passes or whatever. He's never thrown or I forget how crazy he's saying he's never thrown more than 23 passes in a game. I think that was the number. Maybe it's 21. Maybe it's 24. I don't know. And he's going to have to, you know, like my question isn't I think he's the best running the quarterback in the league right now. I think he's better in Lamar. I think he's better in Allen. All those guys debatable. But I don't know. Can he drop back 30 times against Matthew Stafford?

44:22You know what I mean? That's where I need my quarterback to be. I just haven't seen it. Totally. There's glimpses that he can. Yes. But I need that question answered. Yes. And if he's an 18 game starter. You would get that question answered. Yeah. You're going to play the bangles once or twice in a game that's erased a 40 and can you hang with Joe? We'll see. We'll see. Yeah. That is a fun hypothetical. That's an interesting hypothetical. Yeah. But that will do it for us today. Thanks to everybody for the tweets. One or two there that we didn't have time to get to. But I'll bookmark them and we'll save them for tomorrow. Tomorrow will be Friday on the show. Matt, I'm not sure. I can tell you. I can tell you this. We'll have some more news of the day. Sure thing will happen. Yeah. Cuts and releases and kind of the last day to T.S. Up before we get to that negotiating period and free agency in the bullets really flying next week. But that will do it for us for today. Thanks too. Justin Miller on the ones and twos. Mr. TV Tyler V on the video side producing things keep on a sharp on YouTube. And of course for the great Matt Williams and I'm what you'll learn.

45:24Take care everybody. We'll talk to you tomorrow. As always, you know where to find us. It's on your 24 seven home of the black and gold. Steelers nation radio on the Steelers audio network. We see you. Your calendar's color coded. Your outfit for tomorrow is already laid out. You have everything in top of where labeled in your fridge. You buy in bulk. You meal prep. You know what you're doing in 2027. You're a planner. And we're here to say you don't have to do it all. S&T Bank makes banking easy from our friendly team to our online and mobile solutions. We do more so you can do less. Stop by your local branch. Visit STBank.com or call 800-325-2265 S&T Bank member FDIC.