Scout’s Eye with Matt Williamson: D.J. Moore dilemma

0:00Hello everyone, I am Matt Williams and how's it going? Things are good here. I am getting really psyched for the new league year, free agency, all that good stuff. Every day we get something happening around the league, some big trades, McDuffee, DJ Moore. I'm going to get to that in a minute. But I guess the biggest stealer news since we got together was John who Smith is going to get released, save about 7 or 8 million against the cap. I've told you this is coming, this is a very, very easy one in my opinion. And I'm shocked at what this way. I like to pick up in the Ramsey Fitzpatrick deal of getting Smith. I thought he was a useful matchup advantage guy. And I really don't think that the sealers misused him as much as he just fell off a cliff. He knew he was never going to be a big time blocker by any tight end standards.

1:00But he couldn't get safety's blocked. I mean, really was pretty useless in that entire realm. But what shocked me more was I saw very little twitchiness to him. I didn't see him creating space as a coverage player, even against heavier linebackers or non-coverage players. Didn't see a great feel for zone, which surprised me quite a bit. But maybe most surprising, I saw very little after the catch. You know, even I know that some of the stuff just low depth of target teams have come up and tackled. But his average yards per catch was by far the lowest of his career. I don't know if he's done or not, or maybe he was fighting an injury or something ailment. But saving the money for somebody that I thought was honestly one of the worst players on the field. When he was out there is very easy. And then taking that up and launch, if they're going to live basically in three receiver sets,

2:04I do not need a third tight end making any kind of money whatsoever. Washington and Friar Moose might have a hard enough time getting on the field as much as we'd like for both of them. Or being used as much as we would for both of them. I don't know how much 12 personnel we'll see with both of them on the field. I hope some. My complaint, because frankly, I condoned it at the time, isn't necessarily trading for Smith or even extending him. I didn't think that was crazy. But I do think throughout the course of the year, the previous staff should have realized that this is a type of player that the opponent wants you to put out there. Thanks for putting Johnny on the field. We get to play a second because he can't really do anything well. And instead, they still let Smith cut into Friar Moose and Washington snaps way too much, in my opinion. I mean, be in the season, keep trying it. I think we make it work. End of the season, cut your losses and be like, okay, this guy really is not helping us whatsoever.

3:05So easy decision there. I mean, it's a small thing. I don't know if we brought up or not, but they also are going to cut Calvin Anderson, the tackle, not Spencer Anderson. I was shocked when they put an extra year on his deal recently. Then he got hurt last year. Not only saves about two million. So that's an additional just under 10 with those two cuts. I also think Dylan Cook's emergence made that even 10 times easier. I don't think they're counting on Calvin Anderson for anything. And it also implies to me they would not object to drafting a tackle for that roster spot that he had. If two millions worth more than him, which I think it is, easy decision as well. I kind of overlooked that one in the off season. And then the last one I think that should and will happen, but I guess there's no hurry for it. It's I think Harrison will get cut. And so your original cap numbers available to the Steelers should go up by about 14 or 15 million when it's all said and done. I haven't heard any indication that they agree with me on Harrison, but I think that's an easy one.

4:09I mean, he's somebody who just gets picked on in coverage. And really to no end when he's out there, he has a bulls eye on his chest in the passing game. Yeah, the NFL season's done, but is it ever really? You can still bet online with America's best sports betting site, the Fan Duel Sports Book. That includes all current sports, all of this summers coming sports. And hey, for what it's worth, you can get in on NFL action toward the 2026 season already. Never a dull moment, never an inactive moment. The best place to bet on sports, play online games, build your fantasy team. Is it Fan Duel? As is the case this time of year, a lot of things going around, around believe, influences all teams.

5:11And I think this DJ Moore trade is interesting, not that this parts are related, but I think the bears are now adding another second round pick. And more importantly, freeing up more cap space are gearing up to try to trade for Max Cosby. I wouldn't be shocked if that happens sooner than later. And hey, I guess from a similar perspective, you'd rather went to the bears than someone in the AFC. He's a force. But I was more influenced by a lot of you asking me, should the Steelers have made this move for DJ Moore? Yeah, he'd be useful. I mean, just like the bills, the Steelers would have killed for DJ Moore last year. And the bills have been looking for a receiver for a long time. Buffalo gave up a two for Moore and a five. And then had to inherit a big chunk of his substantial contract. I don't want to harp on this too much, but I would not have done the same if I were the Steelers.

6:11I'm not giving you a two, and that two would be earlier than the bills for Moore and a five. So if that's a going rate, you could have him. He would be on my veteran list of guys I'm interested in. And I'm not just saying this because how they got eliminated, because if you go back to the season before Ben Johnson got the Chicago, there's a lot of routes, DJ Moore. Let's just say, doesn't run to the fullest. And that's as kind as you can get and seemed very disengaged. And thus, Johnson takes over, watches all that tape, and draft Luther Burton to be his after the catch type guy, which Moore's strength is. I mean, he more is more than that, obviously. And clearly, he'll be the number one in Buffalo, but he's not a number one. He'd be a nice one, a to Metcalf. But at that price, I think I'd rather keep my assets, keep my cap space, then go down that road. I tend to think his best years are behind him,

7:15but I don't think he's falling off a cliff. That's not like he stinks. He can't invest in a guy who is slightly past his peak. I mean, that's, if his best year was two years ago, three years ago, whatever, it doesn't mean that he still can't have good years and be useful for you. That's not what I'm implying at all. But for that price, for that player, no. But I did want to throw something out at you, and I've mentioned this before. Keon Coleman now. He's been disappointing for the bills, and he went, not this last draft, but the year before, they traded back from like 29. If you remember, there were a ton of receivers that all went in that neighborhood. The Panthers traded up to get in the first round, drafted Legat, and Buffalo then didn't have a first round pick that year, but very, very early in the second round took Coleman. I'm sure they looked at it like Pierce all Legat, all these dudes who went in the same area or worth about the same for them,

8:15though it was take whichever one falls. And Coleman has not worked out. So I am interested, though. He is a former basketball player, 6'4", 6'5", not a super sudden mover, but they've miscast him to some degree, too, in that they have so many guys that are really best in the slot, that getting an outside receiver like DJ Moore is really long overdue, that I just because he looks like George Pickens and his tall and long, does not mean Coleman should be an outside on the line of scrimmage beating press man coverage prototypical receiver. That's not what he needs to be a slot, too, but that was Shakir's job. That was Kincaid's job. I think it'd be a big slot, Marquis Colston type guy that are becoming more and more popular. And why I'm spending time on Keon Coleman is,

9:17first off, the Steelers hired his position coach from last year to Bill's receiver coach for their offensive staff. I think the Bill's misused him. Maybe that coach had something to do with it, maybe that's just a philosophical thing, maybe I think, but more so, I think it's this team building that they drafted too many guys best in the slot, not enough guys that are good outside. But here's the kicker is, I bet you could get him for a fifth round pick at this point. Steelers have a ton of picks. And I would count him as like my third guy. I think you guys know me well enough at this point that I want to sign or trade for somebody that's a name, dogs, I you, pitman. There's the names I bring up the most. But there's others, that would have been the DJ Moore type of guy. I want to draft one in like the first or second round, maybe he needs me to wait the third, maybe, if you signed the first guy was a bigger dog. But I probably want to use one of my top two picks on a wide receiver. And then I want one more in the draft,

10:19deep receiver draft, fifth, sixth round type guy, preferably one with return skills, which Coleman does not have. But I think that would be my third guy that's not long go teams, including Buffalo looked at him like he could be a one or two. So I'm big on buying pedigree guys, this is a common thing too, but I am big on bringing in pedigree guys at a massive discount. If the bills are moving now for five, and I think they might, when the owner just destroyed this guy at the podium, not long ago, I think that's a move I'd make. All right, everyone, take care.