Scout’s Eye with Matt Williamson: How should they react?

0:00Hello everyone, I'm Matt Williamson, how's it going? Recording this Tuesday evening and really say that because there is so much moving and shaking in the league right now. As I warned you, and as is the case every year, as we prepare for the new league year and free agency in the window for franchise tags just came and went, sealers didn't use that for any reason, nor did any of us think they would. But I wanted to react to some of the news of the day and even a couple rumors and whatnot. But the first thing is the Cardinals have told Kyler Murray, they will release him at the start of the new league year. So the day that the free agency opens, Kyler Murray will get cut. Of all the potential next Darnell, Daniel Jones, Baker, Mayfield, the guys that were drafted

1:07high that haven't quite lived up to expectations or flat out failed, I think Murray this year is the most likely highly drafted guy to resurrect his career. However, I don't think he's for me, I don't think he's for the Steelers. I do not want a little quarterback, even I think it was Omar at the Combine was talking about AFC North quarterback and by that I think he means someone that looks like Ben, you know, six, five big strong Cam Newton body type as opposed to Kyler Murray, little guy. I think there's something he said for that and I think Pickett's lack of physicality and whatnot hurt him while he was here. Murray also is somewhat of a declining athlete, but he can still scoot, he fits my mold in terms of has to be at least athletic enough, he's definitely that. But his shortness really hinders his ability to throw in the field.

2:11And the league has adjusted very much and he's coming off another injury. He used to be a very good deep ball thrower, but now the league has adjusted to that and he's not quite as good at that either. So he doesn't sting you over the top like you used to. There are questions about his work ethic and how much he loves Call of Duty or whatever game he plays, but you hear less and less of that stuff and maybe that's a cardinal thing more than a Kyler thing. But I don't think he's for me. I think he ends up in Minnesota or Atlanta or with the Jets or maybe even the Brown, something like that. But I do not think that's somebody that I'm, oh, I'm excited he's on the open market for the Steelers. So I'm going to say no to Kyler and I bet they agree with me. Yeah, the NFL season's done, but is it ever really?

3:15You can still bet online with America's best sports betting site, the Fandall Sportsbook. 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. For a dull moment, never an inactive moment. The best place to bet on sports, play online games, build your fantasy team. Is it Fandall? Okay, some other news mentioned the franchise tags. Another quarterback, Daniel Jones got the transition tag. Now this doesn't directly affect the Steelers. I never thought Daniel Jones was leaving the Colts. I never thought he was an option for the Steelers. All those things look to be true. Transition tag means other teams could still offer him a contract. Colts could choose to match it or not. I don't not think the Steelers are going to offer him 50 million to be their quarterback

4:18coming off a major injury where he's had half of a very good year. So I think that is important in this equation. But what seems to be the case is it does not look like the Colts then in turn also use the tag. You can't use two franchise tags, but you can use a transition and you can use a franchise tag. And I'm recording this at 422 Eastern and it does not appear as though out Pierce is going to get the transition or the franchise tag from the Colts. There were a lot of rumors that Pierce would was informed, hey, you're not going to leave in the enapolis. And maybe they have a deal worked out that this has not been announced yet when I hit record. So maybe when you listen, it's like, oh, Pierce signed a three-year deal worth, you know, a lot of million dollars, possibly. But I do think from where we sit in the Steeler-wide receiver position, this is not necessarily

5:18good news because I don't think all of a sudden the Steelers are going to be in the Pierce market. He's a really good player. He's a little redundant to Metcalf in terms of down field ability, size, you know, type dude, not a quick hitter McCarthy Rogers type receiver. But I think the bigger problem is, and no, by the way, you're not going to compete with the Titans that have the most free agency money in the league. If they want them, they're going to overpay them. You know, there's a couple teams like that. But the bigger ramifications were what I was hoping for and I brought this up with you guys a couple times was, I kind of wanted Pierce to stay in India on a big contract and then they move on from Pitman. This might not excite you guys a lot, but of the potential veterans out there, I think my two favorites, and again, this doesn't mean you would not use serious draft capital receiver in addition to, but Pitman really interests me and Brandnaiuk, I keep going

6:22back to Brandnaiuk. He's only 27 years old. Maybe there's a screw loose there and I don't know what's going on there, but I don't think there's any chance they don't release him soon. You know, it's much like the Kylin Murray conversation. He was awesome two years ago, still in his prime, really good route runner, really good fit that you're buying at a discount. I don't know what you're getting with the attitude, the injury, there's weirdness going on there. He wouldn't cost you a pick, you could take the roll the dice on him, still draft the receiver high, Pitman and Iyuk are the two that are dittable, at least I thought they were, and I know if Iyuk still is, is that I would be really kicking the tires hard on, crushing those tires. Another note, this isn't official, but several verified Twitter accounts, again, I'm

7:22recording it for 25 now, Eastern have indicated and Vegas odds have greatly backed this up, that Max Crosby is going from the Raiders to the Bears, which makes a ton of sense for Chicago. I mean, that's exactly the piece they might need to get over the top. But it's also rumored, almost verified, that DJ Moore would be part of that deal and go to the Raiders. Couple of things with that, the Bears have are very tight against the cap, and they know way they could have seen coming, they're starting center, who's only 27 years old, they signed with three year deal a year ago, went to the Pro Bowl, would retire at 27, Drew Dalman. So in order to fit a Crosby in there, and then still try to get your center needs, and they have some book work to do. Which is, be a huge reason why DJ Moore would be a part of that trade.

8:23Now the Raiders, certainly could use DJ Moore. He's not my favorite receiver out there, but he's had a good career. He's a heck of a lot better than what they've played with last year, a wide receiver. Mendoza thrown to DJ Moore in Bowers with Gentie, and okay, they've been linked to Linder Bomb. Okay, I mean, that looks like an NFL offense, unlike last year, but I bring this up just because that would also take DJ Moore out of the Steelers realm of possibilities as veteran receivers. It doesn't break my heart, but assuming these things are true, more peers, et cetera, it just is some dominoes falling, I guess without the Steelers getting their receiver as the dominoes fall. That doesn't mean they won't, I mean, I mentioned Pittman, I mentioned IU Cavali. There's other veterans that are going to be on the move. I absolutely know that to be true. I think Romeo Dobbs is a real possibility.

9:24I kind of like Naylor and Wondell Robinson, now they wouldn't solve the problem as much as these other names you brought up. But I do think that we need to react because every move, every big move in the league affects all 32 teams. And I want to keep on track because this weekend's going to be busy. Next week is the busiest week of the NFL season, you know, starting probably Sunday with rumors, Monday with a legal tamper or legal tamper, and then free agency opens. So I'm probably going to do a lot of podcasts between now and then just talking about what does this ram, this move, how does the ramifications affect the Steelers? In this case, I think it does alter the wide receiver landscape, let's put it that way for all the teams, assuming I'm right on this Crosby deal and assuming something hasn't gotten done with Pierce unnoticed, unbeknownst to me at this time.

10:27So that's what I got for now. We'll do a lot of this type of thing, probably dig into a list of free agents I'd be pursuing outside the organization for the Steelers or some safety's in particular I like. But I think you can, this free agent crew is not top heavy. I mean, the league does not let stars just hit free agency, although the Bengals are letting Tray Hendrix and you know, walk. They may have some kind of handshake deals worked out from last year's craziness. There's too much money floating around to let stars that you love leave. Like I was listening to Greg Rosenthal who puts together a very good top 101 list of free agents on NFL.com. It's free. Go check it out. And I think he's dead on that he said, okay, the top 20 aren't great. But from like 40 to 90 on his list of top 101 free agents is really strong this year and

11:30a lot of them are younger and a couple of them are safe, these that I've mentioned. Romero dobs would be like in that category too. That would be pretty stealer attractive to me. So, hi everyone, take care.