Draft/Trades, a Balanced Offense, save Ben! Pt. II

by imike29 on Feb 21, 2012 9:37 AM EST

This is an update of this previous post from January 16th (Link below). My thoughts were of trading Wallace and rebuilding the OL, upgrading the running attack and to supply the offensive with a few new weapons who might be groomed this season to take over for veterans in the seasons to come.

Save Ben, Pt. 1

In the month since the above post, it would seem the Steelers (while wanting to try to sign him to a long term deal) will not franchise Wallace. To do so would cost the team $9.4 million this year, place them in the same position next year, where another tag would run them over $13 million. Unless he agrees on something reasonable for long term, the Steelers will never invest that type of money on a WR.

Now, if someone offers him a contract at less than $9.4 million, the Steelers will have the option to match it, thus saving themselves some money. If nobody signs him, the Steelers will save $2.7 million (I believe that is the difference between the franchise tag and the 1st round tender). If someone offers more than that, the Steelers can let him walk, and get the 1st rounder. If Baltimore or New England make an offer, the Steelers can decide if they want to match it or let him go to a rival.

In my opinion, Wallace will not be a Steeler much longer. I think the Steelers might be better served allowing Wallace to sign elsewhere and get the 1st rounder for him. Then, cut Hampton, trade up to get David DeCastro, and look at drafting one (or both) of those Arkansas WRs in the 3rd- 4th round (Joe Adams and/or Jarius Wright).

Based on the above, I would draft the following:

1st. David DeCastro OG Stanford

2nd. Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina (Added 2nd pick back in from the original post)

3rd. Joe Adams WR Arkansas (moved him up a round)

4th. (From Seattle) Ladarius Green TE La.-Lafayette (moved him back a round)

4th. Jarius Wright WR Arkansas

5th. Josh Chapman NT Alabama (Changed from Chad Diehl)

6th. Adrian Robinson OLB/DE Temple

7th. Chris Greenwood CB Albion

The trade of picks 24 and 31 to net Seattle’s pick at 11/12 and their 4th round pick. Based on the Draft Value Chart, the trade would be a wash:

24~ 740
31~ 600
11~ 1250
107~ 80

Drafted 2 wideouts to replace Mike Wallace and Hines Ward. I would resign Cotchery.

I would draft Chapman, and would even consider him higher, but from what I have seen in mocks et al, he seems to have a 5th round grade on him (we'll see how it plays out after the combine). This kid is is a run stuffer, a 2 down player who will clog up the middle. He is stout and strong! He will not get pressure on the QB, he will not run down anything, but he will keep those big OL off our LBs. Perfect! Rotate him with McClendon and I like the future of our DL!

Taking flyers with the last 2 picks..... Robinson was a sack machine and played all over the field for Temple. Greenwood is a taller, physical corner who can flat out fly (unfortuantely he was not invited to the combine)! I think he would get to much interest as an UDFA for us to sign him that way, he is a project with an upside.

I reluctantly dropped a FB from the last mock to this one. I was going to replace Robinson in the 6th with another Temple product, FB Evan Rodriquez. I think the organization wants to get back to being able to run the ball when needed (something that was lacking last year), and having a FB to block not only for the RB, but to pass protect will go along way to preserving Ben.

Finally, in free agency I would look for quality veterans to come in a help out now, especially at ILB and OT. I think this draft would solidify the left side of our OL for the next 8-10 years. Gilbert, DeCastro (who can pull) and Pouncey in the middle, sounds great to me! We would get a young CB in the 2nd round who is a zone cover guy, and a raw, talented CB to develop. Those two Razorback wideouts can play, and the TE could replace Miller when the time comes and a massive NT who does exactly what we need, clogs up the middle.

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Well

I like the effort but your premise is a bit off. The Steelers have full intentions of keeping Mike Wallace long term. They’re going to do everything in their power to franchise Wallace for $9.4. Colbert has said as much when he said they will consider tagging Wallace, and that they wouldare “protect their interests.”The idea is then sign him to a 4-6 year deal worth a lot of money, per typical with what happens with guys who get the tag.

That being said that doesn’t mean your scenario is implausible. They’re still is the chance we don’t get far enough under the cap to put up the $9.4 million and that we’re relegated to only placing a first round tender on him which would leave a good chance for any number of teams to sign him away at the cost of a first rounded. NE, SF, Cincy, Baltimore, all could afford both the cap hit and loss of a draft pick. If that happens then your scenario is fair game, and one that I’d be pleased with.

Personally I’d take Chapman as high the third, but NFL teams maybe scared off by the ACL situation. Not as important to a DT, but it’s not a good injury to have at such a young age.

I’d also probably prefer Bobby Wagner, ILB outta Utah State over Gilmore though O do like Gilmore.

All-in-all good job.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 21, 2012 12:20 PM EST via mobile reply actions

sorry my grammar is screwy here

I’m using a cell phone right now and it’s auto-correcting spell check is on crack.

The improper use of “They’re” was my own incompetence.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 21, 2012 12:24 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

If you were Wallace.....

Why would you sign for less? He is the premier deep threat in the NFL, he is 25 and only going to get better. This contract is going to be his pay day! At the end of a 5 year contract he would be 30, going into his 9th NFL year. Has he lost a step, does he still strike fear in opposing DBs and def coordinators? All things to consider for someone who many see as a one trick pony.

Why would he sign for less, he has the Steelers over a barrel! He will either be tagged at $9.4, or tendered and allowed to test the waters. If I were him, there would be no way I would settle for anything less. Maybe last year, where a team had to give up a 1st AND a 3rd AND had to folk over a huge contract, but this year? It’s just a first and huge money. If a team is going to gamble with a WR late in the 1st round, why not pick up Wallace…… I would want the sure thing, not the potential of it….. And how many 1st round WRs have not amounted to a hill of beans? If teams are going to throw out a few million on potential, how about shelling out a few million more for a proven star in his prime?

You know, even a team like Jacksonville should think of signing Mike Wallace…… If they draft Blackmon that high, going by last years contracts, they will be looking at $4-5M a year. This for a guy who does not have the best of hands, and Wallace probably could speed walk faster than Blackmon runs. While Blackmon has potential to be very good, he also has potential to be a bust (although I think he will be good, but that is the point, nobody knows).

Anyway, Wallace has 2 things all NFL teams crave, production and SPEED. To keep him long term we would have to assume a few things…..
1. We can create enough cap room to franchise him
2. He will accept less money per year (compared to the tag)
3. No team, NO TEAM will see value in him over a gamble pick in the 1st round.

Finally, I base much of my thoughts concerning Wallace on his body language from last year. As Brown continued to grow in the offense, Wallace seemed upset he was not the focal point any more. When I finally realized Wallace was a luxury for the Steelers, not the future….. During the last Browns game, Haden was lined up on Brown (not Wallace) and Antonio had a big game and was getting open.

One last thought, the Steelers struck it rich with Wallace, a late 3rd round pick who has blossomed into a star. The getting will never be higher for him, the return on investment (1st rounded for 3rd) never better. Sinking huge money into a WR is not practical. Use the freed up the money to sign a free veteran players, Soliai the NT from Miami is looking for something in the neighborhood of $6m per year. If the Steelers release Hampton, they will take something like $5.89m off the cap.

Instead of signing Wallace, how about cutting Hampton, signing Soliai, and using two first round picks in whatever way will benefit the team most. Just my opinions….. Really like Wallace in black and gold, but can’t see how with the holes, cap issues we have, how keeping him can improve any of those.

by imike29 on Feb 21, 2012 1:28 PM EST reply actions

wallace

i think you are crazy.
to let Wallace go and HOPE TO GET A GOOD RECEIVER IN THE DRAFT IS CRAZY. THE STEELERS ARE SET AT RECEIVER FOR YEARS TO COME, WHY MESS WITH THAT. THE STEELERS PAID LIMAS THE ’ BUST SWEED ’ FOR 3 YEARS AND NOW DON’T WANT TO PAY WALLACE, SHAMEFUL.

by george987789 on Feb 21, 2012 6:59 PM EST reply actions

I know ESPN teaches us that we must yell our points to make one, but that’s not really the way it has to be.

I don't get it, I've bought my wife a vacuum cleaner for Valentine's day four years in a row, and she still doesn't understand.......
just how much I love her

by FrankWyt on Feb 21, 2012 9:50 PM EST up reply actions

George, you pay Wallace this year......

And next year you have both Brown and Sanders as RFA. How much money are you planning to devote to the WRs? How about we just sign them all at ridiculous amounts and forget about filling any holes. We can be the equivalent of the Patriots…. Just try to outscore everyone.

If believing signing him to a huge contract is the right thing to do, you will have to cut around $15 million from the roster in the next few weeks…. Who are you cutting? Restructure deals, sure, just add to this mess in future years. The money will be due at some point. Personally, I think doing that is crazy.

by imike29 on Feb 21, 2012 7:32 PM EST reply actions