NFL News 2021 NFL Free Agency/Trade News & Discussion: March Edition

[Deus Irae]

No, I'm saying that a team that builds its passing game around TEs and small slot guys won't spend the capital on the typical WRs.

What was being discussed was the drafting of WRs.

 

[RobertWeathers]

His list is clearly about drafted DBs, not UDFA rookie pick-ups. Bill probably does the best out of any GM ever at finding UDFA gems.

Not only finding, but developing them.

 

[upstater1]

I have to disagree on the higher picks point as being an excuse here. Since 2000 we spent 7 picks in the top 3 rounds and hit on 1. Thats considerably lower than our overall hit rate , actually its pretty awful. so theres no data to suggest more higher picks would improve us there let alone get us close to the Steelers.

Im not disagreeing that we may be close to the leaguewide average on wr drafting, but the Steelers are rightfully commended as being incredible at it.

All I meant is that the Steelers are lately spending a lot of top assets on WRs, I mean 4 2nd and 3rd rounders is a good chunk of assets. Which is why they hit. Just because the Patriots have been bad there doesn't lessen my point. If we had picked 24x with many more 2nd and 3rd rounders, we would have had a lot more good WRs.

In the last 10 years, we've only taken 1 WR other than Harry that high, and it was Aaron Dobson.

The Steelers have taken 4 in the last 4 years alone. And prior to that, they had 4 busts with those high picks.

 

[gobesmug]

No, I'm saying that a team that builds its passing game around TEs and small slot guys won't spend the capital on the typical WRs.

That's bogus. Chad Jackson was 6.2 220 and ran a 4.3.

Aaron Dobson was 6.4 and ran a 4.3.

Harry is 6.4 and 4.5.

Bill has tried and failed to draft a Wr that plays outside the sticks.

Edelman was almost a Giant because Bill didn't prioritize re-signing him because they signed Amendola and the 6.2 Brandon LeFell.

Bill has also traded for the 6.3, 4.3 speed Josh Gordon.

He also traded for the 6.4 4.2 speed Randy Moss and made him the highest paid Wr.

 

[Deus Irae]

All I meant is that the Steelers are lately spending a lot of top assets on WRs, I mean 4 2nd and 3rd rounders is a good chunk of assets. Which is why they hit. Just because the Patriots have been bad there doesn't lessen my point. If we had picked 24x with many more 2nd and 3rd rounders, we would have had a lot more good WRs.

In the last 10 years, we've only taken 1 WR other than Harry that high, and it was Aaron Dobson.

The Steelers have taken 4 in the last 4 years alone. And prior to that, they had 4 busts with those high picks.

WRs drafted by Pitt since BB took over in NE:



WRs drafted by BB since his arrival in NE:




Opportunities plays a role. But, it's not just about opportunities.

 

[Lansdowne]

I think you are underrating Givens, but that is OK. The Titans seemed to think highly enough of him to out bid us. I know that we missed him badly in '06. That winning TD in the '04 intentional safety game in Denver against the Kannel Broncos was HUGE, IMO.

LaFell and Caldwell (R.I.P.) made an impact...but they were free agent signings not drafted players. Man, Caldwell's grab @SD in '06 man.....

Third and long and he juked out Quentin Jammer for the long completion. Lost his balance and stepped out of bounds otherwise would’ve had the touchdown too. It was cool though because it allowed the Pats to use up more clock before taking the lead. What horror that must have been for the Chargers fans to see the receiver their team spent a second round pick on just four drafts prior, going and making the catch that ended their season.

I’ll never forget that night. Watched the game at The Greatest Bar near Causeway, the place went ballistic when Troy Brown caused that fumble and when Reche Caldwell made that catch! Chargers fans often trolled this forum that season and it was so, so satisfying to see them shut up afterward.

 

[mgteich]

So, if BB takes Smith, Waddle, or trades up for Chase....those guys will DEFINITELY be busts?

no

 

[mgteich]

He's still the Ravens' returner, right?

all that matters is how he was rated by patsfans cposters.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

All I meant is that the Steelers are lately spending a lot of top assets on WRs, I mean 4 2nd and 3rd rounders is a good chunk of assets. Which is why they hit. Just because the Patriots have been bad there doesn't lessen my point. If we had picked 24x with many more 2nd and 3rd rounders, we would have had a lot more good WRs.

In the last 10 years, we've only taken 1 WR other than Harry that high, and it was Aaron Dobson.

The Steelers have taken 4 in the last 4 years alone. And prior to that, they had 4 busts with those high picks.

We’ll have to agree to disagree. If we could actually prove that we do well with higher wr picks I would agree but the data shows otherwise on top round picks since 2000(again, 1of 7 in rds 1-3 ). Pittsburgh has proven it in total #s and in percentages, any what ifs putting us on their level with drafting wrs is purely theoretical and not backed by whatever data we do have.

 

[gobesmug]

All I meant is that the Steelers are lately spending a lot of top assets on WRs, I mean 4 2nd and 3rd rounders is a good chunk of assets. Which is why they hit. Just because the Patriots have been bad there doesn't lessen my point. If we had picked 24x with many more 2nd and 3rd rounders, we would have had a lot more good WRs.

In the last 10 years, we've only taken 1 WR other than Harry that high, and it was Aaron Dobson.

The Steelers have taken 4 in the last 4 years alone. And prior to that, they had 4 busts with those high picks.

Chase Claypool 2nd Rd (Looks like a stud, 873 yards and 9TDs)

Deiontae Johnson 3rd Rd (Looks like a stud. 900+ yards and 7tds in his second year)

James Washington 2nd Rd (750 yards with 3Td in his second season. Fell in depth chart behind Juju, Deiontae, and Claypool)

JuJu Smith-Schuster 2nd rd (Really good slot Wr that made AB expendable)

Sammie Coates 2nd Rd (Bust but had more receiving yards in his second season than Harry has in his career to date. The Steelers even get a little production out of their busts)

Martavis Bryant 4th Rd (Had 8Tds his rookie season, 2nd season had 758 yards, 6Tds in only 11 games. Third season he started to get into trouble but still out up 600 yards with 3TDs)

Markus Wheaton 3rd Rd (2nd season 644 Yards 2 TDs, 3rd season 749 Yards with 5Tds, injured in 4th season was never the same afterwards)


Emmanuel Sanders 3rd Round (No further info needed)

Mike Wallace 3rd Rd (Nothing needed)

That's the Steelers last 9 draft picks in the top 4 rounds of the draft. They have All Pro talent, pro bowl talent and very solid performers. They only had 1 true bust in Sammie Coates. Martavis and Wheaton looked good until injuries/trouble ruined their careers. James Washington is just buried behind better players.

 

[Deus Irae]

 

[upstater1]

Chase Claypool 2nd Rd (Looks like a stud, 873 yards and 9TDs)

Deiontae Johnson 3rd Rd (Looks like a stud. 900+ yards and 7tds in his second year)

James Washington 2nd Rd (750 yards with 3Td in his second season. Fell in depth chart behind Juju, Deiontae, and Claypool)

JuJu Smith-Schuster 2nd rd (Really good slot Wr that made AB expendable)

Sammie Coates 2nd Rd (Bust but had more receiving yards in his second season than Harry has in his career to date. The Steelers even get a little production out of their busts)

Martavis Bryant 4th Rd (Had 8Tds his rookie season, 2nd season had 758 yards, 6Tds in only 11 games. Third season he started to get into trouble but still out up 600 yards with 3TDs)

Markus Wheaton 3rd Rd (2nd season 644 Yards 2 TDs, 3rd season 749 Yards with 5Tds, injured in 4th season was never the same afterwards)


Emmanuel Sanders 3rd Round (No further info needed)

Mike Wallace 3rd Rd (Nothing needed)

That's the Steelers last 9 draft picks in the top 4 rounds of the draft. They have All Pro talent, pro bowl talent and very solid performers. They only had 1 true bust in Sammie Coates. Martavis and Wheaton looked good until injuries/trouble ruined their careers. James Washington is just buried behind better players.

I was referring to Limas Sweed as the 4th high drafted bust.

As for Wheaton, we are really scraping he bottom of the barrel here if you think he was a huit.

Brandon Tate had a better career than him.

And heck, Tate had the same career as Martavis.

So what are we doing here? I'm counting them all as bad picks.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Chase Claypool 2nd Rd (Looks like a stud, 873 yards and 9TDs)

Deiontae Johnson 3rd Rd (Looks like a stud. 900+ yards and 7tds in his second year)

James Washington 2nd Rd (750 yards with 3Td in his second season. Fell in depth chart behind Juju, Deiontae, and Claypool)

JuJu Smith-Schuster 2nd rd (Really good slot Wr that made AB expendable)

Sammie Coates 2nd Rd (Bust but had more receiving yards in his second season than Harry has in his career to date. The Steelers even get a little production out of their busts)

Martavis Bryant 4th Rd (Had 8Tds his rookie season, 2nd season had 758 yards, 6Tds in only 11 games. Third season he started to get into trouble but still out up 600 yards with 3TDs)

Markus Wheaton 3rd Rd (2nd season 644 Yards 2 TDs, 3rd season 749 Yards with 5Tds, injured in 4th season was never the same afterwards)


Emmanuel Sanders 3rd Round (No further info needed)

Mike Wallace 3rd Rd (Nothing needed)

That's the Steelers last 9 draft picks in the top 4 rounds of the draft. They have All Pro talent, pro bowl talent and very solid performers. They only had 1 true bust in Sammie Coates. Martavis and Wheaton looked good until injuries/trouble ruined their careers. James Washington is just buried behind better players.

Wheaton and Bryant weren’t hits, no matter how you try to spin it. Washington has had his moments but his production is not what you’d want from a 2nd round pick. Johnson has been very productive but also lead the league in drops last year, or close to it. Did you not know that about Johnson or did you intentionally leave that out?

Steelers' Diontae Johnson heads to bench after multiple drops early vs. Bills

The second-year wideout entered 'SNF' with an NFL-high 10 drops

www.cbssports.com

 

[Deus Irae]

As for Wheaton, we are really scraping he bottom of the barrel here if you think he was a huit.

Brandon Tate had a better career than him.

That's not even remotely accurate.

Wheaton:



Tate:

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Wheaton and Bryant weren’t hits, no matter how you try to spin it. Washington has had his moments but his production is not what you’d want from a 2nd round pick.

Wheaton i May agree, but they drafted Bryant in round 4 and traded him for a 3rd rounder when they were done with him. That’s definitely a hit

 

[Patsgofor4]

Wheaton i May agree, but they drafted Bryant in round 4 and traded him for a 3rd rounder when they were done with him. That’s definitely a hit

No, that means that the Raiders were definitely suckers for paying that price.

 

[gobesmug]

I was referring to Limas Sweed as the 4th high drafted bust.

As for Wheaton, we are really scraping he bottom of the barrel here if you think he was a huit.

Brandon Tate had a better career than him.

And heck, Tate had the same career as Martavis.

So what are we doing here? I'm counting them all as bad picks.

He got hurt and it derailed him. If he was a bad pick then so was Malcolm Mitchell.

Limas Sweed was a bust but he was taken before Mike Wallace. You said the 4 before the last 4 were terrible. Clearly you were wrong.

As for Tate, no, Tate was a good return man and that's it. His best year as a wr was 400 yards and 3 TDs. Even Sammie Coates matched that.

 

[gobesmug]

Wheaton and Bryant weren’t hits, no matter how you try to spin it. Washington has had his moments but his production is not what you’d want from a 2nd round pick. Johnson has been very productive but also lead the league in drops last year, or close to it. Did you not know that about Johnson or did you intentionally leave that out?

Steelers' Diontae Johnson heads to bench after multiple drops early vs. Bills

The second-year wideout entered 'SNF' with an NFL-high 10 drops

www.cbssports.com

Edelman consistently leads the league in drops, so does that make Edelman a bust. Dude you were wrong, no shame in that.

Doubling down on being wrong makes you look dumb.

 

[venecol]

all that matters is how he was rated by patsfans cposters.

Is that supposed to say sh*tposters?

 

[TheRainMaker]

For fun, I complied a list of DB's drafted the last 20 years of the BB era:

JoeJuan Williams (2nd)
Ken Webster (7th)
Duke Dawnson (2nd)
Keion Crossen (7th)
Cyrus Jones (1st)
Darryl Roberts (7th)
Jemea Thomas (6th, listed as DB)
Logan Ryan (3rd, listed as DB)
Duron Harmon (3rd, listed as DB)
Tavon Wilson (2nd, listed as DB)
Nate Ebner (6th, listed as DB)
Alfonzo Dennard (7th, listed as DB)
Ras-I Downling (2nd)
Malcolm Williams (7th, listed as DB)
Devin McCourty (1st, listed as DB)
Patrick Chung (2nd, listed as DB)
Darius Butler (2nd)
Terrence Wheatley (2nd, listed as DB)
Jonathan Wilhite (4th, listed as DB)
Brandon Meriweather (1st, listed as DB)
Mike Richardson (6th, listed as DB)
Willie Andrews (7th, listed as DB)
Ellis Hobbs (3rd)
James Sanders (4th, listed as DB)
Guss Scott (3rd, listed as DB)
Dexter Reis (4th, listed as DB)
Christian Morton (7th, listed as DB)
Eugene Wilson (2nd, listed as DB)
Asante Samuel (4th)
Brock Williams (2nd)
Leonard Myers (6th)
Antwan Harris (6th, listed as DB...and drafted before Brady, LOL)

The guys in BOLD were good, had one good season or so (Wilhite, Sanders, Wilson), played better elsewhere, played well at another position, or made a huge play in the playoffs (Harris), and/or the jury is still out for (JWill).

Sorry, but I can't resist in the derailing of this thread. Nice list though. Dennard was a great find for the time being and looked very promising during the 2012 season, but then fell off a cliff a year later. Wilhite has nothing short of awful. And you forgot the boards new fan favorite Kyle Dugger.

So Jonathan Jones, Malcolm Butler, and JC Jackson don't count, huh?

No, because they weren't drafted and those players could've signed elsewhere.