My 2008 Steelers Offseason

[schnoah]

Alright guys, here is the deal. The Pittsburgh Steelers have roughly 22Million to use this offseason.

In this offseason we have ALOT to work on.

We are losing:
Alan Faneca - UFA
Trai Essex - RFA
Max Starks - UFA
Clark Haggans - UFA
Greg Warren - RFA
Chris Kemoeatu - RFA
Nate Washington - RFA
Nick Eason - UFA
Travis Kirschke - UFA
Marquis Cooper - UFA
Dan Kreider - UFA

Ok, the players that i see us bringing back??

Haggans at a minimum (if not Woodley is ready to go, shown tonight)
Chris Kemoeatu
Greg Warren
Prolly 1 maybe 2 of the lineman.
Nate Washington to be the 4th reciever

Ok, so that is prolly going to take up say 4-5 Million... leaving us with 18M
We are also going to need prolly 4 million to sign our draft picks. Down to 14M.

Ok, now they are going to talk about getting Ben's contract EXTENSION! He is in the final year 2 years of his contract, so his contract i dont see eating up anymore than 2-4M (Signing bonus spread out) So we are down to 10M!

So going into the FA market we have roughly 10M to spend! This is if we do not approach anyone about taking a pay cut. Possible People we could ask??

Possible Restructures and Cuts
Kiesel is 2 years into a 4 year 13.1M (3.9M signing bonus) (due $4,072,500 each of the next 2 seasons)

Farrior is in his last year of his 5 year deal, and he is owed $4,498,750 this season. Sad to say, but if he doesnt restructure he could be cut!

Batch is in the final year of his contract and is owed $1,621,667 (i pray he isnt cut)

Parker is in the final 2 years of his contract could get him to sign long term? He is owed ($4,087,500 in '08 and $4,537,500 in '09) He could by re-signing really help our cap relief! (especially if he knows its getting another lineman)

Tuman is owed $1,700,000 next season, yea.. he is gone!

Cedric Wilson is owed $2,585,000 next season, yea... he is gone!

Marvel Smith is in the final year of his contract, his salary cap hit is $6,645,500... now with the people we have leaving i dont see us cutting him, but could be asked to restructure or threaten to be cut, worst case get a 2 year extension?

Ok, i think we get around 6M out of Cuts, Restructures and Extensions!

So we are at say 16Million for the FA period! This gives us good money to see whats out there!

Ok, so who do we go after in the FA period? This is players who i would like to see the Steelers Target.

D.J. Hackett - WR -  Tall Reciever good hands
Ryan Diem - OT - not a FA but most likely cap casualty
Jake Scott - OG - Good all around G (could be Faneca replacement)
Domonique Foxworth - CB - Good cover guy
Randall Gay - Love the way he plays in the secondary
Marcus Trufant - Could team with Taylor and be lockdown CB (dont like locking up that much money in the secondary) (taylor, troy, and trufant)

Ok those are the players that i know of that will be most likely available and could really help us! I didnt list but one WR because there is ALOT of WR who are tall and good hands recievers available in the draft to be had wherever we decide to take one...

Ok, now who is available that the Steelers should Target? I will start with the Biggest Needs, being OL, DL, and WR... from the looks of it the Steelers will be selecting in the 24th spot unless Titans win.

Also, you have to think about the Compensation draft picks. If the Steelers Lose, Faneca and Haggans then they will prolly get a 3rd for Faneca and a 4th for Haggans.  Leaving the Steelers with 8 picks i believe after giving up the 7th rounder for Rossum.

Ok, players i want the steelers to Target, in no order!

2008 Draft Prospects:
Michael Oher, OG/OT Mississippi
Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma
Ryan Clady, OT Boise State
Sam Baker, OT Southern California
James Hardy, WR Indiana
Jeff Otah, OT Pittsburgh
Frank Okam, DT Texas (depending if we stay 3-4 or go to the 4-3)
Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida
Red Bryant, DT Texas A&M (either defense)
Eric Young, OG Tennessee
Dre Moore, NT Maryland (3rd no earlier to backup casey)
Dwight Lowery, CB San Jose State (3rd no earlier kinda a project)
Roy Schuening, OG Oregon State (i loved watching him in his bowl game)
Terrell Thomas, CB Southern California
Jonathan Hefney, S Tennessee
Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina
Chevis Jackson, CB Louisiana State
Craig Steltz, S Louisiana State
Trae Williams, CB South Florida
Keenan Burton, WR Kentucky
Steve Justice, C Wake Forest
Aqib Talib, CB Kansas
Reggie Smith, CB Oklahoma
Jack Ickeguanu, CB Wisonsin
Kenny Phillips, S Miami

Ok, those are the first 3rounds or so guys... now these are the guy i want to see us go after from about the 4th round on!

Zack Bowman, CB Nebraska
Joe Flacco, QB Delaware (5th or 6th round to be backup to Ben)
Nick Hayden, DL Wisconsin
Chad Henne, QB Michigan
Shannon Tavega, OG Southern California
Jordan Grimes, OG Purdue
Ray Rice, RB Rutgers
Tony Hills, OT, Texas
Allen Patrick, RB, Oklahoma
Owen Schmitt, FB West Virginia
Davone Bess, WR Hawaii
Jasper Brinkley, MLB South Carolina
Beau Bell, MLB UNLV
Sean Bailey, WR Georgia
Dorien Bryant, WR Purdue
Erik Ainge, QB Tennessee
Adam Kraus, OG Michigan
John David Booty, QB USC
Will Arnold, OG LSU
Jehuu Caulcrick, FB Michigan State (short yardage big back)
Jamie Silva, S Boston College
Paul Hubbard, WR Wisconsin
Derek Fine, TE Kansas (Undrafted) to be the 3rd TE

Now obviously we are not gonna get everyone i have listed here, and some of those are not even really possible drafting in our spot... but this is my list of Prospects that the Steelers should really start with and go from there. We will have a good chance to draft one of everyone of these guys in the upcoming draft.

I think we are going OL prolly in the 1st and maybe 2nd if not we will look WR in the 2nd get someone who has slipped. Then we will go from there... from the 5th and 6th rounds WE HAVE TO draft a QB... Batch will be gone after this season, and we need someone to learn the offense. Flacco and Henne are my 2 picks, Flacco could be gone earlier than that, but he is like a Ben clone. So would be nice to have one of them learning the offense!

So what do you guys think... how does this offseason look for you guys? did i do ok?

[TwistedLemon]

Alot to read and take in, and I have not finished my first coffee of the day.

One flaw, unless I am wrong, the Compensatory picks you speak of for Faneca and Haggens.......If it were to fall that way I believe we would get those picks next season (2009 Draft).

Pretty sure we have only 6 this season, unless we trade for more.

[scballersc]

Quick Question...Where is Jake Long (OT/Michigan) projected to go in the draft?

Really though, I wouldn't be surprised to see Tomlin draft two linebackers, first and second round, that won't see the field in '08.

[napgamer]

Franchise Faneca first.  Then cut Mahan and draft sign or trade for a center That guy is a joke as a center.  He might be back up material but I can't handle another season with him as a starter.
 

[give'emthaboot]

SING POLE SPICEY!!1

[DCSteelers]

Starks and Haggans should be resigned, IMHO, I don't think we have any other choice.

We need the LB depth, and, entirely plausible, even though in the preseason laughable, that Max could be our future LG.  If not, depth.

I am in the camp of franchising Faneca.  Why let him walk with no compensation until 2009?  The center idea is not a bad notion.  I don't think Mahan will be our starter next year, but will be depth.  Stapleton?


I can see Kemo getting tendered, then signed longer before the season starts and replacing Faneca either this year or next at guard.

 

[jonzr]

They can't franchise Faneca.  He's a UFA, you can only franchise RFAs.
 

[steelers4lyfe333]

Rooneys will never franchise tag a guy who doesnt wanna be here n I personally think its time to move on past Faneca..

After Trais performance last night he deserves a small deal.. Maxs injury prob really hurt him having a new deal.. I see him leaving

Haggans wants to be a Steeler.. n hell get a small deal as a backup and ST player.. Hes actually pretty good on ST

Nate Kemo and Warren will all get deal..They wont demand much at all

Sadly Krieder is as good as gone..Cooper will take minimum so he might sign..

Eason vs Travis.. Only 1 gets a contract... Travis is getting up there soo i think Eason will get the nod and a small contract

I agree prob Tuman n Cedrick get the boot...Hope Farrior n Keisel take a cut.. along wit Willie...

In FA... no way we sign a CB...Id look 4 a center if a good 1 is available...Prob no1 good available though..

In the draft...Id love Clady in the 1st...Either a wr or center in the 2nd..DL in the 3rdor 4th... Later QB...

[shills]

Quick Question...Where is Jake Long (OT/Michigan) projected to go in the draft?

Top 5

[DCSteelers]

They can't franchise Faneca.  He's a UFA, you can only franchise RFAs.

huh?