Steelers insider Mark Kaboly from The Athletic joined the show. Mark does not expect the Steelers to trade up in the 1st round of the draft unless it’s only a few picks ahead. Mark thinks the talks with the Bears are nothing more than the Steelers just doing due diligence on the teams ahead of them. He said it’s a pretty murky pre-draft process and the Steelers can go in a lot of different directions. Mark said Bud Dupree probably has a better opportunity at playing time in Atlanta and that’s why he’s not coming back. Mark believes corner is definitely a top priority in the draft, up there with offensive line. He said they better have a long list of guys they are in love with at 17th overall. Mark thinks DeMarvin Leal could be another option off the edge in depth. Mark thinks the sweet spot for wide receiver in the draft is probably the second day in rounds two or three. The final few minutes with Mark were very entertaining. 

The last time all three major pro Pittsburgh teams missed the playoffs was 2006, but it was right after the Steelers won the Super Bowl, so it really should feel like 2003. The Steelers and Penguins have missed the playoffs and the Pirates have lost 100 games in back-to-back seasons. 

Calls. 

Calls. 

The last time all three major pro Pittsburgh teams missed the playoffs was 2006, but it was right after the Steelers won the Super Bowl, so it really should feel like 2003. The Steelers and Penguins have missed the playoffs and the Pirates have lost 100 games in back-to-back seasons. 

The Penguins season is over after a loss in Columbus to round it out and this morning, Ron Hextall and Brian Burke were fired. We react. The guys said this is just the first of many steps to getting the Penguins back to the level we are used to seeing. The team is still full of bad contracts given to bad players. The next GM has a lot of fix. 

Just how badly did the Penguins front office screw up the organization? One of the top Penguins insiders in town just wrote a very damming article on Ron Hextall and how much he screwed the pooch. We discovered that Hextall is just a big baby. Poni wants them to change their structure. 

Calls. / Mock of the Day – Charles Davis on NFL dot com has Joey Porter Jr. going a pick ahead of them to Washington and the Steelers select Nolan Smith from Georgia. 

The Penguins season is over after a loss in Columbus to round it out and this morning, Ron Hextall and Brian Burke were fired. We react. The guys said this is just the first of many steps to getting the Penguins back to the level we are used to seeing. The team is still full of bad contracts given to bad players. The next GM has a lot of fix. 

Where are the Steelers going to go at 17th overall? Donny had Ryan Wilson on last night who had some interesting information regarding a potential trade up and who it would be for. The guys think Omar Khan and Andy Weidl love the idea of offensive tackle, Mike Tomlin loves Joey Porter Jr. and the scouting department wants Lukas Van Ness. What should they do? 

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. Ray does not expect the Steelers to have wide receiver as a major target in the draft. He talked into the possibility of Lukas Van Ness at 17th overall and how things could shake out with their two 2nd round picks. Ray does think edge rusher is a top three need for the Steelers. Ray would not be surprised if Joey Porter Jr. is still the guy they pick. The guys asked Ray how the Steelers will combat going from pick 120 to 234 and have nothing in between. Ray said a Bud Dupree reunion is less likely after the draft so he puts two weeks on the timeline. 

Hodgepodge of Nothingness.

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. Ray does not expect the Steelers to have wide receiver as a major target in the draft. He talked into the possibility of Lukas Van Ness at 17th overall and how things could shake out with their two 2nd round picks. Ray does think edge rusher is a top three need for the Steelers. Ray would not be surprised if Joey Porter Jr. is still the guy they pick. The guys asked Ray how the Steelers will combat going from pick 120 to 234 and have nothing in between. Ray said a Bud Dupree reunion is less likely after the draft so he puts two weeks on the timeline. 

Ben Roethlisberger took a shot at Lamar Jackson. Or did he? The guys, even Chris, said Ben was taken way out of context and he didn’t say anything much differently than what people already actually think

Mock of the Day – Josh Edwards from CBS has the Steelers taking Joey Porter Jr. 17th overall. 

Steve Palazzolo from Pro Football Focus joined the show. Steve thinks the Ben Roethlisberger comments about Lamar Jackson got way overblown and that he also isn’t wrong in his assessment. He said there is a lot of discourse with fans when they hear things they don’t want to about a player. Steve said there are 4 offensive tackles in the draft that are worth taking at 17th overall and he isn’t super high on Darnell Wright, despite what he’s done against big-time players in big games. 

Steve Palazzolo from Pro Football Focus joined the show. Steve thinks the Ben Roethlisberger comments about Lamar Jackson got way overblown and that he also isn’t wrong in his assessment. He said there is a lot of discourse with fans when they hear things they don’t want to about a player. Steve said there are 4 offensive tackles in the draft that are worth taking at 17th overall and he isn’t super high on Darnell Wright, despite what he’s done against big-time players in big games. 

Poni has the feeling the Steelers, through the scouting department, Omar Khan/Andy Weidl and Mike Tomlin, the Steelers will take Lukas Van Ness, Joey Porter Jr. or a top offensive tackle, depending on how the board breaks two weeks from tonight. Poni concluded that there is nowhere near a consensus in the room yet. What if they have their options of any of those guys at 17th overall? Chris wouldn’t be excited about Van Ness if there is a top tackle there because that is taking a luxury pick over a glaring need. 

Former Steeler Brett Keisel joined the show. Brett talked a whole lot about animal sex and his livestock. Brett talked about his draft experience and what it was like waiting until the 7th round before the Steelers gave him that phone call. The guys asked Brett what he thinks of Lukas Van Ness as a prospect based on his size, test scores and production. Brett talked about how things have evolved with players since he was drafted. Brett isn’t a fan of the combine and doesn’t think it always displays what players are all about. He thinks players are often a product of their environment and how good his was in Pittsburgh. He raved about the culture as a member of the Steelers and he thanked God that the Steelers drafted him. 

Prospect of the Day – Darnell Wright from Tennessee. Brian Baldinger LOVES this guy and the tape is out there from what he did against the top edge rusher in 2022 and the top edge rusher in 2023, shutting both guys down.