Jordan Hicks FA ILB

[Hound]

Was a big fan of his coming out of college. Played well this year for coming off a knee injury. Hicks would be a immediate upgrade over anyone we have in the locker room right now.

[Mojouw]

He would be a great addition. But since he is the starting MLB on a team with championship aspirations, I highly doubt he makes it to the open market. There are many really interesting "projected" FA's that would make the Steelers roster better, but most of those guys are not getting to market. Between now and whenever FA starts, their current teams will resign them.

But, as long as we are talking, Hicks and Clowney would fix this defense right up. Toss in a Ronald Darby at CB and now we really got something!

[Born2Steel]

Can we simply cut Dupree now and use his $9M to at least open talks with some of the top end FAs?

As for Hicks, looked him up and he does look like a great addition when healthy. A little smallish but good stats in a 4-3 defense. I don’t trust his durability enough to offer what he would probably cost. But that’s me way over here, Colbert’s not listening to me.

[steelreserve]

Can we simply cut Dupree now and use his $9M to at least open talks with some of the top end FAs?

I called this when it happened: The minute we picked up that option, we were going to talk ourselves into paying the $10 million.

omg, but this is FINALLY going to be his year and then $10M is a good deal, trust me guys!

omg but who else are we going to get? Free agents and trades don't exist and $10M in cap space gets you nothing!

The draft is the only way to build a team, but given our track record, who are we going to draft that's better than Dupree??? He's nearly average! We need the #1 overall pick to do better! There is no way to improve from Dupree and he will be our starting OLB for the next 25 years because - it could be worse!

CHAMPIONSHIP!

[Mojouw]

March 13th is when each team has to have 51 players signed that fit under the salary cap and 4:00 PM on that same day, teams can begin to sign FA's.

Prior to that, almost any projection of the guys on the market is rampant speculation. In theory, no negotiations with another team's player can take place until 4:00 PM EST on March 13th.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Top 25 NFL free agents of 2019: Defenders dominate rankings

By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The NFL Editor
Published: Jan. 16, 2019

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001011078/article/top-25-nfl-free-agents-of-2019-defenders-dominate-rankings

[steelreserve]

March 13th is when each team has to have 51 players signed that fit under the salary cap and 4:00 PM on that same day, teams can begin to sign FA's.

Prior to that, almost any projection of the guys on the market is rampant speculation. In theory, no negotiations with another team's player can take place until 4:00 PM EST on March 13th.

This is why there's always a flurry of big-name free agent signings at 4:01 EST ... they really work hard to get those deals done quickly! It's amazing how fast they can figure out all the years and dollar amounts and guaranteed money, go back and forth several times, field competing offers and pick out the best one, consider which team the player would fit in best on, get all parties to agree to it, figure out the salary cap implications, run it past the lawyers, and have everyone sign it. All in a few minutes! Contract negotiations must be super easy!

[86WARD]

Can we simply cut Dupree now and use his $9M to at least open talks with some of the top end FAs?

As for Hicks, looked him up and he does look like a great addition when healthy. A little smallish but good stats in a 4-3 defense. I don’t trust his durability enough to offer what he would probably cost. But that’s me way over here, Colbert’s not listening to me.

Nope...Rooney already said he’s looking forward to Dupree further progressing...

[hawaiiansteeler]

Nope...Rooney already said he’s looking forward to Dupree further progressing...

should be fairly easy for Dupree to do...

[DesertSteel]

I'll take CJ Mosely........

[pczach]

I'll take CJ Mosely........

I'll take Ryan Shazier.....:chuckle:

[Born2Steel]

Nope...Rooney already said he’s looking forward to Dupree further progressing...

I think Dupree plays great as a containment specialist with some cover skills. He simply is not a pass rusher or he would have shown more by now. I think that makes him worth much less than what he will get paid next season if he stays. I don't know if he can be cut, and then re-signed at a less rate over time, but without the possibility of reaching double digit sacks he's simply not a $9M OLB.

[FrancoLambert]

I think Dupree plays great as a containment specialist with some cover skills. He simply is not a pass rusher or he would have shown more by now. I think that makes him worth much less than what he will get paid next season if he stays. I don't know if he can be cut, and then re-signed at a less rate over time, but without the possibility of reaching double digit sacks he's simply not a $9M OLB.

”Plays great as a containment specialist.”

Yeah, maybe a play or two here or there, but from what I’ve seen, I don’t think his level of play makes him a specialist at anything.

[teegre]

You get an OLB... you get an OLB... everyone gets an OLB!!!

DeMarcus Lawrence
Jadaveon Clowney
Dee Ford
Frank Clark
Preston Smith
Za’Darius Smith
Brandon Graham

CJ Mosley would fill a need.

Tomlin loved Landon Collins and tried to trade up for him (but, couldn’t get the deal done). I’d bet he garners a long, hard look from Colbert.

[Fire Goodell]

I'll take Ryan Shazier.....:chuckle:
:(

[Mojouw]

You get an OLB... you get an OLB... everyone gets an OLB!!!

DeMarcus Lawrence
Jadaveon Clowney
Dee Ford
Frank Clark
Preston Smith
Za’Darius Smith
Brandon Graham

CJ Mosley would fill a need.

Tomlin loved Landon Collins and tried to trade up for him (but, couldn’t get the deal done). I’d bet he garners a long, hard look from Colbert.

I'll bet not a single one of those cats hits free agency.

Edmunds killed Tomlins Collins crush.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[86WARD]

The Ravens are already working on a deal for Mosley.

[pczach]

The Ravens are already working on a deal for Mosley.



They don't need Mosley.....they have Matthew Thomas. :stirthepot:

[Born2Steel]

You get an OLB... you get an OLB... everyone gets an OLB!!!

DeMarcus Lawrence
Jadaveon Clowney
Dee Ford
Frank Clark
Preston Smith
Za’Darius Smith
Brandon Graham

CJ Mosley would fill a need.

Tomlin loved Landon Collins and tried to trade up for him (but, couldn’t get the deal done). I’d bet he garners a long, hard look from Colbert.

DeMarcus Lawrence would be a GREAT FA signing. He's listed as a DE though so unless we go to a 4-3, would he replace Tuitt? I have no idea what it would cost to get any of these guys but Colbert seems to find money. He also seems to make deals for guys that bring less fanfare.

Darryl Roberts(Jets) is about as big a splash we would probably make as a boundary corner or upgrade FS. Has good defense numbers and tackles very well.

Still wondering what the issue is with Marcus Cooper. Was a FA CB last season and we brought him in for a meeting but he ended up signing with the Bears. The Bears let him go to Detroit late in the season. The guy is an unbelievable athlete with outside CB skills, size and speed. He was near the top of my FA wishlist last offseason. I don't find 'red flags' anywhere, so makes me wonder why he doesn't stick with any one team.

[86WARD]

They don't need Mosley.....they have Matthew Thomas. :stirthepot:
Lol.

[Hound]

https://steelersdepot.com/2019/02/kevin-colbert-we-didnt-do-enough-to-replace-ryan-shazier-last-year/
I agree Mr Colbert, let’s sign Jordan Hicks

[86WARD]

You can’t replace that type of athlete.

[Rotorhead]

I think Dupree plays great as a containment specialist with some cover skills. He simply is not a pass rusher or he would have shown more by now. I think that makes him worth much less than what he will get paid next season if he stays. I don't know if he can be cut, and then re-signed at a less rate over time, but without the possibility of reaching double digit sacks he's simply not a $9M OLB.

Maybe you missed the Jax playoff game, but Dupree was almost the sole reason we could not stop the run due to his complete lack of containment, he continually took himself out of containment allowing Jax to rush his side all game long.

[Born2Steel]

Maybe you missed the Jax playoff game, but Dupree was almost the sole reason we could not stop the run due to his complete lack of containment, he continually took himself out of containment allowing Jax to rush his side all game long.

I did not miss that game. Or the Bears game. Or the Dolphins one the year before. Dupree’s lack of holding contain in those games cost us big time. That is STILL his primary role. I think he does a decent job at it most of the time. Some OL are just better than others and defeat him. All that said, my actual point is Bud is not a pass rusher and therefore is not worth pass rusher money. I think that $9M is too much for him.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

They don't need Mosley.....they have Matthew Thomas. :stirthepot:

You got that right! The next great NFL ILB. The John Kuhn of Steelers ILB's. :chuckle:

[Rotorhead]

I did not miss that game. Or the Bears game. Or the Dolphins one the year before. Dupree’s lack of holding contain in those games cost us big time. That is STILL his primary role. I think he does a decent job at it most of the time. Some OL are just better than others and defeat him. All that said, my actual point is Bud is not a pass rusher and therefore is not worth pass rusher money. I think that $9M is too much for him.

Agreed

[Hound]

Jordan Hicks/Philadelphia Eagles: Here’s my cleanup hitter for you guys. Inside linebacker isn’t a great class. Anthony Barr wants too much andKwon Alexander is coming off a torn ACL and probably will re-up with Tampa Bay.
Hicks makes the most sense. Above all, he’s a playmaker. When he’s in the lineup, the guy is a force. Since breaking into the league in 2015, he’s one of only three linebackers with 7+ interceptions and 10+ pass deflections in 40 or fewer starts. The other two? Deion Jones andRyan Shazier.
This is a Steelers’ defense desperate for turnovers and he can provide it. I know health is a risk. He’s played all 16 games just once in four years and missed four games in 2018 with a calf injury. Medical concerns date back to his days at Texas. But I’m willing to take that risk, especially on a one or two year deal where he can prove his health and look long-term after.
Philly Voice, which I know is probably a cheesteak in front of a keyboard and not the end-all, projects Hicks to take (https://www.phillyvoice.com/projecting-what-eagles-free-agents-will-make-free-agency-and-their-compensatory-pick-values/) a one year, $7 million deal. I’d do that.
Here’s the bottom line. When he’s available, he creates splash plays no one else on this roster has been able to provide. Couple clips of the moments he’s capable of making. In order.
1. Zone drop, read the QB”s eyes, drive on the TE stick and break the throw up
2. Cover 2 turn, reads the TE sitting, drives on the ball and smacks it away
3. Zone drop, follow the QBs eyes, diving INT on a tipped ball
https://media.giphy.com/media/fMB19hLjqwnj4oX1so/giphy.gif
All plays we’ve seen Shazier make before. Hicks is capable of the same.
He’s an easy mover capable of flowing against zone schemes and turning the play back inside. And when he was active, the dude didn’t come off the field. From Weeks 1 through 10, he logged every single snap and was at 91% before getting hurt in Week 11.
Big fan of Hicks and would be thrilled if the Steelers nabbed him. Will the Eagles keep him before he hits the market? That’s a serious question.

- - - Updated - - -

Sign the man

[Dwinsgames]

word is Dee Ford is on the block for a 2nd rd pick ....

[86WARD]

word is Dee Ford is on the block for a 2nd rd pick ....

Artie Burns and a 3.

[Rotorhead]

While I like Hicks, I would rather us FA a CB (Roby or Desir) and move up to draft White. Then take a tall fast WR with our second.

[hawaiiansteeler]

While I like Hicks, I would rather us FA a CB (Roby or Desir) and move up to draft White. Then take a tall fast WR with our second.

rumor has it the Bungals are very interested in White with their 11th pick in the first round. it would take a lot to get in front of them...

[86WARD]

The Bengals are taking an ILB. No doubt.

[Hound]

I think it depends on who is there and what positions have been addressed in free agency

[Dwinsgames]

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/09/experts-name-the-1-free-agent-they-steelers-should-sign/

[Hound]

Dwinsgames, I think he is a perfect fit for need and the Steelers defense. I’m a bigger fan of him than I am Mosley, cheaper and stats show better in the passing game. Sign the man, Mr Colbert

[Dwinsgames]

Dwinsgames, I think he is a perfect fit for need and the Steelers defense. I’m a bigger fan of him than I am Mosley, cheaper and stats show better in the passing game. Sign the man, Mr Colbert

he certainly is an upgrade over our current situation ...

that said even if we did sign him I am not so sure I do not draft a Devin in rd 1 anyways if one of them is there ....

I like the idea of 2 ILB that can run / hit /cover on the field at the same time and the ability to play less nickle and dime .... if you have 2 ILB that can run and cover you can stay in base a larger percentage of the time

[Hound]

I’m all in on getting Hicks and a Devin. The Steelers were trying to upgrade from Vince when they tried to sign Hightower(Shazier wasn’t injured yet)

[86WARD]

Devin won’t be there. There’s at least 3 teams that pick before Pittsburgh that will take one of the two. The Steelers would have to jump about 5-8 spots to get one.