All points of conviction. However, just respectfully agree to disagree several of them.
You just commented that OL, QB, CB are needs for Jax. If they see a OL or CB they coveted ranked higher than 24, why wouldn’t they trade up for the player? Or better yet, there is a player they had ranked higher than 32 and is available. That’s the whole reason for all the trades they made. Because they have so many needs.
It hurts to say this, but reality check: The Steelers have as many needs as the Jags, and vice-versa. Neither is in a position to be giving up picks in the first 3 rounds (pick 65 is pretty much equivalent to end of second round any way). The OL pool is deep. Jax can get their OT at 25, or 33, or 45. No reason to move up.
If there are several players the Steelers have graded close together and still are available they could pull the trigger on a trade (doubtful) and it wouldn’t be for just one extra pick.
In the real world, teams don't offer tons of picks to move up 9 spots from 33 to 24. They don't. If for some reason you have yet to explain the Jags want to move to 24 for some incredible player the Steelers don't want, though the teams have a lot of the same needs, the Steelers probably get pick 97, as I noted with reference to the draft value.
You dispute the draft value chart because draft slot salary values, okay, sure - but you offer literally no evidence to support your claims about the value of moving from 33 to 24. Nothing. So the draft value chart you dispute >>>> nothing.
It’s interesting, Franchise QB who hasn’t had one snap yet, developing WR with ANOTHER QB to synch with. You name 3 Defensive players on that squad. How many are on their rookie contracts? Their D was no where near what PIT had. You also indicate we need NOW several players including QB and WR. Huh? Ben and Rudolph are signed for 2021. I’d rather have both than Lawrence, a rookie.
You are the only human being on earth who would make that choice, Ike.
Seriously, Trevor Lawrence on a rookie contract vs. 39-old Ben at $23 million for one season and Mason Rudolph in the last year of his rookie contract?
Signing JuJu this year takes WR off the board as a need. There is no TE in the draft that will replace Ebron this year. Why waste a pick on one until you have the needs are addressed RB, OT and ILB.
So the TE position is terrible and the draft upgrades not promising. I agree, but it is an undeniable fact that the TE position for the Steelers right now is bad. Ebron can't block but at least he drops a bunch of passes.
Don't find that to be a good thing.
And the WR issue is not "solved."
Jax playoff win (against PIT) was with a completely different roster, different coach, etc. It’s funny how Tomlin Koolaid is mentioned because of disappointment. Even when PIT won a SB and other playoff games, even cumulatively building Top 5 offenses and defenses...there are still negatives. Hell, if PIT was to win the SB this year there would still be naysayers complaining about whatever they are disappointed with.
Yes, I have complained bitterly about all the SB victories with a HOF quarterback in his prime over the past 10 years. You bet.
You are unable to admit that Jax ******* BEAT the Steelers in the playoffs in the 2016 season, tore that roster down to the nub, and are re-building, while the Steelers are supposedly going to make a "last run" with the same QB, RG, RDE, LDE and after just losing that LT.
The 2016 team had a vastly better RB and WR than this team will. It had Shazier at ILB. And it lost to a pretty mediocre Jags team that has been torn down and is being rebuilt.
I think the 2021 Steelers are the 2013 Steelers, "trying to make a final run." The 2013 team was old on defense with Ike, Troy, Kiesel and Woodley on the decline. But it had a 31-year old HOF QB, an excellent 31-year old TE, a 25-year old WR who was the best in the business, an exciting rookie RB, a young and improving offensive line with 3 starters 25 or younger.
And it was a mediocre team that went 8-8.
Switch the offense and defense issues around and you get the 2021 Steelers. An aging offensive line, no RB, a middling WR corps, and an older, immobile QB. The defense is still damn good - needs some help at CB, OLB but still good. But the idea that this team is going to make a "final run" ignores the 1-5 finish, the departures, the cap issues, and the limited draft resources.