Which TE Could Be Best Fit for the Steelers in 2020 Free Agency?

[steelhurt]

I take another perspective on this. If I can free up enough cap space by letting McDonald, Chicky, Foster go, renegotiate a few contracts, then I spend some money and really upgrade TE with Hunter Henry if he becomes available. Young and talented and in the same mold as Kelcy and Kittle. That’s what I’d like to see.


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[Litos]

I take another perspective on this. If I can free up enough cap space by letting McDonald, Chicky, Foster go, renegotiate a few contracts, then I spend some money and really upgrade TE with Hunter Henry if he becomes available. Young and talented and in the same mold as Kelcy and Kittle. That’s what I’d like to see.


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In that scenario you are losing Dupree too

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[TDX27]

If we could get him for a 4th or 5th, Njoku has to be at the top of the list. He was in Cleveland's doghouse after he came back from his injury last year but was a beast prior to that. I know I would have feelers out for him.

 

[steelhurt]

In that scenario you are losing Dupree too

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Ya know Litos I'm kind of on the fence with Bud. I was a big supporter of drafting him and was elated when he fell to us, but like almost everyone here (Coach) have been disappointed with the entire body of work. Jeez, I'm starting to sound like Tomlin.

I'm afraid like most here of overpaying for Bud and he plays like the first four years. The stat that I saw from PFF that really bothers me is the QB pressures where Bud ranked like 50th which is disturbing. I don't know really what the hell the Steelers should do here, but overpaying him which seems like a given, makes me nervous. Its not like paying millions to a TJ Watt where you know what you're going to get every week.

 

[21STEELERS21]

Our 2018 TE's had 86 catches for over 1100 yds and 5 TD's. That with 2 100 catch receivers. The difference between 2018 and 2019 was QB play and lack of running game.
I'd keep McDonald for 2020 and get a complimentary #2 TE.

 

[Litos]

Ya know Litos I'm kind of on the fence with Bud. I was a big supporter of drafting him and was elated when he fell to us, but like almost everyone here (Coach) have been disappointed with the entire body of work. Jeez, I'm starting to sound like Tomlin.

I'm afraid like most here of overpaying for Bud and he plays like the first four years. The stat that I saw from PFF that really bothers me is the QB pressures where Bud ranked like 50th which is disturbing. I don't know really what the hell the Steelers should do here, but overpaying him which seems like a given, makes me nervous. Its not like paying millions to a TJ Watt where you know what you're going to get every week.

I agree with you, if a long term contract dfor 13M avg can't be done then you let him go, you can find a 9M temporal replacement while you draft a prospect in the 2021 draft

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[Harry_BZAC]

Browns just released Demetrius Harris. He could be a good depth piece...good blocker.

 

[TDX27]

Our 2018 TE's had 86 catches for over 1100 yds and 5 TD's. That with 2 100 catch receivers. The difference between 2018 and 2019 was QB play and lack of running game.
I'd keep McDonald for 2020 and get a complimentary #2 TE.

If he can stay healthy and we don't need the cap space, I would have no problem keeping Vance and even re-signing Vannett. Vannett came in and with basically no practice time showed something in his 1st 2 games he played. Give him an off-season on the team and I bet he makes a nice leap.

 

[deljzc]

Our 2018 TE's had 86 catches for over 1100 yds and 5 TD's. That with 2 100 catch receivers. The difference between 2018 and 2019 was QB play and lack of running game.
I'd keep McDonald for 2020 and get a complimentary #2 TE.

Well, this is probably what will happen.

But then you are overspending on the last year of McDonald's deal and have nothing to show for 2021. Vannett is average at best.

I fully expect the Steelers to basically play the "only looking at 2020" game with their roster. They will tag Dupree knowing they are MILES away from each other in salary. They will spend $7 million on a tight end and put all their eggs in a basket that probably won't play 12 games this year.

It will look good on paper, but the back end of our roster is BAD because we decided to tie-up so much money on Dupree and McDonald. Injuries or some other excuse will be Tomlin's crutch and going into 2021 we will have nothing to show for those mistakes.

If Dupree and McDonald are rental 2020 players only, let's talk about them like that and decide if that's really the wisest two pieces for $23 million in cap space.

 

[FordFairLane]

I feel McDonald stays just like I feel Foster stays (unless Finney is resigned) because we don't have the depth to be dropping starters at either position. But if the Steelers were to drop McDonald and let Vannett go via FA I would assumed they go bargain hunting again. Three TE's fit the bill IMO. Nick O'Leary is a journeyman but he has never played with a decent QB. Bills, Phins and Jags all suck but his stats are never bad just average. I think he would be a vet min signing that would fill 50% or more of the TE snaps. Clive Walford would fill Vannett's shoes nicely as our blocking TE. He has the physical ability to be a pass catchers just has never been more than average. Again vet min signing. And lastly I would look at Logan Thomas from Detroit who won't be resigned unless James is cut. He was a QB coming out of VT and ended up converting to TE in the pros. He has taken positive steps every year and the 6-6 1/8 250lbs 34" arms with nearly 11" hand TE is physically dominating. With him being lost on the depth chart he still had his most productive season. Pair these guys with Gentry, Radar, Scotland-Williamson and a draft pick and you let them battle it out for the top 3 or 4 spots.