Ed Bouchette: Good afternoon, let's begin
JamesinNYC: Which of the three signings did you like the best?
Ed Bouchette: The one today. He's been a fulltime starter for most of seven seasons and is just turning 30. I think he's an upgrade over their No. 3 DE the past two seasons.
Scott: Any chance we would look at Zach Brown?
Ed Bouchette: You'd think if they looked at Hightower, they'd at least look at Brown, who may be close to signing. He's a steady ILB and tackling machine but maybe they believe they already have that in Vince Williams.
Tom M88: Ed, Do you think the FA signings the Steelers have made indicate they may want to bundle picks to move up in the draft? Since they've addressed a few needs with these signings.
Ed Bouchette: No. They may have addressed a few needs at RB and CB but they did not get much quality with those two.
steelerfan4life: i thought that the defense wanted to get younger. why would they sign aluala. also seem that Knile Davis and Coty Sensabaugh,never really did much. your thoughts
Ed Bouchette: I agree with the other two, but I like the signing today because he fills a good, backup need at DE and can also fill in at NT. You can't have everyone under 25, nor do you want that necessarily.
Craig: In your opinion what are the steelers going to do with the 17 million in cap space still available?
Ed Bouchette: Give some to Tuitt, some of course to the draft picks. They also can roll it over into 2018, when they might have a few more contracts to take care of, like Shazier and AB's new deal counts more.
AD: Cautious optimism for Sensabaugh? If he's an avg-above avg. MAN CB that's a big upgrade in my opinion over avg-above avg. zone CB. Thoughts?
Ed Bouchette: Let's see. I still can't get over the Rams cutting him one month into the season after signing him to a decent FA deal
steelerfan4life: have you heard anything about bryant being reinstated. do you think he can contribute after a year off?
Ed Bouchette: They're still awaiting word. Yes, I believe he can contribute. No different than if he sat out the season with an injury.
Bruce: If the Steelers value a OLB and a DB the same at 30, who do you think they take?
Ed Bouchette: OLB
Tom M88: If there is a QB who warrants the 30th pick overall and could be Ben's replacement, would the Steelers take him?
Ed Bouchette: First, there won't be, but if there was someone they really thought could be a good replacement for Ben, you couldn't pass on him. But those guys usually don't fall to No. 30 unless there comes the rare case of Dan Marino.
William Burrell: Besides CB, OLB & backup RB, what is the Steelers biggest need in the draft?
Ed Bouchette: I think they will still draft a WR, and you're always looking for OL. A safety for the future or as a No. 3/4 too.
Egan: Are the Steelers fine w/ Vince Williams taking over for Timmons or will they sign an ILB or draft one in the draft?
Ed Bouchette: They may draft one, but I think Williams will start. He's not really taking over for Timmons in a way. That would be Shazier. Although Timmons did play the buck LB spot (where Williams will play), he really was more suited to the mac, which also is Shazier's best spot.
Jersey Steelers fan: Tom Brady would have been available at 30. Dak Prescott, too. Beauty in eye of beholder?
Ed Bouchette: Tom Brady was available at No. 30 FIVE times and every team in the league passed on him at least FIVE times at that spot, including New England.
Frederick: Hi Ed, long time reader/first time chatter here...I was wondering what the action has been on Jarvis Jones thus far. Do you think he would be better suited to another LB position?
Ed Bouchette: He signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Ryno: Would you have rather seen Williams re-signed, or the RB they just signed?
Ed Bouchette: I don't believe they will re-sign DeAngelo Williams. He did a nice job for them, but that ship has sailed.
joe deeeeee: Ed- after these much needed signings, does our draft preference change at all ?????i
Ed Bouchette: There may not be as desperate to draft a WR, but I don't believe the need for a CB high or a backup RB has changed.
Reedboat: Why the disrespect to D Williams at running back when all he did was produce, and produce effectively? In fact he was viewed as an overachiever. The "we need to get younger" mantra should be "we need to have the best backup available"? Someone will take him before camp for sure!
Ed Bouchette: He's 34 and missed a bunch of games with a knee injury last season. That's one big red flag. Yes, as I mentioned, he did a nice job when needed the past 2 seasons.
KJ: Ed, would you say the signing of Knile Davis is more of a "look see" at him as the Steelers KR than being Le'Veon Bell's back-up? He does, afterall, average over 26 yards per kick-off return...
Ed Bouchette: Kickoff returns no longer are that important.
Guest: why not get a deal done with Revis? Can't hurt them especially if he is motivated.
Ed Bouchette: What are you going to pay him and how do you know if he can still play after showing little last season? He is guaranteed $6 million by the Jets even if he sits out 2017. So if the Steelers would pay him $6 million, the Jets would be off the hook but Revis would make the same money as if he sat.
I don't think the Steelers are going to pay him $6 million and I don't think Revis is going to play for what would be virtually nothing.
Kevin: What rounds will the Steelers draft a backup RB? Top 3 rounds, maybe using their comp pick?
Ed Bouchette: I could see them getting one with that comp pick in the third round or in the fourth/fifth
Ryan: Do you think the team will draft another TE or are the comfortable with what they already have
Ed Bouchette: I think they will draft another in a good draft for them.
Adam: How much does the FO factor in getting over the NE hump vs steady as she goes progress?
Ed Bouchette: I don't think they draft or sign free agents based on New England.
Brian: If Revis is willing to sign a minimum deal because of the Jets money, why not bring him in, even though he had one tough year?
Ed Bouchette: I certainly would take a look, and I would ask if he'd take that kind of money. If he can still run, then I'd have to look closer
Eddie from New England: Any chance Steelers humbly pick up a "bench" coach to help with Xs and Os on defense? Game plan hasn't worked since game 1 04 against TB. And that defense was a stud.
Ed Bouchette: Maybe they should hire you.
Jersey Steelers fan: Not that they mean much, but some mock drafts by so-called experts have Steelers taking hybrid safety/LB types with the 30th pick. Seems like wishful thinking for the next Polamalu to me. Better to pick a guy with a clear position (OLB, CB)?
Ed Bouchette: That would be my choice. They already have one of those in Ryan Shazier.
Kevin: With the signing of Sensabaugh, if the Steelers draft a CB in the draft will that signal the end for William Gay?
Ed Bouchette: It could, yes.
Alex in Ben Avon: Knile Davis is competition for Fitz Toussaint and Steelers will draft a RB in rounds 2-4. Agree?
Ed Bouchette: I wouldn't go as high as 2
Foolback: Ed, when Dont'a Hightower visited here, reports were he was there for 9-10 hours? Is this the norm, I assumed a player physical, and some final contract numbers exchanged, w/knowledge if your close before getting in the door?
Ed Bouchette: Usually when a player is a premium free agent and he stays that long, he signs. I think Hightower used the Steelers, but that's all part of the process, even if you know it. You take your best shot.
bob: after watching william gay vs new england, how is he not already cut?
Ed Bouchette: They want to make sure they have enough CBs to fill the roster, probably.
Guest: Do you possibly see the steelers trading back to early second round? I see similar talent at top of the second as compared to end of the first.
Ed Bouchette: We say that often before the draft, but the Steelers have never traded out of the first round since Chuck Noll became their coach in 1969 and I do not see them starting this year.
Jersey Steelers fan: Would you go WR at 30 if someone slid that far (Mike Williams)?
Ed Bouchette: I'm going OLB or CB
Larry: 30 for 30 special Chuck Noll let his wife know they have been "drafting at the bottom for years and some bad seasons are coming" - Noll knew they could not get quality drafting that low - why do they think so now?
Ed Bouchette: That may have been overstated, I'm not sure. They could have had Dan Marino that low in 1983 and how might that have changed things? Plus, if you look, the greatest single team draft in NFL history was the Steelers' in 1974 that produced four Hall of Famers and a fifth HOF finalist in Donnie Shell. They drafted in the 20s that year.
Ed Bouchette: And, to be correct, Chuck told his wife that they had plenty of talent but that he no longer had the energy to do it, so he retired after the 1991 season.
Mike: Who is more intriguing to you: Melifonwu or Jabrill Peppers?
Ed Bouchette: Actually, the Russians meddling in the election is much more intriguing.
I will soon get into the draft, but am not there yet.
Rob: Do you see the Steelers taking a chance on QB Watson from Clemson if he is still available late in the first few rounds?
Ed Bouchette: No
Don NYC: Have you heard from Troy Polamalu? Any truth to him resenting the organization.
Ed Bouchette: No and, to an extent, yes.
Guest: what does Exclusive Free Agent mean? - APPLIES TO Aldejando V. thanks
Ed Bouchette: It means that his contract is up after two years. You have to put in 3 to be a restricted free agent and 4 to be unrestricted. If you are up after two years, your rights belong only to your team provided they offer you at least a 1-year contract at minimum wage. They have with AV
Brad: With Bens window coming to an end the next few years, do you think the Steelers could get aggressive in the draft? For example, trading a future 2018 1st round pick for a 2017 2nd round pick?
Ed Bouchette: No. That No. 1 in 2018 could possibly be their next starting QB.
Don NYC: Whats the deal with this WPIAL eligibility for the porter and tomlin kids?
Ed Bouchette: They are still looking into it with Mike's oldest and Joey's son.
Ryno: Do you think we have yet to see the best of Jesse James?
Ed Bouchette: He should only improve as he gets into his third year.
Jersey Steelers fan: I half expected the Russians to have Brady's jersey.
Ed Bouchette: Only if Robert Kraft allowed Putin to look at it.
Trevor: Do you think the Steelers will try again to make the Dime package a bigger part of their gameplan through a player they add in the draft? Not Peppers, but a versatile DB that can hold their own in run support.
Ed Bouchette: With Lawrence Timmons gone, that may be so because he had the speed and quickness to cover, as does Shazier. I'm not sure Vince Williams can do that. He's more of a 2-down player.
Jersey Steelers fan: Are there deadlines/guidelines for Villanueva, Hubbard, Cockrell to sign? Non-activity there mean anything?
Ed Bouchette: They must sign by April 21. After that, they no longer are free agents and are locked into their team for that contract even if they don't sign it.
Adam Brown: After Ben said he is leaning toward playing this year.... when do you think they will draft his successor? Next year?
Ed Bouchette: First off, the news would have been if he said he was NOT leaning toward playing this year. Everyone here understands he is going to play, so that has become a non-issue around the Steelers.
The QB crop is not good enough to find his successor this year. Next year is a possibility.
Brad: Who has the best chance to make the 53 man roster? DHB, Ayers, Hamilton or Hunter?
Ed Bouchette: Hunter
Kingpin: Was there any interest in bringing back Sean Spence?
Ed Bouchette: I do not believe so.
Don NYC: Are the Rooneys scared to sign Kaepernick because of Trump tweeting?
Ed Bouchette: yes, that's it.
Adam Brown: What went wrong with Justin Gilbert?
Ed Bouchette: The real thing is, nothing went right.
Mike: Do you think Ben is threatening retirement as an ultimatum for the team to draft more weapons for him on offense?
Ed Bouchette: No, I think he was frustrated when he said it, 2 days after they lost in NE
Adam: Have you seen Senquez Golson around the Steelers facility lately? How is he doing and do the Steelers still expect him to be the nickel corner in 2017?
Ed Bouchette: No, I have not seen him but we don't see a whole lot this time of year. I believe they would hope he could be their slot corner but they are not counting on it.
Ed Bouchette: Thank you for another great chat. We will pause now, as I take a week off, so I will see you the first Tuesday in April, but not next Tuesday.
First Published: March 21, 2017, 2:53 p.m.
Updated: March 21, 2017, 7:07 p.m.
