NFL Expansion Draft: Protect your players

[Dcash4]

One of the pods I listen to was talking expansion to Europe, and they make a really good case for it happening soon. So, let's say it happens next year. Two teams expand to London and Germany and the expansion draft is coming!

Rather than picking 5 guys that are unprotected by the Steelers, we are going to change the rule and say we pick 5 guys who are protected and cannot be selected in the draft. So, easy premise:

Who are your five players on the Steelers to protect from the expansion draft?

Edited May 24, 2023 by Dcash4
*Edited confusing language.

[Dcash4]

Kenny Pickett, QB

• Whether or not I believe in his future as a franchise QB is irrelevant. We have a guy who was adequate enough at QB to see him through 3-4 years and that position on a rookie deal is gold. I am not switching over this position randomly if I can avoid it. 

George Pickens, WR

• Similar to Kenny, a WR on a rookie deal with his kinda upside is also gold. Besides that, I think he has an opportunity to be really, really special. 

TJ Watt, God

• Can't let one of the best in the game get away. No chance. 

Pat Freiermuth, TE

• This one was tougher, but it's an offensive league and I think Pat can be a true difference maker in the passing game at a position that's pretty rubbish league wide. Blocking always, always, always comes last at the TE position due to the positions split between OL and WR groups and the lack of practice in pads (and practice in general) through the CBA. If he can develop that aspect, he is a top 3-5 guy. 

Minkah Fitzpatrick, S

• I had an even tougher time with this one until I googled Minkah's age. Dude turns 27 in November. He is an elite player in the league right now and even if we lost everyone else on defense having TJ and Minkah as difference makers would set you up to rebuild a defense in an offensive world. 

Guys who I went back and forth on:

- Highsmith: Good, young edge rusher...but ultimately the Robin to TJ's batman. If he comes back, fantastic, but it's also a benefit of not having to pay top end money to two guys in the same position group if he doesn't. 

- Broderick Jones: Yes, we have never seen him play in the NFL, but I really like his upside and someone like him probably get swiped pretty easily in a draft like this. Upside tackle with 4 years left of team control on a rookie deal? Yup. 

- Leal & Benton: I really hate the idea of that entire DL room changing over. But they don't beat any of the other 5. 

- Kendrick Green: Listen, very, very few guys move the way he can at that position. Dude set strength records at this is a joke and you should have stopped reading after the last one. 

[warfelg]

TJ Watt, Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr, Issaac Seumalo, and George Pickens. 

[Dcash4]

45 minutes ago, warfelg said:

Issaac Seumalo

I thought about Seumalo, too. I think he has a chance to be one of our best offensive players next year and a big piece of our O-Line growth. But he fell into the age and contract status of someone I would probably risk it with. 31 and with two years of contract left. I like the chances of the expansion teams bypassing him and using the protection on someone else that has a longer future on the team. 

[warfelg]

6 minutes ago, Dcash4 said:

I thought about Seumalo, too. I think he has a chance to be one of our best offensive players next year and a big piece of our O-Line growth. But he fell into the age and contract status of someone I would probably risk it with. 31 and with two years of contract left. I like the chances of the expansion teams bypassing him and using the protection on someone else that has a longer future on the team. 

I get that. My mind went to the protect 3 youth guys, 1 game wrecker, and then my last mindset was to continue to protect the QB. And they are the only two OL worth taking IMO. 

[AFF]

Tougher than what I thought it would be…

Factored in age/contract/position

-Watt

-Jones

-Pickens

-Minkah

-JPJ

Almoat put Daniels in over JPJ but I was trying to factor in positional value.

[Dcash4]

Neither of you picked Pickett and the more I think about it, that's probably the right choice. I was thinking of not losing that position group, but honestly he probably isn't likely to be selected. His contract deadline would be coming up and an expansion team would likely have the 1st and 2nd pick in the draft -- and take the face of their franchise with them. 

 

[AFF]

47 minutes ago, Dcash4 said:

Neither of you picked Pickett and the more I think about it, that's probably the right choice. I was thinking of not losing that position group, but honestly he probably isn't likely to be selected. His contract deadline would be coming up and an expansion team would likely have the 1st and 2nd pick in the draft -- and take the face of their franchise with them. 

 

I just did it more in my thought of he ends up being an upper tier QB…it goes back in my stance on if the person isn’t an upper tier QB, trade him or get rid of him and try again.

I don’t doubt Kenny will be an average starting QB…I just question if he can be an upper tier QB…and that’s my problem.

[3rivers]

On 5/24/2023 at 1:12 PM, warfelg said:

TJ Watt, Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr, Issaac Seumalo, and George Pickens. 

Jones better be good if he replaces Minkah. How would a team NOT draft Minkah?