I have over the course of the past several seasons turned to a series of articles around this time of year in which I looked to explore the issues and questions facing the Pittsburgh Steelers during the upcoming season and trying to identify the range of possibilities in which any given scenario can end.
I started out with a dual series called The Optimist’s/Pessimist’s Take and switched last season to the Devil’s Advocate series. In an attempt to find a more streamlined solution with a title more suited to the actual endeavor, we are introducing a simple Buy Or Sell segment exploring whether the position statement is likely to be worth investing in as an idea.
The range of topics will be wide, from the specific to the general, exploring broad long-term possibilities to the immediate future of particular players. I will make an argument for why a concept should be bought into as well as one that can be sold, and you can share your thoughts on which is the more compelling case while offering your own.
Topic Statement: The Steelers should go after Mason Rudolph after falling to the second round.
Buy:
The 2018 NFL Draft has already gone in unexpected directions; so much so that by the time the Steelers were on the clock and Mason Rudolph remained available, I was surprised that I didn’t hear Ryan Shazier calling his name. of course, I was surprised to be hearing Shazier call anybody’s name.
Many believed that Rudolph would not even make it to Pittsburgh’s selection in the first round, but now that he has slipped to the second, it suddenly becomes much more enticing to take a deeper look at him. there’s a good chance he is expected to go pretty early in day two, but the Steelers just acquired added ammunition with a mid-third-round draft pick that they could use to move up.
There were some who were okay with taking Rudolph in the first. I would imagine that most of these people would still be okay with moving up in the second to take him after being able to land a safety in the first—and even more okay if they were able to sit tight end take him.
Sell:
But here is the ultimate question: if the Steelers viewed Rudolph as their heir apparent, wouldn’t they not have risked losing him in the first round? The fact that they took a safety that many did not have a first-round grade on over Rudolph seems pretty telling.
Combine that reality with the fact that they would most likely have to make a move up in the second round to try to get Rudolph and you’re talking about using additional resources for one player on a team that could really use added depth. Even with the extra pick they just acquired, you don’t want to squander that on a player you already passed up at the most important position.
