Thoughts from camp: Value

Hello Steeler fans! I truly hope all of you are enjoying the news and highlights from training camp! I have been sifting through as much content as I can to get a sense of how camp is going so far. I have seen and read a lot of positive, optimistic items from camp that made me reflect on “value.”

In the NFL there are two major currencies: US dollars and draft picks. When I think about how teams use those two currencies to build and maintain their rosters, I love to see how the value calculation plays out. What I mean by this is does the “cost,” in either currency, outweigh the “production, impact, and return” in the transaction? Let me explain further starting with actual money. TJ Watt is highly compensated as a Steeler. He is currently in the middle of a 112 million dollar, 4 year contract that includes 80 million in guaranteed money. This is a lot of money; however, is he worth it? Personally, I argue “yes.” I read a lot of Steeler content including those articles that come from the fringe, more negatively slanted writers whose sole goal is to find the negative and complain. Even in these fringe spheres I hear very little, if any people claiming that Trent Jordan Watt is overpaid. This guy doesn’t have a complacent cell in his body and works harder than anyone I’ve seen at his craft. That correlates to productivity and positive impact for the Steelers. This guy, despite his high price tag, continues to provide a net win in terms of the cost/reward calculation. TJ Watt provides “value” to the Steelers organization and thus is high value for me. However, when talking about value as it relates to draft capital, the cost/reward calculation is more flexible since some players make this equation obsolete. One can argue that the more coveted and protected currency is draft capital, not money. Teams physical and spiritual fortunes can change with a single pick. Specifically, the first and high second round picks are protected, exchanged for high prices, and literally a prime time spectacle each year. Therefore, a team wants their high draft picks to perform and provide high “value” to the club. Because the picks are valuable and hard to come by without years of bad records or expensive trades, the teams work very hard to make sure those pieces of valuable currency do not get wasted, or become a “bust.” This is where I think the Steelers are again getting tremendous value for the spent currency. Over the last few years, the Steelers have drafted players such as Broderick Jones, Najee Harris, TJ Watt, Kenny Pickett with first round picks. The Steelers also traded away a first round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick. All of these guys have provided a ton of value to the club and contributed highly to the cause. Then there is the other side of this spectrum; there are guys that were acquired at no cost. There were guys that came to the Steelers for “free.” I am talking about undrafted players that provide positive impact to the Steelers. I think everyone can agree that Jaylen Warren is such a player. I do not have to prove to anyone reading this that he has been a complete “steal” and could be a feature back in this league. Then to move this year, I believe there is a legitimate chance that Beanie Bishop Jr. could be such a guy. He is an undrafted player out of West Virginia that has already worked his way into the front runner for nickel corner. If he provides positive contribution for the Steelers, this too will be value. No cost with a clear return. I think globally, the Pittsburgh Steelers find value and use their capital/currency adeptly.