1 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: A Omar. Thanks Max, Thanks for taking some time. We 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: appreciated sitting down here. Obviously, the annual meetings busy time. 3 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: Just kind of want to set the stage right. We're 4 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks into free agency, a couple weeks 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: away from the draft. You guys have been busy this 6 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: time of year, and of course one of those most 7 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: notable moves the acquisition of DK Metcalf and the trade. 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: Just kind of talk to me about how that all 9 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: transpired and what all went down with that. 10 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 2: Sure, you know, as is customary, you know amongst the gms, 11 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 2: we have conversations leading into the off season getting a 12 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,639 Speaker 2: feel for, you know, where people might have some access 13 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 2: or if you're looking to trade someone or kind of 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 2: get understanding what their needs are, see if there's something 15 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 2: we have that could work. And it just sort of 16 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 2: worked out. You know, we talked to Seattle and we 17 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 2: felt like we made a good offer and I came 18 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: together relatively quickly. You know, we got a deal done 19 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 2: and you can't say enough about how excited we are 20 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: to have him. 21 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: In your position, obviously, you're responsible for building the roster, 22 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: and so when you look at a guy like a DK, 23 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 1: what are you hoping he can bring to the team 24 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: and add to the offense. 25 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 2: I talked to the combine about how important it was 26 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: first to add some playmakers, and that's what he is 27 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 2: in our mind, you know, I think he's going to 28 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 2: be a great asset to our offense and the city 29 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 2: and the organization, and I'm excited about what's to come. 30 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: A lot of movement at the quarterback position for the Steelers. 31 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: Three guys from last year not there there. There are 32 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: new clubs now, but you also bring in a Mason 33 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: Rudolph and also a Skyler. Thompson, coach said yesterday Aaron 34 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: Rodgers came in. You all had a great conversation, a 35 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: great visit with him. He kind of give us an 36 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: update on the status of that position. 37 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 2: Sure, you know, right now we have two guys under 38 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: contract Max as you know, and as you mentioned, ideally, 39 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: you know, we go to camp with four at least 40 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: four quarterbacks on the roster. So right now, all options 41 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 2: are on the table, you know, whether it's filling those 42 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 2: those needs, whether by with free agents or via trade 43 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: or obviously of the draft that's coming up in a 44 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 2: few weeks. And we spend a lot of time on 45 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: all three phases of that, and I've viewed his time 46 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 2: as a friend not necessarily as something negative. So you know, 47 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 2: we'll we got time to figure it out. We feel 48 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 2: good about our process, right. 49 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: Also why I want to shift our attention to the 50 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: defense side of the ball because there were some major 51 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: acquisitions as well. Darius Slay. Yeah, I mean coming off 52 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl season, a guy who brings a lot 53 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,679 Speaker 1: of man experience to that corner position. Can you just 54 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: kind of talk about what it was to go and 55 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: identify and then bring in a guy like Darius Slay. 56 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 2: Sure, he was available. Obviously he's a world champion. That's 57 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 2: where we're seeking to be too, So love that about him. 58 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: He's very talented. I think his career speaks for itself. 59 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 2: Our interaction has been great with him so far, and 60 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 2: I'm excited about what he's gonna do for that defensive 61 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: back room. 62 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: No, absolutely, And I think also another guy Wan thorn Hill, right, 63 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 1: I mean focusing on that secondary brings a lot of 64 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: starting safety experience and you were able to get him 65 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: that second week of free agency. Just kind of talk 66 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: about what made him him one of those ideal guys 67 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: in candidates that you wanted to bring in as well. 68 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 2: I don't want to necessarily say we had and needed 69 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 2: the position, but he was out there and we felt 70 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 2: good about adding him. You know, he's got great experience. Again, 71 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 2: it's been a part of some good teams and that 72 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 2: was important to us and experience, and he's been a 73 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 2: part of a couple of different defenses. And obviously we 74 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: know him from being in Cleveland, and you know, we've 75 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: seen him when he was at Kansas City and we 76 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 2: did a lot of homework on him leading up to 77 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 2: the draft. 78 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: So as a GM, you're responsible for kind of getting 79 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: everything ready for the start of free agency, and then 80 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 1: there's like that wave of releases like we saw it 81 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: right before the start of free agency. You know, how 82 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: hard is that for you and your staff when you're 83 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: looking through and getting ready for that, Like you have 84 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: a plan about who's the noted guys, but then you 85 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: see these releases. How hard is that to kind of 86 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: transition and move through that effectively. 87 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, hopefully when when all that starts to happen, 88 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 2: we have a pretty good idea of what's to come. 89 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 2: Cole Mark who does a great job of projecting things 90 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: for us, and he works very close with the PRO 91 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: department when that's when we're leading up to that time. 92 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 2: I'm just fortunate to have those good people around me. 93 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 2: They've kind of given me an idea of what's to come, 94 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 2: and so far over the last couple of years have 95 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 2: been pretty accurate and give me some good information. 96 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,839 Speaker 1: Now, as I know, the entire college recruiting staff, they 97 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: do a tremendous job going out there. Sato and all 98 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: those guys just kind of talk to me about, like, 99 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: you know, PRO Day's the one on one visits, Just 100 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: what does it mean to spend that extra time with 101 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: these college kids as they're getting ready for this process, 102 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: and what kind of stuff do you and the entire 103 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: staff kind of get from those experiences. 104 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know what, for us, that's really important trying 105 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 2: to identify the right players for us to write people 106 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: for us. You know, Coach Dommon and I have been 107 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 2: on the road a bunch of the last few weeks 108 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 2: and been at some really good schools to see some 109 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 2: great players and really met some great, great young men 110 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 2: that could help us. Having that one on one time 111 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 2: with the guys and really getting to know them. It's 112 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 2: hard to put a value on that, and you know, 113 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: we're fortunately that we get out there and spend some 114 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: time with these guys, and it's not done. You know, 115 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 2: we still have thirty visits. We have thirty visits that 116 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 2: are coming. We have the opportunity to do zooms with 117 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: players which we plan to take advance. Uh, but it's 118 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 2: part of the process and it's uh, you know, it's 119 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 2: it's really important, but you know we're working hard trying 120 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 2: to get it right. 121 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: Omar just kind of one of one of my last questions. 122 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: You know, how free agency has gone thus far and 123 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: how you've kind of hit that. How does that change 124 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: the targets that you guys look at for the draft 125 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 1: based on what's available in the free agency pools you 126 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: get nearer to draft day. 127 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, Max, I'll just say, you know, are our goal 128 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 2: is always to put ourselves in a position where we 129 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,239 Speaker 2: don't have to take a guy, uh a specific position, 130 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 2: and I feel like we've added some key pieces to 131 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 2: what we're trying to accomplish. And uh, this draft is 132 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 2: you know, there's some really good players in this draft 133 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: that can help us at various positions. And you know, 134 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 2: we've been working hard at trying to make sure we 135 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 2: set our board right and there's more more worth to come. 136 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 2: This is the next was it? Three or four weeks 137 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 2: are going to be really important, but we're right in 138 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 2: the middle of it and feel good about it.