Steelers/NFL category, Page 121
First Call: Levi Wallace leaves in free agency; medical concern for potential Steelers draftee; bizarre MLB ejection
Tuesday’s “First Call” features news about a departing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back. A potential Steelers draft target may have a medical concern. The Brandon Aiyuk trade conversation has more oxygen. And a Pittsburgh-area native was a star during a crazy day at Yankee Stadium. Losing Levi Cornerback Levi Wallace is...
Breakfast with Benz NFL Draft preview: Despite Steelers’ need at center, ‘anomaly’ of elite tackles may be too much to pass up
As we discussed in our NFL Draft preview podcast series with former pro and college scout Matt Williamson, the Pittsburgh Steelers have significant needs at defensive back and wide receiver. But in both cases, the truly top-notch players at those positions are likely to be gone by the time they...
Steelers notes: ‘Top 30’ visits to facility just 1 part of Mike Tomlin’s draft evaluation process
After a fourth question about official pre-draft “top 30” visits the Pittsburgh Steelers host, coach Mike Tomlin had heard enough. “I think you guys,” Tomlin said, referring to the roughly two dozen media members at Monday’s news conference at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, “are probably making a little bit more...
Steelers not ‘overly thirsty’ entering draft despite glaring hole at center
The work done in the offseason, via signings and trades, has saturated the Pittsburgh Steelers roster and kept coach Mike Tomlin hydrated as the NFL Draft approaches. “We’ve addressed a lot of needs, and you don’t feel overly thirsty in any particular area,” Tomlin said Monday at a pre-draft news...
NFL Draft preview: Steelers could pass on safety class that is lacking top-tier prospects
Since taking Terrell Edmunds with the No. 28 overall pick in 2018 and trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick a year later, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t needed to use an early draft pick on the safety position. The only additions via the draft came late on the third day. In 2020, the...
Mark Madden: Getting a 1st-round WR makes sense, but the Steelers cling to outdated philosophy
Conventional wisdom says the Pittsburgh Steelers will take an offensive lineman with their first pick of the NFL Draft, 20th overall. Either a tackle or center. Whichever of those two positions isn’t addressed with that choice, they will likely select in the second round. That’s smart. If it’s the ’70s....
Breakfast With Benz NFL Draft preview: ‘Awesome’ receiver class awaits Steelers to address significant need
I was never the world’s biggest Diontae Johnson fan. But I still wasn’t wild about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent trade which shipped him off to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson. For all of Johnson’s inconsistencies, I still think he was a better receiver than Jackson is a corner. And, while...
First Call: Steelers may have 1st-round trade-down partner, if they want; another team fends off WR trade rumors
Monday’s “First Call” has a draft day trade idea for the Pittsburgh Steelers. More news on a potential Steelers trade target from the wide receiver talent pool. The Pirates may be facing the wrong team at the wrong time. And an ex-Pirates pitcher is mowing down the National League. Something...
NFL Draft preview: In lean year for inside linebackers, Steelers can ride with veteran starters
When the Pittsburgh Steelers broke training camp last year, they had three veteran free agents sharing playing time at inside linebacker. All three were starters elsewhere and provided an ample level of comfort at a spot that was completely retooled that offseason. “We felt really good about the position,” general...
NFL Draft preview: Inspired by Micah Parsons, Penn State duo trying to make mark as pass rushers
It’s fitting that Chop Robinson’s draft bio on the NFL website compares him to Dallas Cowboys star defender Micah Parsons. Although they played different positions at Penn State, they have enough similar traits that personnel execs believe Robinson can follow in Parsons’ footsteps and excel as an NFL pass rusher....
NFL Draft preview: High-end defensive tackles lacking in 2024 class
For a team that could use another infusion of youth on the defensive line, the Pittsburgh Steelers elected to stockpile veteran depth in the offseason. The Steelers re-signed nose tackle Montravius Adams to a two-year contract at the outset of free agency. They added ninth-year veteran Dean Lowry, who turns...
First Call: Steelers QB Russell Wilson to throw out Pirates’ 1st pitch; watch Paul Skenes sparkle again in IndyVideo
In Friday’s “First Call,” new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is getting back to his baseball roots. Paul Skenes makes another minor league start. A local pitcher is tearing up the American League in Oakland, and we preview this weekend’s Pirates-Red Sox series at PNC Park. Russ is with us...
Breakfast With Benz NFL Draft preview: Front 7 fits and misses for Steelers
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were truly elite at team-building, they could afford to spend high draft choices on front-seven defensive players who didn’t necessarily have to come in and start right away but could contribute and evolve into long-term defensive stalwarts. Particularly along the defensive line. Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt,...
NFL Draft preview: Could Steelers’ quest for right tackle lead them back to Georgia?
History might be the only reason to believe the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t select an offensive tackle in the first round of the NFL Draft. Until last season, when they drafted Broderick Jones, the Steelers hadn’t taken a tackle with their first-round pick since 1996, which lessens the odds of them...
Breakfast With Benz Steelers draft preview: Matt Williamson on defensive backs
As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the NFL Draft (April 25-27), we are doing the same here at Breakfast With Benz. That means it’s time for our annual draft preview series with pro and college scout Matt Williamson. I’ve worked with Williamson for many years on Fox Sports Radio 970...
First Call: 49ers reportedly dismiss Steelers’ Brandon Aiyuk trade call; Marc-Andre Fleury discusses plan to play next yearVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us San Francisco’s reaction to a Steelers trade inquiry for Brandon Aiyuk. We also have an interesting note about a Steelers draft option. Pirates prospect Paul Skenes gets ready to pitch again in Indianapolis. And Marc-Andre Fleury explains his decision to come back for one more...
NFL Draft preview: Steelers have 3 viable options if they elect to take center in early rounds
Perhaps the worst-kept secret in the NFL is the Pittsburgh Steelers are targeting a center early in the draft, most likely using the No. 20 overall pick to address a position of need. Center, of course, is the one position on the roster where the Steelers don’t have a definitive...
Penn State center Hunter Nourzad, ILB Junior Colson among the final official pre-draft visitors to SteelersVideo
For their final official prospect visits in advance of next week’s draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday hosted yet another center, a second one of the top available inside linebackers in as many days and a British former boxer and rugby player. Travis Clayton, a 22-year-old who took part in...
First Call: Was Steelers’ top draft choice in town?; another WR trade option could be emerging
Wednesday’s “First Call” takes a look at another potential trade candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers at the wide receiver position. The Steelers’ top prize in the draft may have been in their building Monday. We get an update on Brian Flores’ coaching situation, and we find out why Penn State’s...
U mad, bro?: Fan anxiety over Penguins’ playoff elimination; doubt about Steelers; pig wrestling
Since we are starting our “Breakfast With Benz” draft previews for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, we had to move up “U mad, bro?” to Wednesday this week. But given that the Penguins were eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday, one day shorter on the calendar doesn’t mean we are any...
NFL Draft preview: With 5 tight ends on roster, Steelers can focus offensive needs elsewhere
Given their recent emphasis on the position in the NFL Draft, it’s no coincidence the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t conduct a top-30 visit with any tight end prospects this offseason. The 2021 draft began a three-year run in which the Steelers used a pick on a tight end, including two on...
Steelers host top center prospect Graham Barton, have official visit with ILB for 1st timeVideo
With the official pre-draft visits winding down, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally hosted a prospect that is not among their top four positions of obvious need on Tuesday. They did, however, meet with yet another potential draftee at what is the most glaring hole on their roster. North Carolina State inside...
Steelers 2024 pre-draft visit tracker: 35 players provide a peek at draft priorities
The Pittsburgh Steelers have hosted a range of players in advance of the 2024 NFL Draft later this month. Each team is allotted 30 official draft visits (excluding local prospects). Here is a breakdown, by position, of the players the Steelers have met with as they look to create their...
Analytical look at new QBs suggests Steelers may be getting into an NBA approach to NFL offense
This month, the Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County sent out a survey asking recent patrons of PPG Paints Arena if they would be interested in an NBA team (and/or a WNBA team) coming to Pittsburgh. I haven’t heard the results of the survey yet. But based...
First Call: 49ers staying out of Brandon Aiyuk trade talks; Steelers looking at CB with Pitt ties
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are keeping their eyes on some big-name NFL wide receivers dealing with contract issues. A former Pitt and WPIAL player is sticking with a Steelers rival in the AFC North. The cousin of a former Pitt standout is getting a look from the Steelers. And we try...
