First Call: 3 mock drafts, 3 cornerbacks slated for Steelers; Joe Haden discusses reasons for retirement

Wednesday’s “First Call” features an interesting Pittsburgh Steelers trend in mock drafts. Former Steeler Joe Haden discusses his reasons for retirement. We look at the circumstances for franchise tags on Lamar Jackson and Saquon Barkley.

Plus, Duquesne gets some appreciation from the Atlantic 10 in advance of the team’s first conference tournament game.

Variety pack

Three new mock drafts. Three different cornerbacks predicted to wind up with the Steelers.

Via the NFL Network, Lance Zierlein suggests the Steelers will take Deontae Banks. He is a 6-foot, 197-pound corner from Maryland that ran a 4.35 40-yard dash. He is shooting up draft charts after a good showing at the combine. And we all know how Mike Tomlin loves those Maryland guys.

.@TerpsFootball DB Deonte Banks with an 11'4" broad jump. ???? @IamDeonteBanks_

????: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
????: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/1Z1OGCBcpM

— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2023

From ESPN, Todd McShay has the Steelers selecting Mississippi State corner Emmanuel Forbes. He’s another fast-rising, workout stud who also ran a 4.35 in Indianapolis and picked off 14 passes with the Bulldogs.

Year two in the books????????❗️only way is up from here! pic.twitter.com/Fm8p0jl6oK

— Emmanuel Forbes Jr????⚡️ (@emmanuelforbes7) December 30, 2021

Then there is The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. He went the conventional route, predicting the Steelers will select Joey Porter Jr. He is the long-rumored target at corner for the Steelers out of Penn State. He is also the son of former Steelers linebacker, Joey Porter Sr., who also was an assistant on Tomlin’s staff.

Joey Porter Sr. watches his son Joey Porter Jr. run the 40. ???? @PennStateFball

????: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
????: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/RpeCskAR6Z

— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2023

I go with Brugler here because McShay and Zierlein both inferred that the Steelers will draft different corners while Porter was still on the board. Those two had Porter going to Tampa Bay at No. 19.

I just can’t see the sun coming up on a day when Tomlin bypasses Joey Porter’s kid for another corner of relative talent and upside.

No way. Not happening.

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Not worth it

Former Steelers cornerback Joe Haden joined the latest edition of the “I Am Athlete” podcast. It’s hosted by NFL veterans Brandon Marshall, Adam “Pacman” Jones, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson.

During the conversation, Haden discussed why he retired from the NFL following the 2021 season. As he said, it wasn’t a matter of thinking he was finished as a player. He just never got a contract offer he thought was worthy of dedicating another year to the game.

“I didn’t plan on retiring. I wanted to do one more year, but the money wasn’t right,” Haden said. “It wasn’t worth it. They were offering me one and a half to two million. I probably could’ve gone to probably eight teams for that, but it didn’t make sense. Moving the family, I’ve got my kids in school now.”

Haden went on to say that $5 million was going to be his floor to play. During a 12-year career (seven in Cleveland, five in Pittsburgh), OverTheCap.com says Haden made in excess of $123.7 million.

Haden totaled 29 interceptions and six fumble recoveries. He is now doing some media work for Amazon and Fox, plus trying his hand at real estate in Cleveland.

Nothing happening

Now that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is getting the non-exclusive franchise tag, many have wondered if any team may try to acquire him.

Some rumored teams have included the Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons.

So far, ProFootballTalk says that is not happening. In the case of the Dolphins, they don’t have a first-round pick this year that could be used as compensation. And, via PFT, the Falcons and Panthers are “out of the mix” on Jackson.

Terms of that non-exclusive franchise tag allow Jackson to negotiate with other teams. The Ravens would have a chance to match any offer that Jackson gets from another franchise. If the Ravens decline to match, they would receive two first-round picks.

Based on the collective bargaining agreement, Jackson will make $32.4 million for 2023 if he plays on the tag.

Not just Jackson

Jackson wasn’t the only NFL player to get the non-exclusive franchise tag. Saquon Barkley got it in New York too.

That means the former Penn State running back will at least earn $10.091 million from the Giants this season. Like Jackson, he is free to negotiate a contract with other teams. Similar to the Ravens, if the Giants want to match an offer to Barkley, they can. If they don’t, they will be compensated with two first-round picks from Barkley’s new team.

After being dogged by injuries the past few years, Barkley had a bounce-back season in 2022, totaling 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

As for former Steeler Javon Hargrave, he did not get tagged by the Eagles. The highly coveted defensive lineman will now head to free agency on March 15.

Since … when?

A pair of Duquesne basketball players were honored by the Atlantic 10 Conference on Tuesday.

Leading scorer Dae Dae Grant was named Second Team All-Conference. Guard Jimmy Clark III was voted onto the All-Defensive Team. The votes came from coaches across the conference.

Clark totaled a league-high 72 steals. That’s tied for eighth nationally. His 2.32 steals per game are good for 14th in the nation and is second to A-10 Defensive Player of Year Ace Baldwin’s (VCU) league-best 2.46 steals per game. Clark is the first Duke to earn All-Defensive Team honors since T.J. McConnell in 2012.

As for Grant, he averaged 15.2 points per game, tallying double digits in 26 of 31 games this year. The Miami, Oh. transfer’s 10 20-point games are the most by a Duke since Micah Mason had 15 in 2016.

After a bye on Tuesday, the sixth-seeded Dukes face No. 11 seed La Salle Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (USA Network) for their first A-10 conference tournament game. La Salle topped Rhode Island 73-56 Tuesday. Duquesne beat the Explorers 91-74 in Philadelphia last month during the only regular-season matchup between the clubs.