First Call: Cam Heyward stumped for Russell Wilson signing; Steelers checking out Top 10 draft tackle

Tuesday’s “First Call” clues us in as to who was pushing to get Russell Wilson signed in Pittsburgh. The former Denver Broncos quarterback was angling for a wrinkle in his contract that he couldn’t get.

The Steelers are hunting for tackle prospects in the draft but are missing out on centers in free agency.

Plus, we try to find out what’s going on with the Cincinnati Bengals and some of their star position players.

The word from Heyward

The signing of Russell Wilson had the backing of at least one significant Steeler. It’s defensive captain Cameron Heyward.

At least that’s the message from Tom Pelissero at the NFL Network.

From @gmfb: Inside how Russell Wilson landed with the #Steelers, plus the latest on Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney as the countdown continues to free agency. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/I2mhI8mWW9

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2024

“There were a couple of strong advocates for Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh throughout the process,” Pelissero said. “One of them was veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, who like Russell Wilson is a former Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award winner. Heyward was certainly a strong voice in the locker room, wanting Wilson brought aboard. The other was head coach Mike Tomlin, who spent a lot of time with Wilson during a visit at the team facility on Friday.”

Pelissero insisted that the Steelers are planning to have an open competition between Pickett and Wilson for the starting job.

Another note, Pelissero added that Wilson’s agent (Mark Rodgers) tried to negotiate an “unprecedented, massive player option” for 2025 that would give Wilson the right to lock in future guarantees. But no team was willing to bite on that clause.

Connecting the dots

One of the stranger justifications from fans that I’ve seen on social media for the Steelers’ signing of Wilson is that the low $1.2 million price tag means it’s now possible for the franchise to go out and be a big player in the trade market or free agency.

OK. Because … why exactly?

I mean, they couldn’t have been a big player before they gave Wilson $1.2 million? Or even if they had retained Mason Rudolph or acquired Justin Fields, Ryan Tannehill, Jacoby Brissette, or pretty much anyone besides Kirk Cousins?

Whatever. In any case, the Steelers need a center.

Mason Cole was cut. And now two of the top centers in free agency are already off the board. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that the Tennessee Titans are signing Wilson’s center from Denver, Lloyd Cushenberry III. He was a four-year starter with the Broncos.

The Titans are expected to sign free-agent center Lloyd Cushenberry, source says.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 11, 2024

Meanwhile the NFL Network is saying Jacksonville will be the new destination for Mitch Morse. The ex-Buffalo center was released last week. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022. So if there is a free-agent priority for the Steelers, it’s to fill that hole — unless they plan to move a guard into that job or promote backup lineman Nate Herbig into that spot.

According to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers gave it the good ol’ fashioned Pittsburgh Pirates-esque leak that they pushed but couldn’t quite outbid the Jags.

There are also some good centers in the draft , specifically Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson and West Virginia’s Zach Frazier.

At least they spent some dough for a punter. The team inked Cameron Johnston to a $9 million contract over three years. That’s good because the Steelers punted 89 times last year, fifth most in the NFL. Wilson’s Broncos punted 79 times, ninth most in the NFL.

More sports

• With Wilson's addition secure, Steelers get much-needed help at punter as free agent frenzy opens
• Russell Wilson joins list of late-career former superstars acquired by Pittsburgh teams
• Steelers agree to terms with veteran punter Cameron Johnston

Bengals blues

A couple of familiar names to Steelers fans may be leaving the roster of an AFC North rival. PFT is reporting the Bengals are releasing running back Joe Mixon.

A seven-year pro, Mixon had four 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Cincy. The Bengals were facing a $6 million cap hit for him in 2024. It appears that he’ll be replaced by Indianapolis’ Zach Moss on a two-year contract worth $8 million.

Moss had 794 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. Mixon had 1,034 and nine TDs in 2023.

Also, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that wide receiver Tee Higgins wants a trade after receiving the franchise tag.

Bengals franchise WR Tee Higgins has requested a trade, per sources. Higgins loves Cincinnati and hoped to be with the team long term, but is disappointed that the team has not had any talks about a long-term contract extension since March 2023. He’s ready to move on to a new… pic.twitter.com/T0qy7uMu8n

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024

In four NFL seasons, Higgins has 3,684 yards on 257 catches and 24 touchdowns.

Value in Corvallis?

According to Jim Nagy of the Senior Bowl, Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer was at Oregon State’s Pro Day in Corvallis on Monday.

He says the Bears, Cowboys, Broncos, Jets and Jaguars were on hand as well with their O-line coaches. They were all there to watch tackle Taliese Fuaga.

BREAKING: Teams with OL coaches at today's Oregon State pro-day to workout potential top-ten pick OT Taliese Fuaga:

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Guessing same crew will be in Eugene tomorrow for Oregon C/G Jackson… pic.twitter.com/A5hvQ7nHSD

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 11, 2024

The 6-foot-6, 334 pound junior was first team All-American. ESPN.com rates him as the third-best tackle on the board behind Notre Dame’s Joe Alt and Penn State’s Olumuyiwa (Olu) Fashanu. The website rates the 21-year-old as the 10th-best prospect in the draft.

While the Steelers are returning starters Dan Moore and Broderick Jones at tackle, they lost Chuks Okorafor in free agency to New England and may be looking to challenge Moore for his starting job after making Jones a first-round pick last year.