First Call: DB turned down more money from Steelers for Washington; 'pessimistic' forecast for Brandon Aiyuk's 49ers extension

Friday’s “First Call” features a National Football League player who claims he was almost a Steeler in free agency, some wide receiver scuttlebutt, and a preview of this weekend’s series at PNC Park between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins.

Plus, Mitch Keller tries to keep his recent hot streak alive.

What could’ve been

The Steelers made a number of moves in the secondary this offseason. They signed DeShon Elliot. They traded for Donte Jackson. They drafted Ryan Watts in the sixth round.

But there was at least one fish that apparently got off of Omar Khan’s hook.

While on “The SiriusXM Blitz” with Bruce Murray and Rick Spielman Thursday, Washington defensive back Jeremy Chinn revealed that the Steelers offered him more money than the Commanders. Yet, the former Carolina safety decided to ink a one-year $4.5 million deal in D.C. anyway.

A little less than $3.5 million of that is guaranteed.

“I can’t remember if it was a multi-year deal, but I did get another offer. I think Pittsburgh was probably a little bit more money,” Chinn said (as transcribed at Steelers Depot). “This is where I’m supposed to be. I know this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Chinn insists that he just liked the scheme fit under Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. more. The Steelers then pivoted and got Elliott for two years at $6 million with only $1.5 million fully guaranteed.

Two things strike me about this. First of all, this is why I always laugh when big-ticket players under contract with contract negotiations looming — like Micah Parsons recently — always like to say that they would love to play for Mike Tomlin. Then free agency comes around, and they always wind up elsewhere.

Even a mid-tier guy like Chinn is fine passing up Pittsburgh for the usually rudderless Commanders.

Secondly, I’m interested in the timing of this one. The Steelers traded receiver Dionte Johnson for Chinn’s Carolina teammate Donte Jackson two days before Chinn’s signing in Washington. But did they already get word that was happening? Jackson’s cap number is $6 million to play corner for the Steelers in 2024.

So were the Steelers really willing to bring on roughly $10 million to $12 million in two Carolina DBs? Or did they only make the Jackson for Johnson trade when they knew Chinn was out?

Either way, much of the Steelers 2024 defense is riding on making sure the Jackson and Elliot acquisitions both work out.

Not looking great

When it comes to Brandon Aiyuk’s contract extension getting done in San Francisco, his personal coach isn’t painting a pretty picture at this point.

And that coach is a familiar (while not widely liked) name to Steelers fans: former Cincinnati Bengal and Baltimore Raven T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Appearing on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, Houshmandzadeh said Aiyuk thought he might be in a position to get a contract six weeks ago but, “That optimistic outlook has turned into a pessimistic outlook.”

"At one point [Brandon Aiyuk] thought he may sign...That optimistic outlook has turned into a pessimistic outlook."

- Aiyuk's WR coach TJ Houshmandzadeh told @WillardAndDibs "about a month & a half ago" BA thought he was close to signing w/ the 49ers.

https://t.co/zpsrBrPlz9 pic.twitter.com/tdsw4G67qo

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) June 6, 2024

Houshmandzadeh went on to say that if the 49ers were to give Aiyuk a similar deal to what Detroit Lions pass catcher Amon-Ra St. Brown recently got, the matter would be closed.

“If the 49ers want to get B.A. signed, give him the Amon-Ra deal. I guarantee he’d be in there tomorrow. They don’t want to do that,” Houshmandzadeh said.

If that’s what Aiyuk wants from the 49ers, he’s going to want that from the Steelers too. Plus the Steelers are going to have to pony up significant assets to San Francisco to pry him free in the first place.

But I know, I know. He wants to play for Tomlin like everyone else, right? So I’m sure he’ll take a lot less.

Sure he will.

How about in Denver

Courtland Sutton says he’ll be showing up for mandatory minicamp in Denver. That’s according to the DNVR Broncos podcast.

BREAKING: Courtland Sutton announces he’ll be at mandatory minicamp next week! #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/oSJ9i2NO4h

— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) June 6, 2024

Sutton still has two years left on his contract. But he wants more money and more guarantees. So he hasn’t been at organized team activities.

The Broncos receiver has been frequently linked to the Steelers in recent months as another potential trade target, just like Aiyuk. But now he’s heading back to work in Colorado.

However some receivers have blown off the minicamps, like Aiyuk and Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb.

Sutton’s salary over the next two years is roughly $13 million each year, but he has just $2 million in guarantees due. His cap number in Denver is $17.3 million this season and $17.8 million next season. Last season, Sutton led the Broncos with 59 catches, 772 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He also had plenty of praise for Broncos turned Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson during that podcast.

Twins time

Even after the Pirates’ series against the Los Angeles Dodgers ended with an 11-7 thud on Thursday, they still won two of three against a first-place team.

Now they’ll get an opponent that’s in the thick of the American League wild-card race.

The Minnesota Twins are coming to PNC Park for a three-game weekend series. They are 33-29, currently good for third place in the AL Central and good for the third and final wild-card slot. But they have lost three in a row.

Minnesota is pretty average offensively, eighth out of 15 clubs in the AL with 271 runs, 10th in on-base percentage at .302 and 12th in batting average at .229. Pitching-wise, the staff’s 4.27 ERA is 11th. It has allowed 77 homers (fourth most) and 276 runs (seventh most).

Joe Ryan starts for the Twins on Friday. He has a 4-4 record with a 3.338 ERA. The Pirates counter with Mitch Keller (7-3, 3.42), making his 13th start of the year.

Keller has won five decisions in a row, yielding just six earned runs in those performances.