First Call: Free-agent prediction for Steelers; Cassius Marsh makes his pitch; Najee Harris gets Penguins fan baptism

Tuesday’s “First Call” features another national outlet pairing the Steelers with Russell Okung. Cassius Marsh is making his pitch to be part of the Steelers fabric on defense. And a pair of Steelers rookies are already integrating into the Pittsburgh sports scene.

Doubling down

The fascination continues with the national media attempts to pair free-agent tackle Russell Okung with the Steelers.

As we told you last week, Pro Football Focus wrote that Pittsburgh would be a logical spot for the former Pro Bowler. Now ESPN’s Bill Barnwell is predicting that will happen to the tune of a one-year, $6.5 million contract. He points to doubt surrounding Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner as worthy starters as the reason for his prediction.

“Ben Roethlisberger would be staring down one of the least imposing sets of starting tackles in the league on paper without an addition,” Barnwell writes. “It might take voidable years or a Dogecoin option to get the deal done, but Okung would be a major upgrade for a team that has one more shot with Roethlisberger.”

Barnwell also insists that Okung — most recently with the Carolina Panthers — still has something left in the tank despite two consecutive seasons of medical problems.

“I’m stunned that Okung hasn’t yet signed a contract, given that he’s the last useful left tackle standing on the open market in a league where a handful of competitive teams still need to lock down their quarterback’s blindside. … Okung missed time with a pulmonary embolism in 2019 and a calf injury last season, but he was a solid left tackle when on the field,” added Barnwell.

I’ll reiterate what I previously said about this suggestion. It’s not a bad idea. But I bet that if the Steelers wanted Okung, he would’ve been here by now. Especially with the money they spent to keep Banner in free agency and the efforts they made to bring in Joe Haeg from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Aviante Collins from the Minnesota Vikings.

I think whatever money they have remaining to spend after they finish all the rookie contracts would be better spent on trying to ink a capable cornerback or veteran outside linebacker. Given their reported interest in pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan (prior to his signing with the Philadelphia Eagles), I feel like there’s more smoke to the fire on that front.

While we’re on the topic

Short of another player like Kerrigan hitting their radar, the Steelers will be left with rookie Quincy Roche and journeyman Cassius Marsh as reserves behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. In 92 career games and nine starts, Marsh has totaled 14 sacks. In a recent interview with national analyst Ross Tucker, Marsh insisted he could get the job done.

“I just know I can rush the passer,” Marsh told Tucker. “And I definitely play special teams really well. I’m pretty sure my ability to get after the quarterback and my ability to make plays on special teams has just kept me around.”

And, in the case of the Steelers, being on the right roster at the right time.

Ready for my close-up

Steelers rookies Najee Harris and Kendrick Green made a positive first impression with Pittsburgh fans while wearing black and gold Monday night.

It was Penguins black and gold. But they got a crowd pop nonetheless. This year’s first-round and third-round draft choices got a little jumbotron time at PPG Paints Arena.

Penguins jersey.
Pirates hat.
Steelers future.

Welcome to the show, @ohthatsNajee22!#BurghProud pic.twitter.com/QvThe9XDv5

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 25, 2021

Perhaps they were good luck. Not long after Harris and Green were spotted in the crowd, Bryan Rust scored to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead. However, the Penguins went on to lose 3-2 in double overtime.

Maybe if the Pens had a better running game they could’ve run out the clock.

You can take a kid out of Pittsburgh, but…

Woodland Hills product Miles Sanders has a new teammate with the Philadelphia Eagles. And it may be hard for him to get used to the company.

It’s former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. Via RavensWire.com, during a recent interview, the former Penn State running back admitted to having some bad memories of Flacco while growing up in Pittsburgh.

“Growing up a Steelers fan, I definitely know Joe Flacco very well … He even gave me headaches, made me cry a couple of times,” Sanders admitted.

Hmm, let’s see. The 2014 playoffs. Three wins by a field goal at Heinz Field in 2011, 2012 and 2015. Yeah. Sanders has a point.

For as much grief as Steelers fans give Flacco for the 2008 and 2010 playoffs, most of his best career numbers are against the Steelers. His career highs for completions (454) and yards (4,860) are better against the Steelers than any other team, including the other AFC North clubs in Cleveland and Cincinnati.

Flacco also has a 25:12 touchdown to interception ratio and 10-11 record lifetime versus the Steelers. He is 17-3 lifetime against the Browns with a 27:13 touchdown to interception ratio and 9-11 with a 21:25 mark against the Bengals.