First Call: Interesting projection for Steelers QB Kenny Pickett; scary Pirates draft comp; ex-Pitt star to join Team USA

Friday’s “First Call” has an interesting forecast for Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. An ex-Penguins player is about to be surrounded by some familiar faces. A WPIAL basketball product is now on Team USA.

And Pirates fans are about to read something they probably don’t want to consider regarding the upcoming Major League Baseball draft.

That’ll work

ESPN.com posted a fantasy football feature that may have some real-world appeal for Steelers fans.

Writer Mike Clay looked for the 2023 editions of players who made waves in different ways across the fantasy landscape last year.

In searching for a breakout QB like Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Clay pointed to Steelers second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett.

“Carson Wentz (2017), Patrick Mahomes (2018), Lamar Jackson (2019), Kyler Murray (2020), Joe Burrow (2021) and Lawrence (2022) are recent examples of the many first-round QBs who broke out in their second season,” Clay said. “None were as productive as rookies, which is notable here, as Pickett had some struggles (6.2 YPA, 12.8 fantasy PPF during 10 full games) in his first season. The good news is that weak efficiency simply isn’t a concern for first-year QBs, who generally make a big leap in Year 2. Rushing ability is becoming more important for the fantasy relevance of QBs and Pickett delivered in that department as a rookie, ranking sixth in carries and seventh in rush yards during those 10 games. An improved offensive line and upgraded goal line targets (Allen Robinson II, Darnell Washington) should help Pickett to step forward.”

In Lawrence’s second year, his rating jumped from 71.9 to 95.2. His completion percentage went from 59% to 66%. His yards increased by 472. His touchdown to interception ratio swelled from 12:17 to 25:18.

Most importantly, the team improved from 3-14 to 9-8, securing the AFC South title and a first-round playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Oh, don’t say that!

The Pirates have the top pick in the Major League Baseball draft on Sunday. Most fans want the team to select either LSU outfielder Dylan Crews or fellow Tigers product, pitcher Paul Skenes.

However there is a growing sentiment that the franchise may select high school outfielder Max Clark instead.

That move would save draft pool dollars to spend on picks later in the draft. But Crews and Skenes are both much closer to being MLB-ready.

Clark is a wonderful prospect. But here is something Pirates fans will absolutely hate to read. Check out this early description of Clark from MLB.com back in May: “Clark is the best prospect to come out of Indiana since Bryan Bullington went No. 1 overall in 2002 and the state’s best prepster ever.”

Oof! Whether it’s fair or not — and clearly it is not — you do not want your name associated with Bryan Bullington if we are talking about No. 1 overall picks made by the Pirates.

For those who don’t remember, the Pirates went cheap on signing Bullington as the No. 1 pick out of Ball State. Even the franchise itself never projected him as more than a No. 3 starter in the rotation. Bullington appeared in just six games as a Pirate, compiling an 0-3 record and a 5.89 ERA. He then bounced around to Cleveland, Toronto, Kansas City and Japan.

Hopefully, wherever he goes, things work out better for Clark than that. But no one in Pittsburgh needed that comp drawn if they are looking to fend off any disappointment should the club steer away from Skenes or Crews.

Related

• Tim Benz: With No. 1 MLB draft pick, Pirates are in unique position - if they allow it to be
• Pirates GM Ben Cherington: No. 1 overall draft pick pool 'much deeper than 2 players'
• MLB Draft expert sticking with Dylan Crews as Pirates' No. 1 pick despite concerns about cost

Welcome to town

Former Penguin Brian Dumoulin is settling in with his new team. The two-time Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh signed a free-agent contract with the Seattle Kraken on July 1.

He’ll be walking into a locker room with a number of other former Penguins, including Jamie Oleksiak, Jared McCann, Brandon Tanev and Justin Schultz.

Dumo heard great things about #SeaKraken from Tanev, Oleksiak, McCann, Schultz

— Alison (@AlisonL) July 6, 2023

Dumoulin also told the Seattle media that he is familiar with Kraken general manager Ron Francis going back to his college playing days at Boston College. Via Alison Lukan of NHL.com, Dumoulin says the ex-Penguins legend visited BC while in a development role with the Carolina Hurricanes, and they struck up a good rapport back then.

USA calling on Cam

Former Pitt Panther Cam Johnson is officially on the Team USA basketball roster for the upcoming FIBA World Cup. The tournament is set to take place in the Philippines, Okinawa and Indonesia in August and September.

Johnson had committed to playing back in June, but rosters were officially announced on Thursday.

America hasn’t won the title since 2014 and finished seventh during the last tournament in 2019. USA Basketball executive director Grant Hill is running the team along with Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr. No one on the team is older than 28.

After starting his college career at Pitt, Johnson transferred to North Carolina and finished his last two years with the Tar Heels. A product of Moon and Our Lady of Sacred Heart High School, Johnson played his first 3 ½ years in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the middle of last season.

Johnson is coming off a season where he averaged a career-best 15.5 points per game, shooting 47% from the floor. On Thursday, the team officially announced a recently reported four-year, $108 million deal betwen Johnson and the club.