First Call: Jalen Carter may be gone before Steelers could trade up to draft him; WPIAL pitching star to make debut

Wednesday’s “First Call” takes another look at that Jalen Carter-to-the-Steelers conversation. A familiar name in the AFC North may get moved out. We examine the NHL television ratings for the regular season.

And a WPIAL standout pitcher is getting called up to the Major Leagues.

No crack at Carter?

If the Steelers are going to trade up for the chance to draft Jalen Carter, they may need to go even higher than the No. 9 pick. Peter King discussed that possibility during his “Football Morning in America” post Monday.

But Carter is coveted by many teams. The Georgia defensive lineman visited with the Atlanta Falcons Tuesday. They pick seventh.

As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, that means Carter has made the rounds of every team between pick No. 5 and pick No. 10.

Georgia DT Jalen Carter is visiting the Atlanta Falcons today. He then will have visited each team picking 5-10: the Seahawks (5), Lions (6), Raiders (7), Falcons (8), Bears (9) and Eagles (10).

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 18, 2023

Carter is rated by some to have the best upside in the draft. But he has had off-the-field issues.

In January, Carter was charged with reckless driving and racing — both misdemeanors — in connection with a crash that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. Two other passengers were injured.

Via SI.com, “Though initially thought to be a single-car crash, police announced March 1 that they believed Carter and LeCroy were racing.” Carter pleaded no contest, received 12 months probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, plus perform 80 hours community service.

However, that doesn’t seem to have dented his stock enough to knock him out of the top 10 picks next Thursday night.

Related:

• Mark Madden: Trading up is right move for Steelers, who need to draft a great player
• Cornerback or tackle? Former NFL GM has specific opinions on Steelers draft options
• NFL Draft primer: Despite being set at tight end, Steelers could be swayed by deep class

Bye-bye, Boyd?

Are the Cincinnati Bengals preparing to say goodbye to Tyler Boyd? Paul Dehner Jr. of the Athletic broached that topic recently, suggesting the Bengals may look to draft a slot receiver with a high-leverage pick next weekend.

Tyler Boyd has been a beast in the slot and deserves as much credit as anyone for the #Bengals success.

Yet, he's entering the last year of his contract and turns 29 in November.

Will the Bengals draft his heir apparent?

It's complicated. https://t.co/tEipVJKe7K

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) April 18, 2023

A product of Clairton, Boyd has played his entire eight-year NHL career with the Bengals. The former Pitt Panther has made $47.3 million during that time. He is slated to make $10.3 million against the salary cap this year. Then he becomes a free agent.

The 29-year-old totaled 58 catches for 762 yards over 16 games in 2022. Those were low marks over the last five years for Boyd, who also had five touchdowns.

Cincy has to figure out how to keep fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins who is approaching the final year of his contract. Fellow star pass catcher Ja’Marr Chase is also going to need a fifth-year extension for 2025 or a long-term deal. Quarterback Joe Burrow is eligible for an extension now and is set to play in the final year of his rookie deal.

TV time

A little bit of nuance is needed when interpreting the NHL’s television ratings across the Disney and Turner platforms.

According to the Sports Business Journal, viewership numbers are mixed. “The NHL averaged 583,000 viewers for live games on Disney networks this season and 364,000 on TNT. The Disney viewership is down 2% from last year, and the TNT viewership is up 1%.”

However, keep in mind what AwfulAnnouncing.com posted.

“That small step back came thanks to those networks airing nearly 50% more games than last year. Both of the NHL’s broadcast partners aired more games this season. Disney’s networks aired just 28 games last season, and brought 50 (nearly twice as many) exclusive broadcasts to the airwaves this season. Many of the league’s games on Disney networks earlier in the season went head to head with the NFL,” wrote Joe Lucia.

Meanwhile, Lucia adds, “TNT aired 61 games this year, compared to 50 last season. Unlike in 2021-22, many of this year’s games were blacked out in the local markets of the teams playing. The games that did not include local blackouts were up 9% from last season’s overall average.”

From Bethel Park to MLB

Pitcher Mason Miller is getting called up to the big leagues.

The Bethel Park right-hander has intrigued the Oakland A’s enough for them to give him a crack at the Major League level. Via MLB Pipeline, the 24-year-old averaged 100 mph with his four-seam fastball during his last start with the triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. In that game, Miller didn’t allow a hit or a walk over five innings, while striking out 11. He has 19 strikeouts in 8.2 innings this season.

The A's are reportedly calling up their No. 3 prospect, Mason Miller.

The 24-year-old right-hander AVERAGED 100 mph with his four-seamer in his last start (5 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 11 K) and has 19 strikeouts in 8.2 innings this season.

More on Miller: https://t.co/EtdRfME9tY pic.twitter.com/j5PRgRFg1Y

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 18, 2023

Via Athletics Nation, the only base runner he allowed during his last start came on a dropped third strike.

Miller played college baseball at Waynesburg University for three years and eventually transferred to Gardner-Webb. Miller was drafted by the Athletics in the ninth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.

Miller is expected to start at home Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs. Oakland is 3-15.