First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick's new money; Kenny Pickett's injury; a twist on Mitch Keller trade rumors

Monday’s “First Call” features some new money up front for former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. We look at Kenny Pickett’s hamstring injury in Cleveland.

There is a new layer to the Mitch Keller trade rumors, and we examine the Pirates’ road trip out west.

Pickett’s problem

It doesn’t sound like Kenny Pickett is going to be getting back on the practice field right away. The Browns quarterback injured a hamstring Saturday. And, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Pitt grad may miss some time until the injury is reevaluated later in the week.

In Pickett’s absence, the Browns will spread the ball around between Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday's practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources. Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps… pic.twitter.com/y2oxkt96fy

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2025

Pickett was reportedly having a good start to camp. The Browns were off Sunday.

Cleveland acquired Pickett from Philadelphia in March. He has 25 career starts between Pittsburgh and Philly with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Minkah’s money

Minkah Fitzpatrick is getting a pay bump. The former Steeler just changed agents and picked up Drew Rosenhaus in hopes of securing a new deal with the Dolphins after his trade there from the Steelers prior to training camp.

The safety still had two years left on the $73.6 million contract he signed with the Steelers in 2022. According to Schefter, Fitzpatrick is getting another $16 million up front from the Dolphins.

“We are comfortable with this commitment to Minkah as we continue to work with the Dolphins on a multi-year extension,” Rosenhaus said.

Dolphins and their recently-acquired safety Minkah Fitzpatrick have agreed to a revised contract, adding a $16.245 million signing bonus to his deal. There had been no guaranteed money left on the contract, and no additional years were added. “We are comfortable with this… pic.twitter.com/MNODoAf7W5

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2025

Schefter later added that the conversion now saves the Dolphins $11 million against this year’s salary cap.

Schefter and Rosenhaus didn’t mention if behind-the-scenes salary squawking from Fitzpatrick may have been part of the Steelers’ trade motivation to move him down to Miami for Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey in the first place.

San Francisco treat

After winning five of six games against Detroit and Arizona during their recent homestand, the Pirates head west for a six-game road trip.

Don Kelly’s crew begins in San Francisco for three games Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. After an off day Thursday, the Pirates open play in August on Friday with a weekend series in Colorado.

The Giants are 54-52, third place in the National League West. They are seven games behind Los Angeles and three behind San Diego. The Padres also hold the NL’s final wild-card spot at the moment.

San Francisco has lost seven of nine since the All-Star Break, and just dropped three consecutive games at home to the New York Mets. They managed just five runs in those contests. The Giants have struggled at the plate for most of the year, accumulating a .233 batting average. Only the Pirates (.230) are worse in the National League.

When it comes to OPS (.686), only the Rockies (.676) and the Pirates (.640) are worse. The Rockies have the worst record in Major League Baseball at 27-78 (.257).

Mitch Keller opens the road trip Monday night. He’s 4-10 with a 3.53 ERA. Carson Whisenhunt counters for the Giants. This is his Major League debut. He posted a 4.42 ERA over 18 starts with Triple-A Sacramento this season. The lefty is the club’s No. 3 prospect.

More sports

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• Pirates legend Dave Parker inducted into National Baseball Hall of Fame
• Madden Monday: 'At what point are (the Pirates) going to keep their good players?'

Windy city wanting

As for the trade rumors surrounding Keller, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale threw another log on the fire in his Sunday notebook.

“The Cubs desperately want another starter at the deadline, targeting Mitch Keller of the Pirates, and would include outfield prospect Owen Caissie to make it work,” Nightengale wrote.

Cassie is considered the No. 43 prospect in minor league baseball and is hitting .278 with an OPS of .940, 20 home runs and 46 RBIs for Triple-A Iowa.

At 23 years old, he is believed to be ready for MLB and is said to be playing some of the best baseball of his professional career.

Top #Cubs prospect Owen Caissie had a pair of two-homer games and recorded hits in 10 of his final 17 at-bats, with six RBIs and nine runs over that span for @IowaCubs!

????: https://t.co/2wNwyyuE8S pic.twitter.com/ErQuEZ0q7s

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 7, 2025

Over the past week, Keller has also been linked to Toronto, Boston and the New York Mets.