First Call: Pittsburgh tabbed as best fit for Vegas free-agent CB; Steelers show interest in star HBCU edge defender

Pittsburgh is listed as a top destination for one NFL free-agent defensive back, while a current Pittsburgh Steeler may want to consider heading west.

The Steelers are one of many teams intrigued by an HBCU star pass rusher. An infamous name in recent Steelers history is looking for work.

Connor McDavid and the Oilers are coming to Pittsburgh after ending a dry spell. And the Duquesne women’s basketball team has a chance to make some history.

All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.”

For those about to ‘Rock,’ we salute you

ESPN.com put together a list of the top 50 NFL free agents and the best potential fits for those players.

Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Rock Ya-Sin is among those featured, and the Steelers are listed as his best fit.

“How strong the market for Ya-Sin ends up being will play a role in the Steelers’ ability to make a move, but I like the fit — especially if Pittsburgh can’t re-sign (Cam) Sutton,” said ESPN’s Matt Bowen. “Ya-Sin is well-versed in both man and zone schemes and has a physical approach to the game, so he would upgrade the perimeter of the Steelers’ secondary. He had seven pass breakups this season and allowed just one touchdown reception as the nearest defender, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.”

Ya-Sin is entering his fifth season. He’s the 34th rated player by Bowen. The Steelers were frequently linked with him when he was in the 2019 draft class. The Indianapolis Colts selected Ya-Sin out of Temple in the second round. In March of last year, Ya-Sin was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for Yannick Ngakoue.

As for Sutton, he’s the 28th player on the board (and the only current Steeler). Bowen lists San Francisco as the best potential landing spot for him.

Former Steeler — and current Philadelphia Eagle — Javon Hargrave is third on the list, with the Seattle Seahawks projected as his best destination. Another ex-Steeler, JuJu Smith-Schuster, is ranked 27th, with a return to his current team, the Kansas City Chiefs, predicted.

A name to remember

Steelers general manager Omar Khan was at the HBCU combine in New Orleans this week. One prospect in particular turned a lot of heads. Apparently, Khan’s was one of them.

We are talking about Lane College defensive end Andrew Farmer. According to the Draft Network’s Justin Melo, numerous NFL teams met with Farmer after his workout, including the Steelers.

.@LaneAthletics Andrew Farmer had a really good showing at the HBCU Combine. Farmer ran a 4.72, 38-inch Vert, 9-10 broad, and has spoken with 14 teams, per source.

Patriots, Chargers, Browns, Commanders, Lions, Panthers, NYG, Titans, Bears, Raiders, Jags, Steelers and Falcons. https://t.co/Jgxidxm5dJ

— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) February 21, 2023

Farmer is 6-foot-3, 250 pounds. He had 58 tackles (25 for loss), six sacks, seven quarterback hits and a forced fumble as a redshirt senior last year.

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Even though Farmer may be a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent, given the Steelers lack of depth options at outside linebacker, keep his name in mind.

Remember him?

Mike Priefer is an ignominious name in Steelers history. He’s the Cleveland Browns special teams coach who led the Browns to a win at Heinz Field during that coronavirus-addled wild-card round playoff game after the 2020 season.

Now, he’s out of a job. Priefer was relieved of duties Wednesday. As ProFootballTalk pointed out, the move is curious because it comes about a month after there were reports that Priefer’s job in Cleveland was safe.

“I appreciate everything Prief has done for this team in his three seasons as my special teams coordinator, but I have decided to move in another direction in the best interest of our organization,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said in a statement posted at BrownsWire. “I know this city will forever be grateful for the job he did as acting head coach in our AFC Wild Card win and for all his contributions while leading the Browns special team’s units for the last four seasons. We wish Prief the best with his next opportunity.”

Prior to his arrival in Cleveland, Priefer was the special teams coach in Minnesota for eight seasons.

More sports

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• Tim Benz: For Pitt basketball — seize upcoming chances to win and play 'blame game' later
• Penguins forward Rickard Rakell is racking up points

Oil slick

The Edmonton Oilers appear to have gotten themselves right just before coming to Pittsburgh. They ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 win Tuesday night. It was their last game before visiting PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night.

At least the win happened against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Not only did the Oilers get back on track, star center Connor McDavid snapped out of a minor funk. The NHL’s goal-scoring leader had gone four games without finding the back of the net. In fact, the reigning Art Ross Trophy holder entered Tuesday’s game in Edmonton with only one goal this month.

But the All-Star point machine scored the game-winner in the third period to put his Oilers up 3-2.

9⃣7⃣ gives us the lead pic.twitter.com/ysEo1sYU43

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 22, 2023

McDavid would ad an empty net goal. He’s up to 44 on the season. McDavid surpassed the 800-point plateau during the contest. He has done so in 545 games. Via ESPN stats and info, that is the fifth-fewest games to reach 800 career points in NHL history after Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky (352), Mario Lemieux (410), Mike Bossy (525) and Peter Stastny (531).

As NHL Public Relations tweeted, McDavid is also the fastest active player to record 800 career points, besting Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (571 GP) by 26 games.

McDavid also did … this.

weeeeeee pic.twitter.com/xo4hh6obAB

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 22, 2023

I don’t even know what … that … was. And he didn’t score. But it was cool, and it made the Flyers look silly, so it’s worth posting.

Fond farewell?

The Duquesne women’s basketball team plays its final home game of the season at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The Loyola Chicago Ramblers visit the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

Duquesne is 17-10 on the season, 7-7 in Atlantic 10 play. That’s good for eighth place in the conference. Loyola has struggled in its first year as an A-10 member, going 6-21 with a 1-13 conference mark.

If the Dukes win, it’ll be the 14th home victory of the season for Dan Burt’s crew. That’ll be the most home victories in any season in program history. The 2011-12 and 2012-13 teams both got to 13 victories at home.

Duquesne wraps up the regular season on the road at St. Joseph’s on Saturday.