First Call: Steelers allegedly 'shot down' trade inquiry about Cameron Heyward; Eagles add piece before Steelers game

Thursday’s “First Call” shines a spotlight on the Pittsburgh Steelers before the NFL trade deadline.

An NFC team allegedly wanted to acquire Cameron Heyward. Meanwhile, finding a match for Chase Claypool may still be hard.

Plus, the Penguins’ next opponent is off to a brutal start.

No harm in asking

Most of the trade speculation surrounding the Steelers is centered on wide receiver Chase Claypool or backup quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph.

There wasn’t a lot of “Do yinz think ‘em Stillers may trade Cam Heyward, n’at?”

However, according to one report, at least one NFC team inquired about the All-Pro defensive end’s availability.

Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan said the Steelers had no interest in pursuing conversations.

How about this: I heard an NFC team asked the Steelers about trading for Cam Heyward and got shot down. An exploratory thing. No deal got offered or really discussed. Were told it ain't happening.

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) October 26, 2022

Heyward is 33 years old. He is signed through the end of 2024’s NFL season. He’ll make in excess of $22 million against the salary cap in each of the next two years.

I’d love to find out which team it was and what they were willing to offer for a player of Heyward’s caliber (he’s been first-team All-Pro three times and been to five Pro Bowls) and his age and salary.

But if the Steelers are in sell mode before the Nov. 1 deadline, they apparently aren’t ready to sell off that much.

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Since we brought it up

In terms of some of those other Steelers who may be moved, I’m told Mason Rudolph has not asked the team to trade him, even though he has been relegated to third-string duties.

Apparently, though, according to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio — on Fillipponi’s program with co-host Chris Mueller — he isn’t ruling out a deal for Rudolph or Trubisky.

Our NFL insider @ProFootballTalk says on @937theFan that there's the "possibility" Mitch Trubisky or Mason Rudolph get traded at the deadline.

Who would Steelers fans rather trade?

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) October 26, 2022

On the Claypool front, he has been linked to at least four organizations as a potential trade target: Bears, Bill, Packers, Titans.

Yet all of that smoke always seems to be coming from the home cities of those teams, or nationally. I can’t find anyone in the Steelers organization who can corroborate that talk.

It appears NFL Insider Aditi Kinkhabwala is hearing the same thing.

All-access with @AKinkhabwala says on @937theFan that she talked to 2 NFL GMs who said they're not hearing Chase Claypool talked about in trade circles. And one of those GMs said he put a 6th or 7th round pick trade value on Chase Claypool. Wow.

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) October 26, 2022

Frankly, if that’s the best possible return for Claypool, then he’s not worth moving anyway.

Wrong time for this

This week’s Steelers opponent just got a little stronger in advance of the trade deadline.

The unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles (6-0) just acquired pass rusher Robert Quinn from the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round draft pick.

The Eagles needed pass-rushing depth after an early-season injury to defensive end Derek Barnett. Philadelphia is currently tied for 10th in the NFL with 17 sacks. Quinn is playing in his 12th season in the league. This year he has a sack, eight tackles, a quarterback hit and 11 hurries. The former North Carolina Tar Heel had 18.5 sacks in 2021.

Via Over the Cap, Quinn, 32, would count $18.2 million against the salary cap next season and $17.2 million in 2024. It’s not yet known if he will play in Sunday’s game against the Steelers.

Vote of confidence

The Penguins’ next opponent is the lone winless team in the NHL.

After losses in Edmonton and Calgary, the Pens will visit Vancouver on Friday night. The Canucks are 0-5-2 through seven games so far this season. They visit Seattle Thursday night.

However, general manager Patrik Allvin insists he has the back of current coach Bruce Boudreau.

“From Day One, we have good communication and we’re working together and we’re going to find a way out of this,” Allvin said via NHL.com. “I’m the general manager, so I’m as responsible as the coaches and the players and we’re all working together. I see the hard work the coaching staff is putting in every day and my job is to always look at options to get better and support them.”

Allvin spent 16 years in the Penguins organization, having first served as a European scout and then ultimately as director of amateur scouting before being named as an assistant general manager. Allvin served as interim general manager when Jim Rutherford resigned in 2021.