First Call: Steelers minority ownership shuffling; scouting report on CB Desmond King II

In Thursday’s “First Call,” we look at Desmond King II, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest addition to the cornerback unit. We also have some news about the franchise on the ownership front.

A former Pitt tight end has a new home. And Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson proves how tough of a life it is to be a coach in the NFL.

Money moves

Steelers minority owners Josh Harris and his partner David Blitzer are going to have to sell their share of the franchise because they recently took over a majority interest in the Washington Commanders.

It appears one of the team’s other minority owners, Thomas Tull, wants those shares. That’s according to a report by Bloomberg. Tull reportedly wants to purchase Harris and Blitzer’s 5% share of the team. They paid $140 million for their share in 2020. Forbes has currently valued the Steelers at $4.6 billion.

This is not necessarily a done deal. Team president Art Rooney II could buy them himself. So could other minority owners or someone from the outside.

With Harris taking over the Commanders, that’s now three former minority owners in the Steelers who have gone on to own teams themselves. Jimmy Haslam took over the Cleveland Browns in 2012. David Tepper bought the Carolina Panthers in 2019, after owning 5% of the Steelers.

Check please

The Steelers are reportedly signing Houston Texans corner Desmond King II. He is expected to play a lot of slot corner once he gets to Pittsburgh.

Former #Texans CB Desmond King is expected to sign with the #Steelers 53-man roster, source said. A solid landing spot.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2023

Aaron Wilson covers the Texans for KPRC2 in Houston. He was on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday and provided this scouting report.

“He can hold his own outside, he’s just not as fast in terms of really being able to cover a very fast wide receiver for a very long time,” Wilson said. “But he gets the job done with body control position, really superior upper body strength and just an understanding of spacing and where the football is. But, no, he’s no burner. He is quicker than he is fast, and he’s got moves as a returner. But this coaching staff didn’t like him as an outside corner. …He’s more of a cover-2 outside corner. He can play slot really for anyone. But if you put him at man-to-man coverage, press, I think that’s hard — or if you even play him off. These are things he doesn’t do quite as well. But he’s a very good football player.”

According to Wilson, King found out about the release while at brunch with his friend — and eventual replacement on the team — Tavierre Thomas. At that point, Thomas thought he would be getting cut as well. Turns out he is getting promoted, and his friend is being sent to Pittsburgh.

King also is a decent returner. Steelers fans may remember that after he torched them for a punt return touchdown when he was a member of the Chargers in 2018.

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Looking at Lucas

Pitt product Lucas Krull is getting some attention in NFL circles. The former Pitt tight end had been with the New Orleans Saints during the preseason. But now he plans to sign with the Denver Broncos.

According to Broncos Wire, the team is likely to announce the signings of wide receivers Phillip Dorsett and David Sills, along with Krull as early as Thursday.

Krull led the tight end position in catches and yards this NFL preseason with 10 catches and 136 yards. He was targeted 15 times, yielding seven receptions and 106 yards in New Orleans’ 17-13 loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday. However, he was released during roster cuts this week.

TE Lucas Krull, who led the TE position in catches and yards this NFL Preseason, is signing with the Denver Broncos pic.twitter.com/z2emVgt0x1

— Joseph Potts (@TopSpeedLLC) August 30, 2023

After transferring from Florida, Krull spent two years at Pitt. He was part of the school’s 2021 ACC Championship team with 38 receptions, for 451 yards and six touchdowns.

That hurts

How cutthroat is the NFL? Look at what happened in Jacksonville on Wednesday.

Head coach Doug Pederson just cut his own son.

Josh Pederson had been a tight end in camp for the Jags. But, via ESPN.com, he was fifth on the depth chart and the team only kept three at the position.

In college, Pederson played four seasons for UL Monroe (his father’s alma mater). He caught 99 passes for 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns. Before joining the Jags, Pederson played for the USFL’s Houston Gamblers in the spring, catching 24 passes for 325 yards in 10 games. The Gamblers terminated his contract in early July so he could sign with the Jaguars.

In previous NFL stops, Pederson had been in Kansas City, San Francisco and New Orleans.