First Call: Steelers reveal numbers for new players; Steelers lineman visits Giants as team visits Ohio State Pro Day

Thursday’s “First Call” features the jersey number announcement for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recently signed free agents. A Steelers former restricted free agent turned UFA made a visit to the Big Apple. Plus, we check on the lengthy list of draft-eligible players the Steelers have been scouting at Ohio State, Iowa State and USC.

J.C. to NYC?

The Steelers decided to keep one former restricted free agent in James Pierre. But two others are exploring options elsewhere in the NFL. Receiver Steven Sims has already gone on a visit to Houston. Now we have word from Jordan Raanan of ESPN’s NFL Nation that the New York Giants are checking out backup lineman J.C. Hassenauer.

The Giants have center J.C. Hassenauer in for a visit on Wednesday, per source. Spent the past four years with the Steelers. Appeared in 45 games with seven starts.

Giants looking to add depth at center after allowing Jon Feliciano and Nick Gates to walk.#giants #steelers #NFL

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) March 22, 2023

Hassenauer has proven to be a capable backup at all three interior offensive line spots. However, with free agent guards Nate Herbig and Isaac Seumalo being added to the roster, Hassenauer may be squeezed out of a job.

Over three seasons in Pittsburgh, Hassenauer played in 45 games and made seven starts.

Baby, don’t you lose that number

The Steelers announced the new jersey numbers for their recently acquired free agents.

Patrick Peterson was previously announced as No. 20 (Cameron Sutton’s old number), instead of asking for Ben Roethlisberger’s No. 7. So that Twitter kerfuffle can be put to rest.

New numbers are in ???? pic.twitter.com/3qDLuibSs7

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 22, 2023

Elandon Roberts will take over Malik Reed’s No. 50 now that Reed has moved on to the Miami Dolphins. No. 55 stays with an inside linebacker as Cole Holcomb absorbs that jersey from Devin Bush, who is heading to Seattle. Holcomb also wore 55 with Washington.

As for the new offensive guards, Nate Herbig will be 71, the number he used to have as a New York Jet. Isaac Seumalo is going to be 73.

A lot out of Ames

On Wednesday, we told you that the Steelers worked out defensive back Anthony Johnson during Iowa State’s Pro Day. It turns out the Steelers may have eyes on more players than just him.

Tony Pauline of the Pro Football Network says that head coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and vice president of player personnel Dan Rooney Jr. were all on the trip.

They dined with edge rusher Will McDonald IV. He’s a 6-foot-3, 241-pound pass rusher who projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker. As a four-year contributor to the Cyclones defense, McDonald IV totaled 123 tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 34 sacks, seven deflections and 10 forced fumbles.

PFN has him as a top 100 pick, even though he’s almost 24 and may not have the frame to put on much more weight or a ceiling that is much higher than those projections. But if the Steelers are looking for a polished backup pass rusher who could chip in behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in the late third or early fourth round, McDonald IV is a name to remember.

PFN also said that the Steelers met with defensive lineman M.J. Anderson. SteelersNow.com said that Austin was involved with the workouts of wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson.

More Steelers news

• Steelers' Kenny Pickett would be fifth-best QB in this year's draft class, says ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
• Ben Roethlisberger reveals talks with 49ers about NFL return, thoughts on Kenny Pickett
• Steelers 2023 free agency tracker: Signings, departures, who's left

Bunch of Buckeyes

The Steelers brass on hand in Ames left on Tuesday afternoon. On Tuesday evening, they arrived in Columbus and had dinner with a number of Ohio State Buckeye prospects, including offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler.

Former Bengals All-Pro tackle Willie Anderson is now an NFL consultant and offensive line technician coach. He attended the dinner as well and posted a photo that included Tomlin.

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A post shared by Willie Anderson (@bigwillie7179)

Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer was also reportedly on the trip for Wednesday’s Pro Day. The Steelers are believed to be very interested in both tackles. Pro Football Network reports that pass rusher Zach Harrison was also on hand for dinner.

Pauline reported that Jones didn’t participate in offensive line drills, but Johnson Jr. and Wypler were both impressive.

Talking with Tuli

One last Steelers visit to mention, USC beat reporter Adam Grosbard of the Orange County Register tweeted that USC defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu has a visit scheduled with both the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.

USC DE Tuli Tuipulotu said he spoke with the 49ers, Giants and Bucs during pro day today. Also has scheduled visits with Steelers and Ravens

— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) March 21, 2023

The 6-foot-3, 266-pound junior is projected as an edge defender. He’s rated as the seventh player at the position on the NFL.com scouting board.

In 2022, Tuipulotu was a first-team Associated Press All-American, as well as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He led the country with 13.5 sacks and was second with 22 tackles for loss among his 46 total tackles. He also posted three pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 14 starts.