This week’s “First Call” examines a different wide receiver whom the Pittsburgh Steelers might consider trading for. It’s possible that the Steelers’ first-round pick on Monday was inside their building.
We learn the latest on Brian Flores’ coaching status and the reason why Micah Parsons of Penn State isn’t currently practicing with the Dallas Cowboys.
Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have recently been following the news regarding Tee Higgins in Cincinnati and Brandon Aiyuk in San Francisco. Neither of the wide receivers is content with their present contract. The Steelers are in dire need of assistance at wide receiver in the interim.
Should those two fronts remain unfulfilled, is Courtland Sutton a viable trade candidate instead? Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports that Sutton failed to show up for Denver’s voluntary workouts.
Pelissero mentioned $2 million in guarantees, but Sutton’s base pay for 2024 is $13 million. In Denver, his overall cap amount is at $17.39 million, based on OverTheCap.com. The Steelers’ cap space is approximately $11 million. Thus, they would need to find a way to rig the money.
However, given that Sutton is also committed to a 2025 contract with a $17.8 million cap hit and a $13 million salary, it is not completely implausible. Sutton negotiated a four-year contract extension in 2021, of which these are the final two years.
In his two seasons as a quarterback in Denver, Sutton caught 123 passes for 1,601 yards and 12 touchdowns, all while playing for Russell Wilson. He went undrafted in the second round in 2018 out of SMU and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2019. Sutton is 28 years old, 216 pounds, and 6 feet 4 inches tall.
It’s possible that the Steelers only had their ideal first-round draft choice available on Monday at their location. Inside linebacker Payton Wilson of North Carolina State and Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton were in town for an official “top 30” visit.
Tony Pauline, a seasoned NFL Draft analyst, claims to have heard from sources that the Steelers want to select Barton.
Pauline reported on Monday for Sportskeeda, “Persons in the league familiar with the organization speculate that Graham Barton of Duke will likely be the pick.” “The logic is straightforward: Barton is a center in the NFL who excelled as an offensive tackle while playing for Duke. The fact that Barton can line up at either position appeals to the Steelers, who need help at both.
Barton is ranked as the top center available in the draft and the 23rd best prospect overall by ESPN.com. In the first round, the Steelers are selecting 20th overall.
Wilson, on the other hand, is projected to be an early second-round selection and the best off-the-ball linebacker in the draft.
Micah Parsons, a former standout player for Penn State, is not participating in the Dallas Cowboys’ voluntary practices. “A personalized training program outside the facility” is the linebacker’s main focus. Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News claims that.
This time of year, Parsons relies on his own training regimen that he follows in Austin. He proceeded in the same manner the previous year, eventually reaching Dallas for the commencement of formal team exercises. They start in Dallas on May 21.
Currently, wide receiver Cee Dee Lamb is not participating in team exercises. However, his problem relates to the contract.
Lamb does not want to play on the $17.99 million fifth-year option tag; instead, he wants an extension. According to earlier reports from Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins, the organization and Lamb’s agency have not yet had “no substantial talks.”
This past summer, head coaching positions were not extended interviews to former Steelers assistant Brian Flores. Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com claims that.
There have been conjectures that this could be due to his ongoing class-action lawsuit against the NFL, as well as the Texans, Dolphins, Giants, and Broncos. Flores filed that complaint following his firing by the Dolphins following the 2021 season, citing racial discrimination as his reason.
However, Flores recently informed Seifert that he is unsure if the lawsuit is the primary cause of the team’s disinterest in appointing him as head coach.
After being dismissed as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Flores led Pittsburgh in 2022. In 2023, he was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, where he helped the team move up from 31st place in total defense (388 yards per game allowed) to 16th place (332 yards per game allowed).
Be the first to comment