Wednesday’s “First Call” tells us how the Pittsburgh Steelers could exchange linebackers with an NFC team without trading. If Chase Claypool returns to Canada, we know which team has first dibs to sign him.
It seems like the Steelers tried to offer Tyler Boyd a lower salary. We know the name of another defensive lineman that seems to be on the Steelers’ list of potential draft picks.
We will also attempt to explain the Penguins’ position in the complicated Eastern Conference standings.
See you in Saskatchewan?
Is MapleTron going back to the land of the maple leaf?
After Chase Claypool didn’t perform well with the Steelers, the wide receiver had little success with the Chicago Bears and even less with the Miami Dolphins.
So, where is he going next? He might be heading back to Canada over the border.
If Claypool can’t find a new team in the NFL, there's a possibility that he could play in the CFL. If this happens, one team has taken the opportunity to get his rights.
Via 3downnation.com, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have added the receiver to the team’s exclusive negotiation list. Essentially, that means if Claypool wants to play in the Canadian Football League, Saskatchewan gets the first opportunity to negotiate a contract with him.
Saskatchewan went 6-12 last year and missed the playoffs. Between the Bears and Dolphins, Claypool played in 12 games last year, catching eight passes for 77 yards and one touchdown.
Bye-bye Boyd?
For those hoping the Steelers will sign Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd, they may need to increase their offer.
According to 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi, the Steelers only offered Boyd $10 million over two years.
Sources: The Steelers offer to Tyler Boyd was in the 2 years, $10 million range.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 2, 2024
Boyd’s salary was at least $8 million in each of the last three seasons. The former Pitt Panther had 67 catches for 667 yards and two touchdowns last year. The Clairton graduate hasn’t had numbers that low since 2017.
Flip-flop?
The Steelers and Washington Commanders may be exchanging linebackers as separate moves.
On Tuesday, the Commanders announced that they had signed Steelers free agent Mykal Walker. He joined the Steelers’ practice squad on Oct. 30 of last season. He was elevated to the Steelers’ active roster on Nov. 18.
The 26-year-old played in eight games, starting five. He totaled 33 tackles (10 against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13) and added an interception.
A former fourth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020, Walker has previously played with new Commanders coach Dan Quinn. He appeared in 49 games with 20 starts over his first three seasons before Atlanta waived him last August.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are taking a look at former Commanders linebacker Khaleke Hudson. According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Steelers hosted him for a visit. Hudson is a McKeesport Area High School graduate who played his college ball at Michigan.
Hudson recorded 108 tackles and one sack over 58 games during four seasons in Washington. The 26-year-old has spent most of his time on special teams but did start 12 games on defense — eight of which occurred last year.
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A perspective from above
Based on Instagram posts, the Steelers are hosting another defensive lineman prospect for a visit before the draft.
Florida State defensive tackle Braden Fiske was in the South Side on Tuesday. Then, via SteelersNow.com, Masson Smith from LSU shared a photo on Instagram of his arrival in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.
Fiske is ranked as the fourth-best defensive tackle by ESPN.com and 39th overall prospect. Smith is ranked a bit lower, as the 10th-best defensive tackle and 90th overall prospect on the website.
Smith, who is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 306 pounds, had a mixed career at Baton Rouge. He made four sacks as a freshman but suffered a torn ACL in 2022 and had only 28 tackles with 2.5 sacks in 2023.
Surviving
The Penguins received some assistance in their pursuit of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
While the Penguins defeated the New Jersey Devils 6-3, the Washington Capitals lost 6-2 to the Buffalo Sabres. J.J. Peterka scored two goals for Buffalo.
That's ✌️ on the night for JJ! #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/cB53a91zOE
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 3, 2024
This was Washington’s third consecutive defeat, keeping them at 82 points as the second wild-card holder. The Penguins now have 79 points, placing them in 11th position.
However, Pittsburgh did not close the gap on the New York Islanders in 10th place, who won 2-1 against Chicago on Tuesday, reaching 81 points.
The Philadelphia Flyers, currently holding the final automatic qualifier spot in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points, have lost five games in a row.
This means that four teams in the Metro Division are separated by four points for two playoff spots, with Detroit from the Atlantic Division also contending for the last wild card.
The Pens and Capitals will face each other in Washington on Thursday night.
