2 weeks Ago By Tim Benz
The Pittsburgh Steelers may be shopping George Pickens as a trade chip more actively than they are letting on. One ex-Steeler is blasting the idea of selecting Shedeur Sanders. Todd McShay isn’t sure the Steelers will take him if he is there at No.
21 anyway. And the Penguins may have a path through the weeds to trade Erik Karlsson this offseason. All that in Thursday’s “ First Call .
” Pickens to the Packers? Steelers general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin have tried to quell speculation about wide receiver George Pickens potentially being traded. But Fox’s Jordan Schultz is saying something different. “G eorge Pickens is one intriguing trade name to watch, ” Schultz said.
“ Pittsburgh has taken and made calls on the talented WR, who’s now extension-eligible. After paying Metcalf, league sources are skeptical the Steelers will pay two receivers. ‘ It’s just not in their DNA to spend that much on two wideouts, ’ the AFC GM said.
‘ Pickens is more available than people think. Green Bay’s been serious, and they’re not the only ones . ’” Schultz also said, “’ There’s no way (the Steelers) don’t take a quarterback — or maybe even two — in the draft ,’ a current executive said.
Right now it’s just Mason Rudolph. You have zero clarity from Rodgers and you just spent $150 million on (DK) Metcalf. I’m sorry, but you have to address this , and you probably have to do it at 21.
If Shedeur (Sanders) is there, and I think he could be, he’s the obvious pick .” Some have also linked the Steelers to Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart , as well as numerous defensive linemen. Sinking Shedeur Meanwhile, FS1’s Todd McShay isn’t sold on the Steelers taking Sanders at pick No.
21. He told Colin Cowherd this week that the Colorado quarterback could fall even deeper in the draft than that. McShay referred to the Steelers as a “ soft floor ” for Sanders.
And if they pass on him, he doesn’t see a team trading into Round 1 to select him in the mid-to-late 20s. Cleveland and the New York Giants are both believed to be interested in Sanders. But draft evaluators believe those teams will pass on him at picks No.
2 and No. 3 respectively for Sanders’ teammate Travis Hunter (WR/CB) and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. Merril makes his point There is at least one former Steeler who wants no part of this franchise taking Shedeur Sanders.
It’s former running back Merril Hoge. “H e can’t handle the expectations that are coming his way. He’s gonna be an epic failure, and he is gonna set your organization back another two or three years, ” Hoge said.
A one-time ESPN film analyst, Hoge expects Sanders’ success to top out at Boulder. “ H e’s a really good college quarterback, ” Hoge said Wednesday morning on WDVE . “ His accuracy is good.
His processing is good. And when I say good, I use a scale from one to 10. So good is around five.
Those are the two most important aspects of transitioning to the National Football League and then you build from there. Anticipation, pocket awareness and then we start building. But those two things, if you’re a five, you’re not a first-rounder.
You’re not a franchise guy .” Hoge says that Dart will be a better pro quarterback. • Tim Benz: What the Steelers will do — and what they should do — in the 2025 NFL Draft • Tim Benz: As Steelers smother George Pickens trade talk, others give it oxygen • U mad, bro?: Aaron Rodgers agitation, putrid Pirates offense fill venomous pre-draft void On the way out? If the Penguins are looking for a way out from the Erik Karlsson contract , SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman may have given us the roadmap in his latest “ 32 Thoughts ” podcast .
“K arlsson has a bonus. Once he gets paid that bonus — I believe it’s on July 1 — his actual cash is $11 million for the next two years. He’s tradable, and there’s going to be interest.
I think people are going to try to leverage Pittsburgh on that — get them either to eat money or throw a sweetener in there. But he’s not untradable, ” Friedman said. “ I think it’s possible that, if not likely that he gets traded.
I believe they’re gonna try, and I believe there’s going to be interest .” Karlsson is under contract in Pittsburgh for the next two years at $10 million against the cap per season. In 2024-25, Karlsson put up 53 points but was a minus-24 from the blueline.
Listen: Brian Metzer talks Penguins with Tim Benz in their weekly hockey podcast.
