First Call: As Steelers talk swirls, Brandon Aiyuk's agent denies trade request story; Tee Higgins' future in Cincy

Pittsburgh Steelers fans interested in their team acquiring Brandon Aiyuk or Tee Higgins at wide receiver won’t be thrilled at news coming out of San Francisco and Cincinnati.

We also preview the Penguins’ game against Nashville and the Pirates’ trip to New York.

All that in Monday’s “First Call.”

San Francisco situation

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has not requested a trade from the team. That’s according to Aiyuk’s agent, Ryan Williams.

He responded to a social media post suggesting that Aiyuk told Niners management he wants out.

You need better sources. https://t.co/iB7Y6CDcGt

— Ryan Williams (@RyanWilliamsA1) April 14, 2024

Even though Aiyuk has been working out at the team facility, NFL Network producer Clayton Holloway noticed that the second-team All-Pro unfollowed the 49ers on social media. That fueled some conversation of a trade even more.

Aiyuk wants a new contract instead of the team’s $14.1 million fifth-year option. He totaled 75 receptions, 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.

If the 49ers do move Aiyuk, Pittsburgh has long been discussed as a potential destination. The Steelers would have to juggle the salary cap, but that’s not beyond the realm of possibility.

The Baltimore Ravens were also mentioned as a potential suitor in the original report Williams denied.

More of the same

Steelers fans who want the team to trade for Aiyuk may also be interested in acquiring fellow receiver Tee Higgins. He’s been franchise-tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals.

After receiving the tag, Higgins requested a trade. But in an interview posted by WLWT-TV’s Charlie Clifford, Higgins “anticipates” playing this season in Cincy.

New @WLWT: Tee Higgins says he does anticipate playing for the Bengals in 2024. pic.twitter.com/kMh0Lar8Ws

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) April 14, 2024

If Higgins does play on the franchise tag, he’ll get $21.8 million. He and the organization have until 4 p.m. July 15 to negotiate a new deal. Via ProFootballTalk.com, eight teams used the franchise tag this offseason. Higgins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ safety Antoine Winfield Jr. are the only players yet to sign a contract extension.

Higgins was limited to 12 games last season because of injuries. He caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns. Those marks were all career lows.

Need to beat Nashville

If the Penguins want to keep their playoff hopes alive, they better beat the Nashville Predators on Monday night at home.

That’s not going to be an easy task. The Preds come to PPG Paints Arena with 99 points and a playoff berth locked up. On Feb. 15, Nashville was plodding along at 27-25-2 after a 9-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. After that, though, the franchise got points in 18 straight games, winning 16 of them.

That stretch lasted from Feb. 17 to March 28. Then the Predators lost three in a row, getting outscored 18-8. But now coach Andrew Brunette’s team has points in four straight and has won three of four.

Nashville’s Filip Forsberg has 93 points, 11th in the NHL. Defenseman Roman Josi has 85 points, third among NHL defensemen. Goalie Juuse Saros has 1,638 saves, the most in the league.

As for the Penguins, they enter play Monday night with 86 points. The Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings all have 87 points as the four teams are battling for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. The New York Islanders currently own the last Metropolitan Division automatic qualifier spot with 90 points.

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Meet the Mets

After splitting their last two series against the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies, the Pirates (11-5) are heading to New York to face the Mets (7-8) on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Pirates will open the series with Martin Perez on the mound. He’ll try to follow up on his stellar eight-inning outing against the Tigers last week. He’ll be followed by rookie right-hander Jared Jones on Tuesday. Jones’ 25 strikeouts are fifth in the National League. Bailey Falter gets the ball Wednesday. He gave up just one run en route to a win over the Phillies on Friday.

The Mets counter with Adrian Houser (0-1, 5.40 ERA), former Pirate Jose Quintana (1-1, 3.45 ERA) and Luis Severino (1-1, 3.00 ERA).

Mets slugger Pete Alonso already has six home runs, second most in Major League Baseball behind only Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna (7) and Boston’s Tyler O’Neill (7).

Last year, the Pirates lost two of three in Queens, getting outscored 19-12 in the process.