First Call: High-end tackle, ILB tied to Steelers in NFL free-agent projections; new Ravens coaches have Pittsburgh ties
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In Thursday’s “First Call,” we have some free agency ideas for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens are nabbing coaches with Pittsburgh connections. And some ex-Penguins stood out with highlights across the NHL.
Brown in Black and Gold?
CBSSports.com posted an AFC “NFL free agency matchmaker” column on Wednesday. The premise being, they’ll pick one perfect free agent player to fit with each AFC team.
The proposed fit for the Steelers from writer Jeff Kerr is Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Orlando Brown (6-foot-8, 340 pounds)
“Brown has been one of the best tackles in the game over the past four seasons, the only offensive tackle to reach the Pro Bowl in each of the past four years. The Chiefs left tackle allowed four sacks and 39 pressures in the regular season while allowing 10 pressures in three postseason games. Brown didn’t allow a sack since Week 15 against the Houston Texans and just two sacks since Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans.
This is the player the Steelers need to protect (Kenny) Pickett — and the best chance to find a good left tackle.”
Yeah. Sure. Sounds great to me. Now tell me how much he is going to cost and how little the Steelers are going to be willing to pay him since they almost never sign front line players at premium positions.
Brown is still young. At 26 years old, that may tempt the Steelers to take a longer look. But Spotrac has Brown’s value at $112 million over five years. That’s an average of $22.4 million per year. So don’t hold your breath. According to The Athletic, Brown declined a contract offer from the Chiefs at six-years for $139 million. The deal is said to have included a $30.25 million signing bonus and $91 million in the first five years.
Also on his list, Kerr has Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton going to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Titans tackle Taylor Lewan heading to the Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (Woodland Hills/Penn State) ending up with the Miami Dolphins.
NFL free agency begins March 15.
How about this one?
ESPN organized a similar post for the entire league, as constructed by Football Outsiders’ Aaron Schatz.
His nomination for the Steelers is a player we have advanced on a few occasions here at “Breakfast With Benz” — Philadelphia Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards.
We did so for many of the same reasons Schatz points out. The Steelers definitely need an inside linebacker. And of the many big name ILBs available, Edwards is younger, may be more affordable, and is good in coverage.
“Originally we planned to suggest 33-year-old Lavonte David for the Steelers, as he’s still playing at a high level,” Schatz said. “However, signing a veteran doesn’t really seem like the Steelers’ way. They’re more likely to sign a younger player still in his prime. So how about the 27-year-old Edwards, who started for Philadelphia for the past three years? Edwards is not a supreme run-stopper, but he’s excellent against the pass. He allowed just 3.6 yards per pass in coverage with a 74% success rate last season.”
That’s important, because between whatever combination of Myles Jack, Robert Spillane and Mark Robinson the Steelers decide to keep and emphasize next year, none of them are as good in coverage as they are at stopping the run.
Spotrac’s market projection for Edwards is $47 million over four years ($11.9 million per year).
Not wild about this
A personal coach for Steelers defensive starters Alex Highsmith and Cameron Heyward is now going to join the Baltimore Ravens.
Chuck Smith was a second team All-Pro with the Atlanta Falcons in 1997. He also has been on the Tennessee Titans coaching staff. Now he is jumping to Baltimore to be the franchise’s outside linebacker coach.
Via the Ravens website, “Smith, who has gone by the nickname ‘Dr. Rush,’ has regularly worked with draft eligible prospects and served as a training camp consultant for several NFL teams.”
Smith still worked with Highsmith, Heyward and other NFL defensive stars in the offseason up to this point.
It doesn’t stop there
That’s not the only position coach the Ravens hired Wednesday. They also inked Greg Lewis to a contract as their wide receiver coach.
Lewis, an alum of the University of Illinois, spent three seasons coaching wide receivers at the collegiate level with Pittsburgh (2014), San Jose State (2013) and the University of San Diego (2012).
Between 2003-10, Lewis was a pass catcher for the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and Minnesota Vikings.
Lewis coached Tyreek Hill, as well as Ravens free agent wide receiver Demarcus Robinson. Lewis also coached Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd at the University of Pittsburgh.
Early impression
Former Penguins winger Brock McGinn is already making a mark with his new team.
McGinn joined the Anaheim Ducks after he was put on waivers and eventually traded as part of the Dmitry Kulikov deal. He scored in his second game with the Ducks Wednesday night, a 3-2 loss against the Vancouver Canucks.
McGinn gets his first as a Duck!
We are tied at two! pic.twitter.com/jlEChXfS1S— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) March 9, 2023
That’s McGinn’s 11th on the season and his first since Dec. 22. Pittsburgh-area product J.T. Miller scored twice in the win for Vancouver.
Also, former Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 46 shots during a 4-2 win for the Minnesota Wild in Winnipeg.