First Call: Potential AFC destination for Levi Wallace; Steelers' draft preference reported; Penguins' playoff picture

Friday’s “First Call” takes a look at a Steelers defensive back who could be heading to Denver. We have an interesting report about the Steelers’ draft strategy. It was an impactful night for the Penguins playoff chances.

And a Pens prospect had another huge moment at the Frozen Four.

Losing Levi?

Part of the reason the Steelers appear so thin at cornerback is that it has been presumed that the franchise would lose veteran Levi Wallace in free agency.

Now, it looks like one of the other 31 teams may be interested in signing him. According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Wallace is going to visit the Denver Broncos.

Source: Free agent CB Levi Wallace is visiting the #Broncos tomorrow.

Wallace has 12 career INTs and 54 PBUs with the #Bills and #Steelers. pic.twitter.com/MDivzxOGQe

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 11, 2024

During his two years in Black and Gold, Wallace played in 31 games, starting 18. The former Buffalo Bill had six interceptions after arriving in Pittsburgh, to go along with defending 24 passes and making 86 tackles.

Joey Porter Jr. and newly acquired Donte Jackson are likely to be two of the primary corners deployed in most situations. The likes of Chandon Sullivan and Patrick Peterson are still free agents from last year’s team.

Different direction

Given that shortage at corner, you might think that the Steelers would have an eye on drafting someone at that position in the first round. A mock draft published Tuesday by NFL.com suggested that the Steelers select Iowa’s Cooper DeJean.

Former Steeler Levon Kirkland recently went on 93.7 The Fan and stumped for fellow Clemson Tiger Nate Wiggins. ESPN.com has Wiggins rated as the third-best corner in the draft and DeJean fourth.

Others think that the Steelers may lean toward the wide receiver position since they traded Diontae Johnson to Carolina for Jackson this offseason. But ESPN.com draft analyst Matt Miller doesn’t think that will pan out.

“I can’t tell you the player, but I can tell you it’ll be an offensive lineman,” Miller wrote, citing a team source. “There has been buzz about Pittsburgh adding a wide receiver at No. 20, but the feeling I got in making calls to teams this week is that the Steelers believe they’re an elite team at drafting receiver talent outside the top 32 picks, and history backs that up. So someone like Georgia’s Amarius Mims or Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton might make sense here. Either right tackle prospect would allow last year’s first-rounder Broderick Jones to move to his more natural position after a strong rookie season on the right side.”

That certainly makes sense, and I wouldn’t be opposed to the Steelers drafting either player or even center Jackson Powers-Johnson out of Oregon.

But, as Miller pointed out, the source of that story was from the team. And as we always warn folks here at “Breakfast With Benz,” if anything is coming directly from the Steelers, assume the opposite of what they say.

When it comes to spreading draft misinformation, this is even more important to remember.

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Kick counter

The Steelers made headlines by signing former Atlanta Falcons return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson as soon as the NFL changed its kickoff rules to encourage more returns at a lower rate of speed.

Now, the rival Baltimore Ravens are attempting to do something similar. They are reportedly set to sign Deonte Harty to a one-year deal. That’s according to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Like Patterson, Harty is a former All-Pro. He made that list in 2019 with the New Orleans Saints. Most recently, the 26-year-old played in Buffalo during the 2023 season.

A native of Baltimore, Harty has averaged 10.4 yards per punt return and 25.2 yards per kick return over his five-year career. A graduate of Assumption University, Harty averaged a career-high 12.4 yards per punt return in Buffalo last season and scored a punt return touchdown.

How it is shaking out

After the Penguins’ 6-5 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings Thursday night, the club now has 86 points. That’s good for eighth place, and the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

In Buffalo, the Washington Capitals lost to the Sabres, 4-2. So they remain at 85 points, one behind the Penguins, and tied with Detroit.

The Flyers also improved to 85 points by ending an eight-game losing streak at Madison Square Garden with a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers.

As for the New York Islanders, they hosted the Montreal Canadiens, winning 3-2 in overtime. Kyle Palmer got the game-winner.

KYLE PALMIERI WINS IT! ????????

The @NYIslanders pick up two points with a win in @Energizer overtime! pic.twitter.com/5PelBJZem9

— NHL (@NHL) April 12, 2024

That gives the Isles 89 points, remaining in third place of the Metro and three points ahead of the Penguins. The Pens visit the Islanders for the final game of the regular season April 17.

So the long and the short of it is, the Penguins currently have 86 points and the last playoff spot. They are three points behind the Islanders, and one point ahead of Washington, Philly and Detroit. All those teams have three games left except the Flyers, who only have two remaining.

He’s done it again

Penguins prospect Tristan Broz played the role of hero for the Denver Pioneers on Thursday at the Frozen Four. He scored an overtime game-winning goal to eliminate Boston University in the national semifinal by a final score of 2-1.

BROZ IS HIM!!!! #GoPios | #MFrozenFour | @espn pic.twitter.com/LijBYMgns9

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) April 12, 2024

This is the second time Broz has potted an OT game-winner in the national tournament. In the first round, he did the same thing to eliminate UMass in double OT.

No doubt about it. Tristan Broz's overtime-winning tally is tonight's @Safeway Goal of the Game.#GoPios pic.twitter.com/KOujmU2Yi2

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) December 10, 2022

Broz now has 16 goals and 40 points on the season. He was drafted in the second round by Pittsburgh in 2021. The Pioneers now face Boston College in the national championship game Saturday in Minnesota.