Are the Pittsburgh Steelers quietly planning to trade George Pickens? If so, they may also have a plan to replace him.

Support is growing for Shedeur Sanders after an initial slip down the draft board. We look at the Pirates’ next opponent as they return home for a full week of games. Plus, an unreal goal to watch from a future No. 1 NHL pick, and a Penguins’ prospect stands out at the Frozen Four.

All that and more in Monday’s “First Call.”

Pickens plan

According to James Palmer of Bleacher Report, the Steelers have a draft-plan replacement if they decide to trade George Pickens.

And Palmer is making a potential Pickens trade sound more likely than most national pundits.

“There’s a lot of people that believe George Pickens’ time there is limited. It’s why they did the D.K. (Metcalf) deal. It’s why they paid D.K. what they did. You don’t pay both of them that,” Palmers said, referring to Metcalf’s four-year, $132 million contract extension with the Steelers upon arrival in a trade with the club last month.

It’s likely Pickens will be asking for a contract somewhere in that range if he demands an extension of his own this summer.

Palmer said in a recent livestream that we should look for the Steelers to try to land Iowa State pass-catcher Jayden Higgins in the draft if a trade does occur before then.

“I know they’re doing a lot of work on receivers. Do they look for a high-volume No. 2 guy like a Jayden Higgins? Man, would they love to have him. Oh, man, I know that they would love to have him,” Palmer continued.

Higgins is 6-foot-4, 214 pounds. The Eastern Kentucky transfer was a third-team Associated Press All-American and second-team All-Big 12. The Miami native ranked 10th in the FBS with 87 receptions. He also posted 1,183 yards and a team-leading nine receiving TDs.

Caught by Higgins!

Touchdown @CycloneFB ????️???? pic.twitter.com/c2mqJwOiXT

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 29, 2024

Palmer is as convinced as I have heard anyone in terms of believing that a Pickens trade might be possible. As I keep saying, I’ve heard very little on the contract extension front with Pickens, but I’ve heard just as little on the trade front.

I’d certainly be in favor of a trade. But if I had to bet right now, my belief is the Steelers will play a stare-down game with Pickens about holding out (or holding in) and plan on having him report to camp without an extension.

She can see Shedeur in Pittsburgh

For a long time, it felt like Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was a lock to be a top-3 draft choice. Of late, though, he seems to be slipping down draft boards.

Now, a lot of pundits are suggesting that Sanders may still be available when the New Orleans Saints pick at No. 9, and if they pass on him, the Steelers could still have a chance to select him at No. 21.

ESPN’s Mina Kimes is encouraging that idea.

“They have a really good receiving trio now in D.K. Metcalf, George Pickens, and their tight end, Pat Freiermuth. The offensive line is heading in the right direction, particularly on the interior. We’ll see what they get out of their former first-round draft pick, Troy Fautanu, now that he’s healthy.” Kimes said on Friday’s NFL Live. “I also think Arthur Smith would like Sanders’ skill set, particularly his willingness to throw accurately over the middle of the field. Last year, both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson aren’t really quarterbacks who target that part of the field. Arthur Smith really prioritizes it.”

Meanwhile, FS1’s Mark Schlereth ripped those who claim that Sanders lacks athleticism and arm strength. He says the accuracy and quarterback acuity Sanders has compensate for that.

.@markschlereth defends Shedeur Sanders ????

"Did Tom Brady have the requisite athletic ability? Did Peyton Manning have the requisite athletic ability? Arm talent doesn't mean anything to me. Are you accurate? Shedeur is one of the most accurate QBs [in the draft]." pic.twitter.com/JMv4UjrvQ7

— Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1) April 11, 2025

Schlereth also said that Sanders’ propensity to hold onto the ball too long is an overblown concern.

Know the feeling

The Pirates are limping into Monday’s home-series opener against the Washington Nationals, having lost three straight games in Cincinnati.

However, the Nats are struggling too. They’ve dropped three of their last four games and are 6-9 overall. Only the Atlanta Braves (4-11) are worse in the National League East right now.

The Nationals have the sixth most homers in the league so far, with 18, and they are in the top 10 when it comes to slugging percentage, tenth in the league at .412. However, the club’s team ERA is 4.68. Only five teams in baseball are worse.

Paul Skenes is pitching Monday for the Pirates. He may face former LSU teammate Dylan Crews for the first time. Crews was the No. 2 pick in the 2023 MLB draft behind Skenes. He’s only hitting .116 so far this year in Washington. The outfielder has been benched for the past two games.

Former Pirate Josh Bell is having a rough go of it as well. He’s just 8-24 (.167) with two homers and 13 strikeouts. The Nats will counter Skenes with Brad Lord to at least open the game. He has appeared in four games with a 1.80 ERA, but has totaled just five innings.

More sports

• Paul Skenes' last start isn't among GM Ben Cherington's concerns with struggling Pirates • Rory McIlroy wins Masters in playoff to complete career Grand Slam • NFL Draft preview: After losing Najee Harris, Steelers have plenty of RB options in draft

Gavin the Great

When you hear NHL folks say the 2026 draft is supposed to be better than this one, Gavin McKenna is largely the reason why.

The Medicine Hat forward is already presumed to be the league’s No. 1 overall pick in 2026. He put up 129 points in 56 games this year for the Tigers, including 41 goals.

None of them were more impressive than this shorthanded effort Sunday against the Prince Albert Raiders during the WHL playoffs.

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS, GAVIN MCKENNA@tigershockey | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture | @victoryplustv pic.twitter.com/0lSE73oFIC

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) April 14, 2025

McKenna scored again later in the game. His Tigers won 5-4 in overtime. They have a 2-0 series lead in the second-round showdown. Game 3 is Wednesday. The 17-year-old from Whitehorse, Yukon, has five postseason goals.

Pittsburgh ties

Western Michigan won its first NCAA men’s ice hockey championship in school history Saturday, beating Boston University 6-2.

There were some Pittsburgh connections, including Joona Vaisanen. The Finnish defenseman is a sixth-round pick of the Penguins’ 2024 draft class. He’s 6 feet tall, 185 pounds. The 20-year-old posted 24 points in 40 games for WMU.

Vaisanen had three assists in four games, including a setup on the overtime game-winning goal of the national semifinal victory over Denver by Owen Michales.

THE BRONCOS ARE HEADED TO THE #MFrozenFour CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!

Owen Michaels with the OT winner!#MFrozenFour x ???? ESPN2 / @WMUHockey pic.twitter.com/tHErJIs4xI

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 11, 2025

Wexford Product and former Robert Morris Colonial Brian Kramer also scored in that game for the Broncos. Vaisanen was placed on the All-Tournament team.

RMU coach Derek Schooley is also an alum of Western Michigan and was a teammate of Broncos coach Pat Ferschweiler.

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