First call ESPN reporter says Baker Mayfield will sign with

First call: ESPN reporter says Baker Mayfield will sign with Steelers ‘next day’ if cut; Terrell Edmunds is still “in the mix” to return

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Thursday’s “First Call” advances another “Baker Mayfield to the Steelers” theory. The Liberty coach is campaigning for Malik Willis to be selected as the top quarterback of the NFL draft.

Discussion of Terrell Edmunds returning to Pittsburgh continues. And the Washington Capitals tied the Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Believe it when I see it

For the second time in less than a month, there is talk of the Steelers potentially taking over Baker Mayfield.

In late March, Cleveland.com reporter Mary Kay Cabot said the Steelers would “pounce” on Baker Mayfield if he was released by the Browns.

Now further The Wednesday edition of “Get upESPN’s Jeff Darlington said that if the Browns released Mayfield, the Steelers would “sign him the very next day.” He went on to say that teams still “covet” the former No. 1 but would rather have him released would wait than to meet the asking price the Browns would ask in a deal and absorb Mayfield’s existing salary.

All of this chatter stems from Cleveland’s acquisition of Deshaun Watson and Mayfield’s consequent resentment that, in his words, he didn’t respect him in the process.

I didn’t believe the Steelers rumors back in March. I don’t believe them now. I never got any indication that the Steelers front office or coaching staff thought Mayfield was such a good competitor. Let alone try to sign him after they renewed Mason Rudolph before last season and inked Mitch Trubisky this offseason.

Not to mention the possibility that the franchise could draft a quarterback next week.

pitch

Speaking of drafting quarterbacks, Liberty’s Malik Willis visited the Steelers facility on Wednesday. He had previously interacted with Steeler’s front office staff at the Senior Bowl, the combine and his Pro Day.

On Tuesday, Willis’ trainer at Liberty, Hugh Freeze, made a tough pitch for Willis to be drafted first QB next Thursday night.

“In this class, I just don’t think there’s another guy – the way the game is played now – that has the potential to be a total home run more than Malik,” said Liberty coach Hugh Freeze opposite The Zach Yellow Show. on Tuesday. “He really is the humblest yet most talented boy I’ve ever coached, which is really rare. He doesn’t put up with what the social media world says about him. He’s determined to be an incredible leader in the dressing room.”

However, Freeze has acknowledged some challenges Willis will face.

“There’s still a lot to learn for Malik — he’s only been a quarterback for two years and he’s just scratching the surface… I just don’t understand how you don’t give up a man [a chance] Who has the leadership, the character, the arm strength, the IQ, and the athleticism… Obviously no one can argue with those traits that they have. It’s only a matter of time before he processes everything that the team that gets him becomes their type.”

Willis has appeared in numerous mock drafts as a Steelers first-round pick. The franchise currently has the 20th pick in the first round.

But Willis was also projected as the No. 2 overall pick by the Detroit Lions.

waiting game

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes free agent safety Terrell Edmunds has the ball in his court for a possible Steelers reunion.

Fowler, appearing on 93.7 The Fan Wednesday, said the Steelers have an offer for Edmunds, it’s just a matter of his decision if (or when) he wants to sign it. The Steelers have decided to let Edmunds — their first-round pick of 2018 — test free agent waters, and he has yet to find an offer interesting enough to leave Pittsburgh.

“They’ve been waiting for Terrell Edmunds,” Fowler told the PM Team on Wednesday. “Everyone wants to talk about the honey badger (Tyrant Mathieu). But Edmunds was very strong in the mix. I think he has an offer from the Steelers and other teams that he’s sat on. Whatever the reason, he just takes his time and is patient. Maybe he’ll wait until after the draft.”

But Fowler continued, “If he (the Steeelrs) called and said, ‘I’m ready to come back,’ they would.”

The Steelers are yet to find a potential replacement for Edmunds with strong safety, and there aren’t many safeties suitable for the first round in this year’s draft.

missed opportunity

The Washington Capitals had a chance to overtake the Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division Wednesday night. Instead, they simply drew in a tie.

That’s because the Caps lost a 4-3 overtime decision to the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Shea Theodore scored the winning goal for Vegas.

The overtime loss gave Washington a point while the pens were idle. That means both teams have 97 points with five games left. They have identical 43-23-11 records.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice in Washington’s loss. He now has 50 goals this season. This is the ninth time he has reached this plateau in his career.

Tim Benz is a contributor to the Tribune Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise noted.