Monday’s “First Call” features more ire in the direction of the Pittsburgh Steelers from ESPN’s Mel Kiper.
The Atlanta Falcons are responding to the story about one of their coach’s sons prank-calling Shedeur Sanders. The Steelers turned heads with an undrafted free-agent signing.
And a Pitt baseball alum picked up a win in his MLB debut.
More from Mel
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper bashed the Steelers for bypassing Shedeur Sanders during the first round on Thursday night.
Then, in his Sunday evaluations of how each team operated in the annual selection process, he only gave the Steelers a“B-minus,” largely based on how they approached the QB position.
“The Steelers must feel really good about their chances of signing Aaron Rodgers. That’s the only explanation for their approach to the 2025 draft,” Kiper said at EPSN.com. “And if they don’t land Rodgers (or pull some other magic at QB), coach Mike Tomlin’s 18-year streak of going at least .500 could end. Mason Rudolph is the current starter. Yet, Pittsburgh added only Will Howard at the position — in Round 6. He’s a backup in the NFL. Instead of getting a quarterback they can win games with right now in Round 1, the Steelers went defensive tackle.”
Aside from QB, though, Kiper seemed to like who the Steelers picked.
“Don’t get me wrong, Derrick Harmon is perfect for this defense. His 34 pressures when lined up as an interior lineman led the FBS. He combines power and quickness to create chaos,” Kiper added.
“Elsewhere, Kaleb Johnson will pair nicely with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell at running back. The Steelers averaged 4.1 yards per carry (tied for 20th). Edge rusher Jack Sawyer and defensive tackle Yahya Black provide some more youth to the defensive line — and at good value. Sawyer ranked 90th for me but went 123rd. Black ranked 66th but wasn’t drafted until 164th overall. And Sawyer’s 15.9% pressure rate (eighth in the nation) will help T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.”
That said, Kiper didn’t like that the Steelers made the efforts that they did to get DK Metcalf and still haven’t found a true starting QB aside from Rudolph.
Sorry, Shedeur
The Atlanta Falcons admitted Sunday that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s son was responsible for prank-calling Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The Falcons released a statement saying 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich got the draft contact phone number for Sanders “off an open iPad while visiting his parent’s home and wrote the number down to later conduct a prank call.”
Falcons statement :
The Atlanta Falcons do not condone this behavior and send our sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family, who we have been in contact with to apologize to, as well as facilitate an apology directly from Jax to the Sanders family. pic.twitter.com/wwRtSoNcTi
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) April 27, 2025
Video of the call to Sanders made it on social media.
The other end of the Shedeur Sanders prank call has been leaked.
Nasty work.
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 26, 2025
Jax Ulbrich issued his own apology as well.
Jax Ulbrich, the son of #Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich, has released a statement apologizing for his prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/dalUjHjrxZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2025
“It didn’t really have (an) impact on me because it was just, like, ‘OK. I don’t feed into negativity or I don’t feed into that stuff,’” Sanders said Saturday in the wake of the prank. “Of course, I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody (does) childish things here and there.”
Sanders was eventually drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round. Penn State tight end Tyler Warren and Syracuse QB Kyle McCord got pranked as well according to ESPN.com, apparently by other people.
More sports
• Madden Monday: 2 Steelers draft choices to love — and 1 that was ‘a wasted pick’
• Time will tell if Steelers’ plan, patient approach at quarterback pays off
Hefty investment
The Steelers seem to have a particular interest in one of their undrafted free agents: Former South Alabama TE DJ Thomas-Jones.
According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, he’s getting a deal that includes a $30,000 signing bonus, the largest the club has given to a non-QB undrafted free agent.
Former South Alabama TE DJ Thomas-Jones is signing with the #Steelers on a deal that includes a $30,000 signing bonus, the largest they’ve given to a non-QB undrafted free agent, per his agency @gcsportsmgmt.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2025
Thomas-Jones began his NCAA career at Ole Miss before transferring to South Alabama in 2022. He ended up with 74 receptions for 659 yards and 12 touchdowns across his collegiate career, catching five scores in 2023.
South Alabama TE DJ Thomas-Jones. You have my attention, sir. https://t.co/Ck7BOrmcn0 pic.twitter.com/J1Lt0CLCQV
— Kyle Crabbs (@KyleCrabbs) November 4, 2024
The Steelers didn’t use any draft picks on wide receivers or tight ends this year.
Good luck, Logan
Logan Evans was on the Pitt baseball team from 2022-23. Now the former Panther can call himself a Major Leaguer.
The right-handed pitcher made his MLB debut on Sunday with the Seattle Mariners. He picked up a win in his first start as Seattle beat the Miami Marlins 7-6.
First strikeout in the bigs for Logan Evans! #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/yyNJGsLdwQ
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 27, 2025
Evans completed five innings. He yielded two earned runs, three hits and three walks while striking out three Marlins hitters to get the victory.
Pitt celebrated the moment in advance of his debut.
Welcome to the Show ????@loganevans10_ is making his Major League debut this afternoon for the Mariners! ????#H2P » #ProPanthers pic.twitter.com/3SGBVQG7N1
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) April 27, 2025
Evans was at Penn State for his first two years before arriving in Oakland. He was drafted in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB selection process.
Categories: Pitt | Sports | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz | Tim Benz Columns
