Daily Links: Steelers FA Mistakes, Pickett Cheers Devils?

Kenny Pickett was at the Penguins-Devils game on Tuesday, but kept his allegiance close to the vest.

🏈🏒 Kenny Pickett was back in New Jersey on Tuesday and made his way to the Pittsburgh Penguins game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark. Pickett was careful in a video posted by the Devils team account to not pledge his allegiance to either team — even wearing a plain black t-shirt and hat —  but the Garden State product was probably not too disappointed by New Jersey’s 5-1 win.

#NJDevils 🤝 @Giants 🤝 @kennypickett10

Tuesday Night Football tonight at The Rock! pic.twitter.com/GXELYNf7P0

— x – New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 5, 2023

🏈 Pro Football Focus: Even with signing Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts in free agency, PFF believes the Steelers have the weakest inside linebacker group in the NFL.

“The Steelers were seemingly unhappy with their linebacker performance in 2022, as they released Myles Jack while letting free agents Devin Bush and Robert Spillane walk in free agency. However, it is debatable whether they have managed to upgrade the position over the last month. Pittsburgh brought in free agents Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts to replace its departed linebackers. Holcomb, a former fifth-round pick, had a promising sophomore campaign but has failed to live up to that potential in his two seasons since, as he missed more than half of the 2022 season and has yet to play more than 800 snaps in a season. Roberts, on the other hand, played mostly a situational role at his previous stops, as he never played more than 700 snaps in a season and earned an overall grade over 60.0 just once since his rookie season in 2016,” PFF wrote.

One the other hand, a former NFL executive said the Steelers “made no mistakes” in a free agency assessment by The Athletic.

“It seemed like they were just plugging holes cheap so they can draft the guys they want,” he said. “They have made no mistakes. They have been very safe, which is the M.O. of their franchise as a whole.”

🏈 Mike Tomlin stopped by Pitt’s spring practice on Tuesday. Aaron Donald and former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins were also in attendance.

Good morning from the south side! Here at another #Pitt spring practice, Mike Tomlin is in attendance. Here he is chatting with Pat Narduzzi: pic.twitter.com/EnxmVvHrQ9

— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) April 4, 2023

STEELERS DRAFT DIGEST

Sources: Steelers Host Maryland CB Deonte Banks on Pre-Draft Visit

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt wing Nate Santos has entered the transfer portal, the second of Jeff Capel’s players to depart since the end of the regular season.

West Virginia Sports Now: Erik Stevenson says thank you to West Virginia.

Nittany Sports Now: The sights and sounds from Penn State football spring practice.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins are feeling deflated after Tuesday’s crushing loss.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Ji Hwan Bae had the best game of his young career as the Pirates beat the Red Sox 4-1 to the take the series in Boston.