QB Dwayne Haskins Killed After Getting Hit By Car
Dwayne Haskins was tragically killed Saturday morning after being hit by a car in South Florida, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Haskins was set to turn 25 on May 3.
The Steelers quarterback was struck by a dump truck while walking westbound on Highway I-595 and was killed while trying to cross lanes, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (via Fox Sports 640’s Andy Slater, on Twitter). Haskins was pronounced dead at the scene.
Haskins had a standout sophomore season at Ohio State, setting a number of school records after completing 70 percent of his passes for 4,831 yards and a whopping 50 touchdowns. That performance earned him a number of accolades, including first team All-Big Ten honors, the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year award, and the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year award. Haskins was also named the 2018 Big Ten Football Championship Game MVP and the 2019 Rose Bowl MVP.
The quarterback naturally rocketed up draft lists, and he was ultimately selected by Washington with the 15th-overall pick in the 2019 draft. Expectations were high for Haskins; he was even granted permission to wear the (unofficially) retired jersey number of legend Joe Theismann. Despite the fanfare, head coach Jay Gruden decided to roll with Case Keenum as his starting quarterback heading into the 2019 campaign. Haskins eventually found his way into the lineup, starting seven of his nine appearances. Washington went 2-5 in his seven starts, with the QB completing 58.6 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns vs. seven interceptions.
Haskins entered the 2020 season as the starter and a team captain, but he was benched prior to Week 5 for poor play. He found himself back in the lineup late in the season, but that wasn’t enough to save his career in Washington. Haskins was cut by the team before the end of the regular season.
Haskins caught on with the Steelers in 2021, and he didn’t get into a game while serving as the third QB. Pittsburgh placed an original-round restricted free agent tender on Haskins this offseason, and the expectation was that he’d get an extended look alongside Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era.
“I am devastated and at a loss for words with the unfortunate passing of Dwayne Haskins,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “He quickly became part of our Steelers family upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one of our hardest workers, both on the field and in our community. Dwayne was a great teammate, but even more so a tremendous friend to so many. I am truly heartbroken.”
Haskins was in South Florida working out with Steelers quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers, per Schefter (on Twitter). That group included Trubisky and running back Najee Harris, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (on Twitter).
We at PFR offer our thoughts and condolences to Haskins’ family and friends.
Steelers Hosting Desmond Ridder
As the Steelers’ work on this year’s quarterback draft class continues, the team is turning its attention to Cincinnati alum Desmond Ridder. Pittsburgh is hosting him for one of their top-30 visits today, as noted by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Steelers Heavily Scouting QB Prospects]
This marks the beginning of a busy stretch for Ridder; he is scheduled to meet with the Panthers and Seahawks next week, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Pittsburgh has long been touted as one of the teams most in need of a new franchise signal-caller, despite the signing of Mitch Trubisky. The team had a large presence at Ridder’s (and every other top QB’s) pro day.
The redshirt senior took Cincinnati to unprecedented heights during his time there. He helped the Bearcats become the first Group of 5 school to appear in the College Football Playoff, ultimately losing in the national semifinal. His career record of 44-6 ranks first in program history, and places him among the winningest college QBs of all time. He threw 87 touchdowns in four seasons, completing 62.1% of his passes.
Ridder has generally been ranked at least one tier below Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett in the build-up to this month’s draft. His stock may be on the rise, however, as ESPN’s Matt Miller tweets that Ridder has a chance to be a top-20 pick. Depending on how the rest of the board falls, that could place him directly into Pittsburgh’s range, since the Steelers hold the 20th selection.
Ridder isn’t the only QB Pittsburgh is meting with, not surprisingly. Rapoport adds (on Twitter) that UNC’s Sam Howell will visit on Friday. The latter is seen as a similarly-ranked prospect, and seems to have drawn attention from the Commanders and Saints among other teams. Whether the Steelers end up selecting either option or not, they will clearly have done their due diligence on the position.
Steelers Heavily Scouting QB Prospects
In need of a new franchise quarterback for the first time in almost two decades, the Steelers have already been active in the free agent market at the position. Despite the addition of Mitch Trubisky, however, they remain – not surprisingly – very much involved in the scouting process of this year’s QB prospects. 
[RELATED: Steelers Sign Trubisky]
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid noted the presence of Steelers personnel (from head coach Mike Tomlin to outgoing general manager Kevin Colbert to pro scouting coordinator Brandon Hunt) at the pro days of each top signal-caller. The fact that Pittsburgh has been “doing an extensive amount of work on the entire QB class” was one of the top storylines throughout the post-combine evaluation process.
Colbert recently addressed the time being invested in draft options despite having signed Trubisky to a two-year deal. “We’ve been at top quarterback pro days for the first time in a long time because we may be in a position where we have [a need]“, he said (Twitter link via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “Does that mean we’re taking one? Possibly.”
The Steelers currently have not only the former Bears first-rounder, but also Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins on the roster. They hold the 20th overall pick in April’s draft, meaning Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett would likely only be available if they trade up in the first round. Other options include Sam Howell, Matt Corral and Desmond Ridder. The team made it clear they were aiming to have four quarterbacks on their 2022 roster, with a relatively open competition ensuing amongst them. Selecting one later this month would bring them to that total, while beginning the long-term process of replacing Ben Roethlisberger.
Steelers Could Move Green To Guard
- The Steelers signed James Daniels and Mason Cole in free agency. Cole has primarily played center, while Daniels has played the position as a pro as well. Daniels has spent most of his NFL days at guard, and it is possible 2021 Steelers center Kendrick Green becomes the team’s other guard starter. Mike Tomlin is open to moving Green to guard, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic notes (subscription required). A third-round pick last year, Green started 15 games as a rookie. PFF graded him as one of the league’s worst centers. A move to guard, where he spent most of his time at Illinois, could potentially open the door to improvement and threaten Kevin Dotson‘s starting role. Dotson, a 2020 fourth-rounder, opened the season as Pittsburgh’s left guard starter but missed eight games due to injury.
- Zach Banner‘s Steelers exit stemmed from his 2020 ACL tear remaining a deterrent, Kaboly adds. Banner opened the 2020 season as the Steelers’ starting right tackle but suffered the tear in Week 1. The 6-foot-8 blocker played seven games last season, but Kaboly adds his knee never returned to form.
Steelers Re-Sign S Karl Joseph
Karl Joseph bounced on and off the Steelers’ active roster last year, but the team will give the former first-round pick another shot. Joseph agreed to re-sign with the Steelers on Thursday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The Steelers have announced the one-year agreement.
The ex-Raiders first-rounder and Browns starter played just two games as a Steeler last season, being involved in a few promotions from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. But Joseph has a year in the Steelers’ system and 49 career starts to his credit.
Las Vegas cut the veteran safety just before last season, leading the West Virginia alum to the Steelers on a practice squad agreement. Joseph made just two tackles in his first Steelers season, which came after he registered 67 in 14 games (eight starts) with the playoff-bound Browns.
Joseph has intercepted five passes in his career and recovered five fumbles, but the one-time top prospect has never been able to establish himself as an upper-echelon starter. As a result, a lucrative free agency deal has eluded him. The Raiders passed on Joseph’s fifth-year option, and he has now signed one-year deals during each of the past three offseasons.
The Steelers have been monitoring the safety market for a bit now. Longtime starter Terrell Edmunds hit free agency earlier this month but has not signed anywhere. Pittsburgh has been unusually active on the market this year, adding multiple new O-linemen (James Daniels and Mason Cole) and adding likely starters on defense (Myles Jack, Levi Wallace). Mitchell Trubisky headlined Pittsburgh’s March spending. Joseph does not appear to be the answer alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick, but the 29-year-old defender certainly makes sense as a backup for the talented defense.
Steelers Sign LB Genard Avery
Genard Avery is heading about five hours west. The former Eagles linebacker is signing with the Steelers, tweets SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan. It’s a one-year deal for Avery. The player confirmed the signing on Twitter.
Avery spent the past two-plus seasons with the Eagles, including a 2021 campaign where he started a career-high 12 games while collecting 43 tackles, one sack, and a pair of QB hits. He had another two sacks in his previous 20 games with the organization.
The linebacker started his career with the Browns, and he showed up during his rookie campaign by collecting 4.5 sacks. He found himself with a reduced role in 2019 before getting traded to Philly for a fourth-round pick.
In Pittsburgh, Avery will likely compete with Derrek Tuszka to be the primary backups to T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
AFC Rumors: Colbert, Browning, Broncos
Current Steelers’ general manager Kevin Colbert, who will be stepping down from his role after the 2022 NFL Draft, held a conference call with reporters today that produced quite a few nuggets of information.
Colbert expounded a bit on their moves to replace longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He explained that Pittsburgh didn’t want to sacrifice draft capital in order to add a veteran quarterback, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. This led them to target Mitchell Trubisky, who they were able to sign in free agency for a very reasonable price. Pryor reported that he went on to say that signing Trubisky does not preclude them from taking a quarterback in the Draft.
Colbert claimed they have starters at every position except for strong safety, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, while failing to mention any specific targets to fill the role. Kaboly did note that Colbert said they’ve focused on targeting “young veteran players” in free agency.
Commenting on his eventual replacement, Colbert said they’ve completed the first round of interviews with 16 candidates and that they intend to start the second round of interviews after the Draft, according to Pryor.
Here are a few other rumors from the AFC, these concerning the Broncos of Mile High:
- With the addition of linebacker Alex Singleton, the Broncos will give linebacker Baron Browning a look at outside linebacker, according to Mike Klis of 9News. Browning went back and forth a bit between the positions at Ohio State, so he should be able to make the switch without too many issues. He’ll work with new outside linebackers coach Bert Watts.
- Klis also reported that new Broncos’ quarterback Russell Wilson will have a say in the tailoring of the new offense. Wilson’s lack of agency in Seattle was a great frustration for the veteran quarterback and new Broncos’ head coach Nathaniel Hackett will make sure that isn’t the case in Denver.
AFC Coaching Notes: Titans, Jets, Bills, Steelers, Raiders, Patriots
After parting ways with the Panthers early this year, former NFL linebacker Chase Blackburn has joined the Titans as the team’s assistant special teams coach. After playing ten years in the NFL for the Giants and Panthers, Blackburn transitioned into the coaching world working his way up to the role of the Panthers’ special teams coordinator, a position he held for four seasons.
Panthers’ head coach Matt Rhule initially retained Blackburn from former head coach Ron Rivera‘s staff, but fired him this January. He finds second life with fellow former NFL linebacker and current Titans’ head coach Mike Vrabel. Additionally, after season-long tryouts, the Titans have promoted Clint McMillan (defensive line assistant) and Kylan Butler (offensive assistant) to full time positions.
Here are a few other coaching updates from around the AFC:
- The Jets announced a series of assistant coach hirings including Ben Wilkerson and Dan Shamash. Wilkerson moves from one New York team to another, taking the same position as assistant offensive line coach on head coach Robert Saleh‘s staff. Shamash is a New York native that returns to the tri-state area after five seasons as the Chargers’ assistant tight ends coach to become the Jets’ situational football/game management coordinator. He’s worked with Saleh before in Jacksonville.
- Elsewhere in New York, the Bills announced that they’ve added Mike Shula as a senior offensive assistant. The former college head coach and NFL offensive coordinator spent the past two seasons in Denver as the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach. They also announced the promotion of Eric Washington. The Bills’ defensive line coach of the past two seasons will have the title of senior defensive assistant added to his billing.
- The Steelers announced the hiring of their new assistant line coach earlier this month. Isaac Williams joins the NFL coaching ranks after years in college football. Williams has been the offensive line coach at North Carolina Central University (2021), Morgan State (2018-20), and Northern Colorado (2016-17).
- Las Vegas has hired former college coaching assistant Frederick Walker as a new offensive assistant assigned to work with quarterbacks, according to Myles Simmons of NBC Sports. Walker most recently worked as the quarterbacks coach for the UMass Minutemen. His time in the college ranks saw him working with Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones at Duke University as well as Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott during his time at Mississippi State. He’ll work underneath new head coach Josh McDaniels and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi to assist Derek Carr and company on their road back to consecutive playoff seasons.
- After being passed up by Matt Groh for the director of player personnel promotion, Eliot Wolf was announced as the Patriots’ new director of scouting on Friday, a promotion from his previous title of front office consultant. According to Wilson, the team also announced that Camren Williams would be named college scouting director.
Latest On Baker Mayfield’s Status With Browns
We updated recently how Cleveland was intent on giving quarterback Baker Mayfield a fresh start immediately. Well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Browns are not likely to release Mayfield should they fail to find a trade partner for the 26-year-old. 
According to Rapoport, Cleveland has had talks with squads who have interest in trading for Mayfield, but the 2022 salary due to Mayfield of $18.86MM is currently preventing a deal from being made. Rapoport posits that perhaps a deal could get worked out by Mayfield’s agent and a potential new team wherein a portion of his salary is covered by the Browns, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported days ago that Cleveland is not interested in paying part of Mayfield’s fifth-year option salary to facilitate a trade.
The Seahawks still appear on the radar after inquiring about the disgruntled quarterback, but they are looking for a certain price point and the assumption is that the Browns have not yet come close to it. When the Browns informed Mayfield that they would attempt to accommodate him with a trade deal, Baker mentioned the Colts as a team of interest, while also stating he had no interest in going to Detroit, Carolina, or Houston. The Colts, though, took the route of acquiring Matt Ryan in a trade with the Falcons.
Another team that’s communicated interest in Mayfield is the Steelers, who Cabot mentioned would “pounce” on Mayfield if the Browns were to release him. Newly acquired quarterback Mitchell Trubisky‘s relatively low-cost deal averaging $7.14MM per year makes it extremely feasible for Pittsburgh to go after a big name quarterback in the free agent market.
Two more factors possibly obstructing a deal from being reached are the availability of another proven starter Jimmy Garoppolo and the surgery Mayfield underwent on his non-throwing shoulder just after the 2021 NFL season. Also, Cleveland doesn’t expect a first-round pick in exchange for Mayfield. They know they’ll have to look elsewhere to recoup any of the first-rounders lost acquiring Deshaun Watson from Houston.
The Brown’s will likely continue working towards finding a new home for Mayfield, but Rapoport warns us not to expect them to cut him in an attempt to help. If an ideal trade partner fails to emerge, the Browns could be well-served in holding on to their starter of the last four years should their new quarterback, Watson, face a suspension to start the 2022 season.
Latest On Steelers’ Safety Search
The 2021 offseason has seen the Steelers make number of changes, most notably at the quarterback position. Another area of the roster which has become a priority, though, is safety. As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports, the team has a number of options at the position. 
Fowler notes the connection some have made between the Steelers and the top remaining option at safety, Tyrann Mathieu. Given his pedigree and versatility – not to mention the unusually-large amount of financial flexibility Pittsburgh has this offseason – a deal between the two sides would make a good deal of sense. However, Fowler cautions that he is unsure how “real” that connection actually is.
That could lead the Steelers to a familiar face at the position. Fowler states that “a reunion is not off the table” between the team and Terrell Edmunds. The 25-year-old started 60 of his 64 games with Pittsburgh, racking up 340 tackles and five interceptions. With fellow safety Minkah Fitzpatrick only under contract for one more year, bringing back Edmunds on a short-term deal would at least provide continuity at the position for 2022.
Lastly, Fowler names Damontae Kazee as another noteworthy option. The 28-year-old spent last season in Dallas after four in Atlanta. For his career, he has totalled 12 interceptions (including a league-leading seven in 2018) and 7 pass deflections. Fowler reports that the Steelers “have him on their radar”.
Pittsburgh currently has just under $16MM in cap space; fitting in any of the three players named above should be relatively straightforward, then. Whether the team decides to add one of them, or go in another direction, could go a long way to helping their defense rebound from an overall disappointing performance in 2021.