First Call: Brian Burke says Evgeni Malkin 'cleared medically' for trip; oddsmakers have Najee Harris on board for Steelers

If you believe the NFL Network reports, most people around the NFL think the Pittsburgh Steelers will select Alabama running back Najee Harris in the first round of the NFL Draft. And the oddsmakers think he’ll still be on the board to make that happen.

One report says the Steelers are likely to keep safety Terrell Edmunds through his fifth-year option.

The Penguins are expecting Evgeni Malkin’s return during their upcoming road trip. And Brian Burke is stumping for a significant Pittsburgh influence on the 2022 Team USA hockey roster if NHL players take part in the games.

All that in Thursday’s “First Call.”

Playing the odds

NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport says most NFL teams are under the impression that the Steelers will draft Alabama running back Najee Harris if he is still available during Round 1 of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

From NFL Now: The running back order will be fun to watch with most, but not all, having #Bama RB Najee Harris as the top one. pic.twitter.com/bFJzbiiNxS

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2021

More on the RBs:
— Most teams have #Bama's Najee Harris, #Clemson's Travis Etienne & #UNC’s Javonte Williams as the top 3. The order varies.
— Most teams believe Harris is gone by 24 (#Steelers). If Harris is gone, could be Williams.
— Etienne is the most NFL-ready passing back

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2021

If you are going by the gambling numbers, oddsmakers believe that both top running backs — Harris and Travis Etienne (Clemson) — will be on the board by the time the Steelers get on the clock at pick No. 24.

Via BetOnline.ag, the current over-under slot for Harris is at pick No. 25 ½. That number opened way down at 32 ½, the last spot in the first round.

Still, 25 ½ seems low to me. Not because the Steelers pick at No. 24. But because the Miami Dolphins have the 18th pick. And Harris is frequently mocked to them as well.

As for Etienne, he’s at 32 ½. So the bet on him basically is, ”Is he a first-rounder or not?”

As for Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins, his over-under is 24 ½. That’s essentially laying the money on the notion that — barring a trade — if he slips to the Steelers, he won’t get any further down the board.

Sticking around

One position that you don’t hear much about in the draft associated with the Steelers is safety.

For one reason, it’s not a great class at that position.

Secondly, the Steelers already exercised the fifth-year option on Minkah Fitzpatrick this week. And now veteran NFL reporter John Clayton tells 93.7 The Fan that he believes the Steelers will do the same for fellow safety Terrell Edmunds.

.@JohnClaytonNFL says on @937theFan that he expects the Steelers to pick up the 5th year option on Terrell Edmunds.

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 28, 2021

That may anger some Steelers fans. Edmunds hasn’t made enough big plays to have warranted being a first-round pick. In three years, he has registered just three interceptions, one fumble recovery and two sacks.

The Virginia Tech product — who was a reach as a 2018 first-round projection in the first place — also has been a frequent target on Twitter for fans and some in the media whenever he misses a tackle or gets caught in coverage.

But he’s durable and still athletically gifted enough that the Steelers may not feel a need to move on from him and create yet another hole on the defense after already seeing the likes of Mike Hilton, Steven Nelson and Bud Dupree leave via free agency this year. Others, such as cornerback Joe Haden, may be gone after 2021.

If the Steelers exercise his option, Edmunds will earn $6.753 million in 2022. If the Steelers do not exercise Edmunds’ option, he will become a free agent after the 2021 season.

Clayton also echoed CBS’ Jason La Canfora’s assertions that Miami will take Harris before the Steelers have a chance and that the Steelers may have a Friday-pick level of interest in Florida quarterback Kyle Trask.

Full go Geno

During Wednesday’s “Penguins GM/Coach’s Show” on 105.9 The X, director of hockey operations Brian Burke said that injured center Evgeni Malkin was now “going full” at practice.

That reinforced Mike Sullivan’s comments earlier in the day that No. 71 was working on a “full” contact basis and will travel on the team’s upcoming four-game road trip in Washington and Philadelphia.

“There’s a really good chance that we’ll see him on this road trip,” Burke told host Josh Getzoff. “But it is all his comfort level. If he has any discomfort, then he is going to tell the trainer he can’t go. Provided he doesn’t feel any discomfort, he’s cleared medically on this trip for sure.”

The Penguins have gone 14-5-2 since Malkin left the lineup against the Boston Bruins on March 16. But Burke is dismissing any correlation between Malkin’s absence and the Pens’ solid record with him on long-term injured reserve.

“I think the temptation is for people to say, ‘Well, they don’t need him. Look at what they did without him,’” Burke said. “But the fact of the matter is, before he got hurt, he was playing some unbelievable hockey. The best I’ve seen for a couple of years. So, this is a key guy for us. We need to get him back. Then we’ll figure out the rest of the lineup situations as we go down the road. To get him back would be a big boost. He was playing great when he got hurt.”

Malkin had an eight-game point streak prior to sustaining what is believed to be a knee injury more than five weeks ago. The Penguins play in Washington against the East-leading Capitals Thursday and Saturday. Then they visit the Philadelphia Flyers Monday and Tuesday.

Black and Gold for the Red, White and Blue?

It’s unclear if NHL players will be part of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. But if they are, Burke is already stumping for some Penguins to be part of Team USA.

Getzoff asked Burke if he thinks Penguins forward Jake Guentzel will be in the conversation for a roster spot.

“He’s done more than that,” Burke insisted. “He’s more than in the conversation for me. He’s a guy that should be on that team. And while we are talking U.S. Olympics, I think Mike Sullivan should be the front runner as the head coach of that team as well.”

In portions of five NHL seasons, Guentzel has a 40-goal campaign (2018-19) and 252 career points under his belt. He also has 46 points in 45 playoff games.

Sullivan is in the midst of his seventh season as NHL head coach (five in Pittsburgh, two in Boston). He has 284 wins in the regular season and 42 more in the playoffs, including two Stanley Cup rings.

Burke was the director of player personnel for the fourth-place 2014 American team in Sochi, and the general manager of the team that won a silver medal in Vancouver in 2010.