First Call: Aaron Rodgers' decision expected before draft, but not before Pat McAfee appearance

Tuesday’s “First Call” tries to figure out when a contract between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers might be signed.

There’s another defensive lineman on the Steelers’ draft radar. Paul Skenes is facing a familiar opponent in his 2025 home debut.

And some Penguins goaltenders are getting recognized for their efforts against Alex Ovechkin.

Not happenin’

One theory about when Aaron Rodgers may sign with the Steelers is that the quarterback will ink a contract before Wednesday. That way he can make an appearance as the franchise’s new quarterback during Pat McAfee’s “Big Night’ Aht” event at PPG Paints Arena.

However, Mark Kaboly, “The Pat McAfee Show’s” Steelers correspondent, doesn’t expect the signing to be announced there.

Mark Kaboly says Aaron Rodgers will NOT announce he's signing with the Steelers at Big Night Aht on Wednesday.

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 7, 2025

Meanwhile, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was on McAfee’s show Monday and claimed that he expected Rodgers to make an announcement before the NFL Draft.

“I would be very surprised if Rodgers waited until after the draft,” Rapoport said. “I would be very surprised if it wasn’t the Steelers if he plays. What I have not 100% been able to nail down is, is he absolutely, definitely playing?”

Rapoport expressed a similar opinion on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”

“There are no other spots. So if Aaron Rodgers is going to play football in 2025, it is going to be for the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Rapoport said. “I would not be surprised if there was an announcement from him over the next couple of weeks. It has to be, theoretically, before the draft because if the Steelers don’t get an answer by late April, they will likely draft a quarterback. In fact, they may draft a quarterback anyway. So the update is, really, that there’s no update.”

From @GMFB: As we wait for Aaron Rodgers... what's the latest? pic.twitter.com/pTfCHO69oS

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 7, 2025

The Steelers welcomed Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart for a visit last week.

Big pony

SMU’s Elijah Roberts appears to be the next defensive lineman on the Steelers’ interview list. He posted an arrival in Pittsburgh on his Instagram on Monday with a Wiz Khalifa song playing in the background.

Roberts is 6-foot-4, 285 pounds. He posted 38 tackles, 17 sacks and four forced fumbles the last two years with the Mustangs after transferring from Miami.

ESPN.com lists Roberts as the 27th-best edge player in the draft, although in the Steelers’ defense, he’d be more of a 3-4 end or an interior player in sub packages. At No. 177 overall, Roberts projects as a mid-Day 3 pick.

Four other defensive linemen — J.J. Pegues (Ole Miss), Yahya Black (Iowa), Joshua Farmer (Florida State) and Jamaree Caldwell (Oregon) — have been listed on the team’s pre-draft visit tracker.

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‘Zero’ recognition

Budweiser is capitalizing on the Alex Ovechkin hype.

Since the Washington Capitals star broke the NHL goal-scoring record Sunday, the beer manufacturer is sending free Budweiser Zero to any NHL goalie who managed to face Alex Ovechkin without allowing a goal.

Budweiser sent celebratory cans to goalies who did not get scored on by Ovi at any point in their careers ????

(via @BudweiserCanada, @Cujo) pic.twitter.com/DnLX1VyhJn

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 7, 2025

Budweiser Zero is the brand’s non-alcoholic beer.

A few Penguins are among the 28 on the list. Those names include Jeff Zatkoff, Jocelyn Thibault, Mathieu Garon and Joel Blomqvist.

Meanwhile, former Penguins Marc-Andre Fleury allowed 28 goals to Ovechkin, more than any other goalie. Henrik Lundqvist is next with 24.

Skenes start

Pirates starter Paul Skenes will finally make his home debut for 2025 on Tuesday. He already has two starts under his belt on the road this season.

Thus far, Skenes is 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA as the Bucs beat the Tampa Bay Rays and lost to the Miami Marlins. The second-year right-hander also has 13 strikeouts and just two walks.

The St. Louis Cardinals will be the opponent for Skenes and the Pirates. Last year, Skenes faced the Cardinals three times, going 0-2 but yielding just a 1.32 ERA. In those games, Skenes posted a 23:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The Pirates won a 2-1 game in St. Louis when Skenes left with a no-decision in the seventh inning on June 11.

On July 23, Skenes lost a 2-1 game when he pitched into the ninth inning with the score tied 1-1 before he allowed a game-winning RBI to Alec Burleson.

ALEC BURLESON! pic.twitter.com/K3oDscPeqe

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 24, 2024

On Sept 16, Skenes gave up just one run in six innings before getting pulled en route to a 4-0 loss at Busch Stadium.