First Call: Kenny Pickett is the 'front-runner' in Cleveland; ex-Steeler DL checks out Cincinnati

It appears that ex-Pittsburgh Steeler Kenny Pickett is in “pole position” up in Cleveland. Another former Steeler may be in line for a job in Cincinnati. The Saints are not part of Aaron Rodgers’ equation.

We have Pitt basketball recruiting news and the U.S. Open odds.

All that in “First Call” for Tuesday.

The plan for Pickett

According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, it appears the Cleveland Browns are starting organized team activities with a plan to have former Steeler and Pitt Panther Kenny Pickett as the No. 1 QB.

Not Joe Flacco.

“It’s a tough call before we’ve even seen the first practice of organized team activities, but I know Kenny Pickett heads in as the front-runner to win the starting job at the outset,” Cabot wrote in a Q&A Sunday. “He’ll take the initial first-team reps in OTAs and probably the mandatory minicamp, and it seems like it’s his job to try to keep for now. But Joe Flacco brings 17 years experience and a 4-1 record with the Browns in 2023. He will definitely push and press Pickett hard for the job.”

Cabot is saying the Browns will split their offensive passing drills in half with Pickett and one of the team’s two rookies (Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel) leading one group, while Flacco and the other rookie will lead the other group.

“In terms of their batting order in team drills, it will likely be Pickett and Gabriel No. 1 and No. 2, and then Flacco and Sanders splitting the No. 3 and No. 4 reps at the outset, largely based on how and when they were acquired (i.e. the Browns set out to draft Gabriel in the third round, and passed on Sanders six times before trading up to get him in the fifth round),” Cabot says. “It remains to be seen how they’ll split the concurrent passing drills — but placing a rookie with a vet seems to make the most sense.”

Cabot says there will be 12 receivers that can float between the two passing groups.

Nuthin’ from New Orleans

The Saints are not now — and have not been — a factor in the decision-making process for Aaron Rodgers.

That’s the word from NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan.

No surprise here, but Aaron Rodgers never really was a consideration for the Saints in the wake of the Derek Carr retirement. At their current stages, they don't make sense for him, and he doesn't make sense for them.

— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) May 18, 2025

Some thought that Rodgers’ unsigned status may become more complicated for the Steelers once New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr retired on May 10. However, any expected connection between that QB vacancy and Rodgers never transpired. It still appears that it’s Pittsburgh or bust for Rodgers.

As for Carr, he’ll be hanging up his cleats after 11 years in the NFL, 41,245 yards and 257 touchdowns. The Fresno State product had to retire thanks to a labral tear and a degenerative rotator cuff.

Montravius’ next move?

A former Steeler may find a new home in the AFC North.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Montravius Adams paid a visit to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday. The defensive lineman was released from Pittsburgh on April 28. He previously played in Green Bay and New Orleans.

Adams is now 29. The Auburn alum was in Pittsburgh from 2021-24. He started 21 of the 46 games in which he played for the Steelers over those four seasons.

Cincy needs defensive line depth. Meanwhile, the Steelers tried to bolster that position in the offseason by drafting Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black. They also added Daniel Ekuale from the New England roster.

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Oakmont odds

Now that the PGA Championship is over, the odds are out for the U.S. Open at Oakmont next month.

To the surprise of no one, Scottie Scheffler is the favorite at +400. That’s according to DraftKings. Scheffler won the PGA in North Carolina by five strokes over the weekend.

"It's a Scheffler showcase performance!"

Scottie finishes his round of 65 in style. pic.twitter.com/AH8HYj2GVS

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) May 17, 2025

Scheffler was an 11-under 273 for the weekend at Quail Hollow. He has now won three majors and was second at the 2022 U.S. Open in Brookline, Mass.

This year, the Texas alum also won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson by eight strokes. His 31-under-par 253 tied the 72-hole PGA Tour scoring record. The 28-year-old was fourth at The Masters.

Rory McIlroy is second on the odds board at plus-600, followed by Xander Schauffele at plus-1100. Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm are next at plus-1200.

The tournament is June 12-15. It’s the 10th U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Panthers pounding the pavement

According to Pittsburgh Sports Now on Monday, the Pitt basketball team offered scholarships to a pair of high-school prospects for the class of 2026.

One of them is Adam Oumiddoch. The Overtime Elite and Bishop O’Connell product is a 6-foot-5, 180-pound shooting guard from Atlanta. The “247 Sports” outlet rates him as a four-star recruit, the No. 32 prospect overall and the fourth-best shooting guard.

Taylen Kinney x Adam Oumiddoch looked unstoppable during their first game of 3SSB ???? @Taylen_0 @Adamshiftygoat @3SSBCircuit

Taylen Kinney 15 PTS l 9 REB l 4 AST l 7-10 FG
Adam Oumiddoch 17 PTS l 5 REB l 6-9 FG pic.twitter.com/kuuwORcUY1

— Overtime Elite (@OvertimeElite) May 2, 2025

He has apparently received offers from LSU, Kansas State, Illinois, Arizona State and East Carolina. Many others are said to be actively recruiting him as well.

PSN’s George Michalowski reports that the Panthers extended an offer to Ethan Mgbako as well. The New Jersey native is a 6-foot-6 small forward who now plays for Oak Hill Academy. He is the younger brother of NBA Draft prospect Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana)

Mgbako is also a four-star prospect at No. 91 overall in the class of 2026 via 247. The likes of Georgetown, West Virginia, Creighton, LSU, Florida State, George Washington, Kent and Mississippi State have also offered.