On the weekly NFL mock draft tracker show, host Derrick Stilley welcomes Steelers insider Christopher Carter to look at the latest popular picks. Defensive tackle has been a popular position in Round 1, but could the Steelers double-dip in Round 2? Would QB Jaxson Dart be a reach in the first round like Kenny Pickett was in 2022? And is there a world in which the Steelers draft a wide receiver early after trading for DK Metcalf?

Pirates TV reporter Robbie Incmikoski joins Post-Gazette columnist Jason Mackey to talk about the 2025 Pirates, his book "Sacred Grounds: What Our Ballparks Mean to Us" and more. How does Paul Skenes stack up against some other players he’s covered? And what led Incmikoski to pursue a career in TV, and what does he want his next professional chapter to be?

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Steelers reporters Christopher Carter and Brian Batko take a look at the quarterbacks in the NFL draft class and ask: Would taking one in Round 1 be Kenny Pickett all over again? Plus, who are some outside-the-box picks we have our eyes on, and who could be a trade-up candidate?

Pirates insider Noah Hiles and columnist Jason Mackey preview Friday's home opener and address the elephant in the room: Will fans boo manager Derek Shelton and the team? And if so, is that fair? Plus they offer thoughts on how the Pirates can jump-start their offense, the evolution of Mitch Keller as a pitcher and the questions about who can stop the bleeding in the bullpen?

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.

Should the Steelers have pushed harder to trade for QB Joe Milton III, who went from the Patriots to the Cowboys on Thursday in exchange for a pair of later-round draft picks? Could he have more upside than Mason Rudolph as a backup? Or would his age and room for development even made him a preferable option to Aaron Rodgers that GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin should have pursued?

Paul tackles those topics; reacts to visits by NFL draft prospects including WR Matthew Golden, RB Kaleb Johnson, CB Azareye'h Thomas and TE Gavin Bartholomew; and gives his thoughts on the sorry state of the Pirates ahead of the home opener Friday against the New York Yankees.

The Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Jason Mackey react to the week in Pittsburgh sports news.

What should we make of comments from Steelers owner Art Rooney II, coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan about their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers?

Is it wise for the Steelers to look toward the 2026 NFL draft for their QB of the future, given the many compensatory picks they’ll have at their disposal to try to trade up? Are options beyond Arch Manning compelling? Or are Drew Allar, Nico Iamaleava, LaNorris Sellers and Garrett Nussmeier similar to this year's crop, which includes names like Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart and Will Howard?

Are Jeff Capel and Pitt basketball in trouble after Jaland Lowe and Jorge and Guillermo Diaz-Graham entered the transfer portal? Or can they draw hope from quick and major turnarounds from Final Four programs like Auburn and Houston?

How closely should we be watching new Penguins faces including Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty?

And in the third segment, airing on the Post-Gazette’s Pirates YouTube channel, our duo offers thoughts on the club’s ugly start to the season.

Are GM Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton caught between what’s best for the club’s long-term future and what’s best for retaining their jobs short-term in some of their roster decisions involving names like Carmen Mlodzinski and Thomas Harrington?

What is the deal with the six-man rotation? Shouldn’t we want to see more — rather than less — of Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller?

Whose slow offensive start should we be most worried about? Tommy Pham, Jack Suwinski, Ke’Bryan Hayes, or someone else?

And how frosty will the home opening reception be against the New York Yankees on Friday at PNC Park?

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles and sports columnist Jason Mackey break down the team's series loss to the Tampa Bay Rays this week. Did Wednesday's win, led by Paul Skenes, show this team can get on the right track? Or should Derek Shelton's club expect a chilly reaction from its fans when it returns to Pittsburgh for Friday's home opener on Friday? What is the state of the bullpen without David Bednar, who was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday? What should the Pirates do with Colin Holderman, who struggled again Wednesday? Is Dennis Santana the club's de facto closer? And how concerned should we be with the team's underwhelming hitting through seven games from players like Tommy Pham and Jack Suwinski? Our duo answers those questions and more.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.

How closely should GM Omar Khan, coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers consider drafting a RB in the first round to replace Najee Harris alongside Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell? Are names like Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton and Kaleb Johnson worth forgoing other positions of need to select? Do they need a defensive lineman like Derrick Harmon, Walter Nolen or Kenneth Grant more? And what should we make of colleague Gerry Dulac's reporting that RB could be an option in "any" round?

Paul tackles those questions as well as the Pirates' series finale with the Tampa Bay Rays. Was Paul Skenes able to steady the ship after a 1-5 start to the season? And how hostile will fans be toward owner Bob Nutting, GM Ben Cherington and manager Shelton with the home opener looming Friday?

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo react to owner Art Rooney II's comments about the team's pursuit of QB Aaron Rodgers via NFL free agency.

Is Rodgers now on the clock to make a decision before the NFL draft? How much will his decision factor into the calls coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan make about who to select in the draft? And what will the consequences be in terms of perception if Rodgers decides not to sign, leaving the Steelers with either Mason Rudolph or other free agents including Drew Lock, Joe Flacco and Carson Wentz as their QB options for 2025?

Our duo tackles those topics, then gets into Ray's latest seven-round NFL mock draft. Why does he like Kenneth Grant from Michigan as the team's first-round pick? Could Louisville QB Tyler Shough make sense as a potential backup or even starter of the future? And why is Ray looking at names including Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon, Indiana DL CJ West, Florida WR Chimere Dike and Wisconsin OT Jack Nelson in later rounds?

Then in the third segment, Chris and Ray weigh NFL rule changes that were and were not approved at the owners meetings this week.

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles breaks down the team's decision Tuesday to option David Bednar to Triple-A Indianapolis. Where does the two-time All-Star closer go from here? What happened to Bednar in the first place, and how likely is it that he'll regain his form in the minor leagues? When could he potentially contribute again to the Pirates bullpen? And in his absence, who will step up to close out games for Derek Shelton's struggling team? Noah answers all those questions and more.