The Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing back a familiar face: David Johnson. The team announced the signing of the former Pittsburgh tight end on Tuesday afternoon. Johnson was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He stayed with Pittsburgh until the end of the 2013-14 season, when he was then picked up by the San Diego Chargers. (He stayed with the Chargers for two seasons.) In his career, Johnson has 24 receptions for 224 yards. He has one touchdown, which ... Read More
The best and worst of the Steelers draft
When it comes to the NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have long been known for avoiding the temptation to draft for need. Looking at the results of this year's draft, it's easy to get a sense the Steelers bucked that trend and focused on some of the team's biggest weaknesses this past weekend in Chicago. After drafting defense in the first three rounds and five of the seven picks overall, it's clear that Director of Player Personnel Kevin Colbert understood that there were plenty of needs ... Read More
Steelers decline fifth-year option on linebacker Jarvis Jones
The Pittsburgh Steelers have declined to pick up the fifth-year option on outside linebacker Jarvis Jones' contract, per multiple reports. Jones will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2016 season. Today was the last day for NFL teams to make a decision on fifth-year contracts for players drafted in the first round in 2013. Had the Steelers picked up the option, they would have owed Jones nearly $8.4 million — as long as he was on the roster come the start of the league year (March ... Read More
Steelers re-sign quarterback Bruce Gradkowski
The Steelers announced Monday morning that they have re-signed veteran backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski to a one-year deal. We have re-signed QB Bruce Gradkowski to a one-year contract. MORE: https://t.co/VIFZtUCR7n pic.twitter.com/7RXBa7mjZX — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 2, 2016 Gradkowski’s signing certainly means the end of Michael Vick’s career with the Steelers. Vick was signed by the Steelers to replace Gradkowski, who went down in the beginning of last season with a ... Read More
Steelers draft grades for rounds 2 and 3
Round One: Sean Davis, S, Maryland The Pittsburgh Steelers sure aren’t leaving their draft plan up for any interpretation, making it very clear they’re targeting the holes in their secondary. After taking a cornerback in the first round, with the second pick the Steelers selected Sean Davis, safety out of Maryland. Davis played corner last year at Maryland, but the physical specimen (6 foot 1, 201 pounds) should make a devastating safety for the Steelers. He struggled in man-coverage, so ... Read More
Who is Artie Burns, the Steelers’ 1st round pick?
Almost every single mock draft had the Pittsburgh Steelers taking a cornerback in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft — it's just that none of those mock drafts had the Steelers taking Artie Burns, cornerback out of Miami Univeristy, with that pick. So, as Burns gets ready to don the black and gold, here's a little bit about who he is. Burns is a top-notch athlete, who has speed to spare (he ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the Combine.) He came to college as a highly touted recruit in both ... Read More
Pittsburgh Steelers 2016 Draft Grades
Round 1: Artie Burns, CB, Miami Everyone knew the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a cornerback in the draft, and even with the enticing prospect of taking UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, Pittsburgh stuck to its plan and grabbed Artie Burns, cornerback out of Miami University. Burns is a very talented cornerback who has weathered a difficult past and who is bursting at the seams with talent. Still, he feels a bit like a reach for the Steelers (he was a projected second-round pick.) Burns, who ... Read More
Mock Draft: Who should the Steelers select in rounds six and seven?
In the first half of this mock draft, I said the Pittsburgh Steelers would take, in order, Mackensie Alexander, Karl Joseph, D.J. Reader and Dak Prescott. However, the Steelers still have plenty more picks. So, knowing how hard it is to predict the notoriously unpredictable later rounds, here are my predictions for who the Steelers will take with their last three draft picks (the team’s fifth-round pick was traded to the Eagles last season for Brandon Boykin.) SIXTH ROUND (220th Overall ... Read More
Mock Draft: Who should the Steelers draft in rounds 1-4?
With the NFL Draft coming up shortly, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to focus on their defense, especially at safety and cornerback, where they were inconsistent last season. The Steelers seem to have hinted at drafting a cornerback, what with the release of former cornerback Cortez Allen on April 15. Still, there are other positions Pittsburgh might look at. The Steelers might draft a wide receiver, because Martavis Bryant will be out for the entire season after failing an ... Read More
Steelers mock draft predictions: Will it finally be a cornerback?
It's officially NFL draft week, and with the draft set to begin Thursday night, there's been plenty of speculation on who the Pittsburgh Steelers will select when they are slotted to make the 25th selection of the first round. Will they select a cornerback for the first time since the Steelers selected Chad Scott way back in 1997? If you ask the majority of Steelers fans, a cornerback would be the best choice and based on what many of the latest mock drafts are predicting, they might just ... Read More