HEADLINES

Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

Steelers Sign Two Draft Picks

May 11th, 2015 at 9:06am CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Steelers have signed a pair of draft picks, inking fourth-round cornerback Dorian Grant and sixth-round linebacker Anthony Chickillo to deals, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link).

With Grant and Chickillo aboard, the Steelers have now signed three of eight picks from their 2015 draft class. They came to an agreement with sixth-round defensive tackle L.T. Walton last week.

Tryout Notes: Ravens, Falcons, Cowboys, Steelers

May 9th, 2015 at 1:44pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Ravens invited a handful of undrafted players in to their rookie minicamps to tryout for the team, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Among those players are USC safety Gerald Bowman (link), Rhode Island linebacker Andrew Bose (link), Maryland center Sal Conaboy (link), Eastern Kentucky fullback Channing Fugate (link), Maine defensive back Khari Al-Mateen and Maryland defensive end Andre Monroe (link). All links come via Twitter.

Here are some other tryouts from around the NFL:

  • The Falcons have brought in Georgia State offensive lineman Tim Wynn for a tryout, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter).
  • The Cowboys have added a receiver to their list of tryouts in Rice’s Dontay Moore, according to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com (via Twitter).
  • The Steelers have brought Akron cornerback Martel Durant in for a tryout to replace Mario Rowson, writes Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter).

Draft Signings: Falcons, Cowboys, Ravens

May 8th, 2015 at 8:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are some of the signings of players selected between the third and seventh round of the draft that took place today.

  • Third-round pick Carl Davis agreed to a contract with the Ravens, Wilson reports. The defensive tackle’s deal is for four years and worth $2.95MM with a 625K signing bonus. First-rounder Breshad Perriman is the team’s only unsigned player from this year’s class.
  • The Cowboys inked linebacker Mark Nzeocha and defensive end Ryan Russell to deals, reports ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. A fifth-round selection, Russell will receive a signing bonus of nearly $203K. Nzeocha, taken in the seventh round, claimed a $64K bonus.
  • The Falcons have signed fifth-round defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to his four-year rookie deal, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. As Over the Cap’s data shows, Jarrett’s contract will be worth about $2.528MM in total, including a $248K signing bonus.
  • Washington continues to agree to terms with its rookies, reaching a deal with sixth-round safety Kyshoen Jarrett today, according to John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Jarrett will formally sign his contract when he gets into town on Sunday.
  • The Steelers have started locking up their draft picks, signing sixth-round defensive tackle L.T. Walton to his rookie contract, the club announced today (Twitter link). The first of two players drafted in the sixth round by the Steelers, Walton is in line for a signing bonus worth nearly $117K.

NFC Notes: 49ers, Barksdale, Winston

May 4th, 2015 at 2:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Although 49ers fullback Bruce Miller won’t face a more serious assault charge, he has been charged with misdemeanor vandalism for a domestic incident in which he allegedly threw his girlfriend’s phone against a wall, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. If he’s convicted, Miller faces up to a year in jail.

Miller wasn’t participating in the 49ers’ offseason program while Santa Clara police were investigating the incident, and it appears he’ll continue to stay away from the team. Sources tell Maiocco that the 49ers and Miller have agreed to remain apart as the legal process moves toward a conclusion.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter), Joe Barksdale remains interested in re-signing with the Rams, who were said over the weekend to maintain interest in the free agent offensive tackle. However, there have been no talks today between the two sides.
  • The Buccaneers‘ agreement with first overall pick Jameis Winston includes a clause prohibiting the QB from playing professional baseball during the life of his rookie contract, says Peter King of TheMMQB.com.
  • There were three quarterbacks that piqued the Cowboys‘ interest in this year’s draft class, but once the draft got underway, the team never considered trading up to grab a signal-caller, according to owner Jerry Jones (link via Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News).
  • As the Rams‘ 41st overall pick neared on Friday, the team received trade inquiries from the Chiefs, Eagles, Texans, Steelers, Panthers, and Cowboys, writes Michael Silver of NFL.com. After fielding offers from every team except Dallas, the Rams elected to strike a deal with the Panthers, who used the pick to grab wide receiver Devin Funchess.
  • Anthony Patch has been let go as the Eagles‘ director of college scouting, sources tell Alex Marvez of Fox Sports (Twitter link). Changes to scouting departments typically happen following the draft, particularly for teams like the Eagles, who underwent front office changes earlier in the offseason.

AFC Links: Collins, Dorsett, Timmons

May 3rd, 2015 at 10:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the highest-regarded undrafted free agents in history, La’el Collins figures to be a premier topic in May as he attempts to begin a now-unorthodox career.

The Titans, however, won’t be among the teams pursuing the ex-LSU lineman that was a surefire first-round pick as recently as earlier this week, according to The Tennesseean’s Jim Wyatt on Twitter. The team remains in need of a right tackle but did add two interior linemen in the draft — guard Jeremiah Poutasi and center Andy Gallik in the third and sixth rounds, respectively.

Here is some additional news from around the AFC.

  • The Colts‘ draft puzzled Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel, with the team adding players in key spots that may not be able to contribute much this season — one with immense expectations. Doyel argues the team did not address needs of defensive tackle and safety early enough, with one of each added on Day 3. Indianapolis ranked 18th in run defense last season. Part-time players last year, Josh Chapman and Montori Hughes, are the Colts’ top two nose tackle options.
  • The crux of Doyel’s argument, first-round pick Phillip Dorsett, could also find himself a key player in the Colts’ offense from the start, writes the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder. Dorsett, CFL import Duron Carter and former All-Pro Andre Johnson add to a loaded wideout corps that was at times slowed by descending veterans Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks last year. Holder wonders if the 34-year-old Johnson will give way to Dorsett in some three-wide sets or when the Colts deploy the two-tight end look they often do.
  • One of now four linebackers with first-round pedigrees in Pittsburgh, Lawrence Timmons is in line for a contract extension come 2016, reports Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Steelers’ second-highest-paid player and NFL’s best-compensated inside linebacker’s current deal that pays him $12.6MM this season and $11.8MM next year runs through ’16.
  • With just two starters locked in for this season up front, the Broncos are positioning their offensive line youngsters less than three days after acquiring them. Second-round choice Ty Sambrailo will open his career at right tackle, where the Broncos have a glaring need after using three players there last year, while versatile fourth-rounder Max Garcia will begin work behind Louis Vasquez at right guard, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Last year’s third-rounder, Michael Schofield, didn’t suit up for a game as a rookie despite the Broncos’ right tackle issues and is now playing behind Ryan Clady at left tackle.
  • Mel Kiper Jr. envisions Ravens second-round pick Maxx Williams as an offensive rookie of the year candidate, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The ESPN draft veteran also opined Breshad Perriman will be a better player than Torrey Smith.

Steelers Reach Agreements With 12 UDFAs

May 2nd, 2015 at 9:44pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Steelers have agreed to deals with 12 undrafted free agents, writes Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk. Here are the names:

  • Cameron Clear, TE, Texas A&M
  • Nigel Crawford-Kinney, DT, Saint Augustine
  • Dominique Davis, DE, Liberty
  • Miles Dieffenbach, OG, Penn State
  • Reese Dismukes, OG, Auburn
  • B.J. Finney, C, Kansas State
  • Tyler Murphy, QB/WR, Boston College ($4,500 bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
  • Brandon Prate, DE, Illinois State ($1k bonus, per Wilson)
  • Collin Rahrig, OG, Indiana
  • Eli Rogers, WR, Louisville
  • Ross Scheuerman, RB, Lafayette
  • Kevin Whimpey, OT, Utah State

AFC Notes: Steelers, Ravens, Chargers

May 1st, 2015 at 11:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Before drafting Mississippi cornerback Senquez Golson with the 56th overall pick, the Steelers tried to move up and take Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams, tweets Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review. The Steelers were unable to pull it off, however, and Williams ended up going 55th to the AFC North rival Ravens, who traded up to get ahead of Pittsburgh. Not surprisingly, that displeased the Steelers, according to Kaboly.

While the Steelers may not have been happy to see their division rivals land Williams, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) doesn’t think they were going to take the tight end themselves in that spot — according to La Canfora, Pittsburgh was “locked in” on Golson at No. 56.

Here are a few more draft-related leftovers from day two, from around the AFC…

  • Speaking of the Ravens, they’re eyeing some of the draft’s remaining cornerbacks, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter).
  • The Chargers had discussions with multiple teams about moving down in the second round, but they decided to stay put because they wanted Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune tweets. The Bolts took Perryman 48th overall.
  • Broncos general manager John Elway didn’t consider taking a quarterback in the third round, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The Broncos instead used the 92nd overall pick on Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman.
  • Discussing the teams’ day two draft picks, Texans GM Rick Smith said linebacker Benardrick McKinney was the highest-rated player on the club’s board when the second round began, and added that Jaelen Strong‘s injured wrist was medically cleared by the Texans’ staff prior to the draft (Twitter links via Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle).
  • Josh Cribbs became expendable for the Colts when the team drafted Phillip Dorsett in the first round, and Indianapolis released Cribbs earlier today. According to GM Ryan Grigson, the club wanted to give the veteran returner a chance to find “greener pastures,” tweets Mike Chappell of RTV6.

Top Teams In Round Two Taking Calls

May 1st, 2015 at 3:54pm CST by Luke Adams

3:54pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) adds the Seahawks and Falcons to the list of teams that may want to move up to the early part of the second round.

3:36pm: There were only two trades completed during the first round of the NFL draft last night, but it sounds like the action could pick up tonight when the second round gets underway. According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter), both the Titans and Buccaneers, picking 33rd and 34th respectively, have fielded calls for their picks. Breer adds that clubs interested in moving up may be targeting wide receivers and/or offensive linemen.

Meanwhile, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) confirms that the Titans and other teams at the top of the second round are indeed receiving trade inquiries. According to Schefter, one team with interest in moving up is the Steelers.

It’s not clear which player the Steelers would be targeting if they were to move up in the second round, but Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets that the team has its eye on a particular cornerback, and may have to move up to land him. If Pittsburgh doesn’t get that player, the team may wait until the third round to take a corner, according to Dulac.

There’s no shortage of teams that may have interest in moving up in the second round. Earlier today, Marc Sessler of NFL.com identified the Cowboys, Browns, Cardinals, Lions, and Saints as candidates to trade up; other clubs that have an excess of picks and may not want to use them all include the Colts, Texans, 49ers, Chiefs, and Broncos.

Draft Rumors: K. Johnson, Hundley, Peters

April 30th, 2015 at 7:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest draft notes…

  • The ceiling for Wake Forest corner Kevin Johnson is the Dolphins at pick No. 14, while his floor is the Steelers with the 22nd pick, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
  • With the Browns considered likely to select a quarterback at some point in the draft, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com tweets that the club showed “absolutely zero interest” in UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley.
  • The Saints have been trying to trade up for a pass rusher, and might have Vic Beasley in mind, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • Marcus Peters is not on the Cowboys’ draft board, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Draft Rumors: Collins, Gregory, DGB, Spain

April 30th, 2015 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

There’s “some suspicion” that LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins may go undrafted all three days this weekend, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Even though Collins is not considered a suspect in a Louisiana police investigation, the case involves a shooting death and NFL investigators haven’t been able to uncover much info on it, so teams figure to play it safe until they know more. In an effort to buy time to clear his name, Collins asked for permission to withdraw from his draft and be eligible for the supplemental draft instead, but the league denied that request.

Here’s more on the draft:

  • A personnel man whose team has a top-10 pick tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) that his team is preparing to draft Nebraska edge rusher Randy Gregory tonight. “We’re not going to let him get past us,” Getlin’s source said. That sounds like it could be a smoke screen, given all the negative reports swirling around Gregory this week. Still, according to Getlin, this personnel man believes Gregory may be the most talented player in the draft, likening him to Derrick Brooks and Jason Taylor (Twitter links).
  • A source close to Dorial Green-Beckham‘s camp tells Danny Parkins of 610 AM in Kansas City (Twitter link) that the Chiefs, Cowboys, Bengals, Texans, and 49ers have shown “a lot” of interest in the young wideout within the last 36 hours.
  • West Virginia offensive lineman Quinton Spain, who received a fourth-round grade from some teams, worked out for the Jets, Steelers, Bengals, Titans, Falcons, and Buccaneers, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
  • Albert Breer of the NFL Network identifies six teams he believes can control this year’s draft.
Load More Posts