The Steelers have released defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. Pittsburgh is also making an addition to its front seven by agreeing to sign linebacker Malik Harrison to a two-year, $10MM deal (via Rapoport’s NFL Media colleagues, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo).
Ogunjobi, who is entering his age-31 season, has spent his entire eight-year career in the AFC North. A third-round pick of the Browns in 2017, the Charlotte alum finished out his four-year rookie pact in Cleveland before joining the Bengals on a one-year accord in 2021. He produced a career-high seven sacks that season, and it initially looked as if he would parlay that statistical success into a three-year, $40.5MM contract with the Bears.
Unfortunately, a foot injury suffered in a playoff game with Cincinnati caused enough lingering issues to compel the Bears to nix the deal, and Ogunjobi ultimately landed with Pittsburgh on a one-year, $8MM pact. He signed a three-year, $28.75MM contract with the Steelers the following offseason, though he will not see the final year of the deal. By releasing Ogunjobi now, Pittsburgh will avoid paying out a $3MM roster bonus due on March 15 and his $4MM base salary for 2025. In all, the club willl save $7MM against the cap and will take on a $3.5MM dead money hit.
Ogunjobi has never been an advanced metrics darling, but the 48.3 overall grade he received from Pro Football Focus for his 2024 work was especially low and positioned him as the 94th-best interior DL out of 118 qualifiers. Still, with 108 starts to his name, he should be able to find a new employer seeking an established interior presence. The Steelers, who will again rely on soon-to-be 36-year-old Cameron Heyward to anchor their defensive front, will surely be on the lookout for DL help early in the draft.
The Steelers got to see Harrison more frequently than most during his first five seasons in the league. The former Ravens draftee functioned primarily as a rotational defender during his Baltimore tenure, though he did see a career-high 38% defensive snap share in 2024. Much of that work came in the latter half of the season, as Baltimore pivoted to Harrison to replace the struggling Trenton Simpson as Roquan Smith‘s primary running mate.
This is the second offseason in a row in which Pittsburgh has poached a free agent linebacker from its longtime rival. The club signed Patrick Queen last year, and now Harrison will likely operate behind Queen and 2024 third-rounder Payton Wilson. Having earned over 300 special teams snaps in each of his five pro seasons, he will likely be asked to take on a meaningful third phase role as well.
Harrison must be a good special teamer because this seems like an extremely worthless signing , even if they needed a linebacker.. which they don’t.
Interesting to hear all about the guy leaving and nothing about the new guy. Do you normally write obituaries?
The “more to come” notation at the bottom of the article could be helpful to you. And yes, releasing a full-time starter is at least arguably as noteworthy as adding a reserve/fill-in starter.
The Steelers only moves have been for a 4th string OLB and a washed-up CB. The DK Metcalf trade is still for naught without a QB and we’re gonna end up with either Minshew or Rodgers most likely. Was there ever a plan?
Tomlin making it up as he goes along.
LOL, it won’t be Minshew..come on now.
I’m guessing that what someone said on another thread is true: it’s gonna be Wilson but need him to drop his asking price. Too much history with Metcalf for that to be discounted.
He can come back to Cleveland. Lord knows we need the help. Garrett?? All a ploy to get more jing.
Local media says the Steelers signed Slay. No word of that anywhere
Larry did not have a very good year last year, but I thought he was mostly good his first 2 years. He’s inconsistent but it’s always been about either injuries or overuse, not lack of effort.