Report: Steelers sign a pair of former XFL players

With the restrictions on NFL teams and how they can conduct business when it comes to signing players, often times news breaks of an agreement days before anything is official. For example, it took more than a week for Derek Watt to officially sign his contract with the Steelers after it was reported he was coming to Pittsburgh. With this in mind, the Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly signing XFL sack leader Cavon Walker to a one-year deal according to NFL Draft Diamonds.

In the five XFL games in which Walker played before the season was canceled, he registered 4.5 sacks with 19 tackles. After finishing his collegiate career at the University of Maryland, Walker spent time in training camp with the Chicago Bears in 2018 and Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

Originally a linebacker his first two years playing for the Terrapins, Walker transitioned to defensive tackle. His official measurements according to the XFL are 6’2” and 284 pounds which is slightly undersized for an NFL defensive lineman.

While this signing is of note because it is a player added to the roster, Walker will be much in the mode of the players the Steelers signed in 2019 coming out of the AAF. While not all of the AAF players made the squad, Kam Kelly and J.C. Hassenauer did spend time on the Steelers 53-man roster in 2019.

If nothing else, the Steelers have a little bit more defensive line depth going into training camp come July. Whether or not Walker’s success in the XFL will translate to the next level is something to check out in Latrobe.

The Steelers also reportedly signed offense of tackle Jarron Jones from of the New York Guardians.

A defensive tackle out of Notre Dame, Jones spent his first NFL offseason with the New York Giants. After a brief stay on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad as an offensive tackle, Jones spent the majority of 2017 on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. After stints on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, and Detroit Lions practice squads in 2018, Jones failed to land another job after spending part of the 2019 offseason with the Buffalo Bills.

At 6‘5“ and 316 pounds, Jones will get the opportunity to earn a spot with the Steelers this offseason to add depth on the offensive line. It is believed the extra experience Jones gained in the XFL after changing positions since college could be the extra push needed to stick on an NFL roster.

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