Steelers add a defensive lineman to their offseason roster

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to build the roster ahead of the 2021 NFL draft later this month. In their latest move, the Steelers have signed defensive end T.J. Carter.

Carter went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft and was signed by the Arizona Cardinals. Unfortunately, when teams were forced to cut their rosters down to 80 players due to the COVID-19 pandemic instead of the typical 90 during training camp, Carter was released by Arizona. Carter also spent some time with the New Orleans Saints during training camp, but ultimately did not make the roster or practice squad.

In four years at Kentucky, Carter had 6.0 sacks and five passes defensed along with 71 tackles, 12 of which were for a loss.

Carter recently performed at Kentucky’s Pro Day this spring. Players who were unable to participate in their schools Pro Day in 2020 due to cancellations, and are not currently under contract in the NFL, were allowed to participate this offseason.

Carter enters a very crowded defensive line room for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Carrying seven players on the active roster in 2020, which was one more than they typically have on the active roster, the Steelers have returned all of their players from last season‘s roster as well as Calvin Taylor and Demarcus Christmas from the 2020 practice squad.

The exact financials of Carter‘s contract are not known at this time, but will most certainly not land him in the top 51 contracts on the team and therefore will not count against the teams current salary cap.

With the addition of T.J. Carter, the Steelers now have 72 players under contract at this time.

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