The Pittsburgh Steelers added an option with NFL experience to the competition for their vacant nickel/slot cornerback job in signing Grayland Arnold to a one-year contract Wednesday.
Arnold, who will be 27 by the time the regular season begins, has appeared in 26 NFL regular-season games. Though he was with the Houston Texans the past three seasons, Arnold broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. He joins a lengthy list of former Eagles who have joined the Steelers since assistant general manager Andy Weidl was hired away from Philadelphia.
The only stretch during which the 5-foot-10, 176-pound Arnold was a regular contributor to an NFL defense was early last season when he served as the nickel for Houston — including during a 30-6 victory against the Steelers on Oct. 1. But a calf injury led to Arnold spending much of the season on the injured reserve list.
After his first organized team activities session with the Steelers on Wednesday, Arnold said he had verbally agreed to join the Steelers while he was briefly on the market during November of last season but the Texans hurriedly worked to retain him to assist with their secondary depth.
According to Pro Football Focus, a significant majority (149) of the 228 career defensive snaps Arnold has played in the NFL have been from the slot.
“I am here for whatever coach might need me to do – wherever,” Arnold said of his projected position. “That’s how I built my career, just being a guy who is coachable and willing to do any job, whether its special teams or inside or outside. Whatever the coach needs and whatever the team needs to win, that’s what I like to do.”
The Steelers parted ways this spring with three of last season’s four most-deployed players they used to defend the slot — Chandon Sullivan, Patrick Peterson and Keanu Neal. There was no proven veteran option at the position as organized team activities began 2 ½ weeks ago.
