Two days after wrapping up a draft in which they selected two defensive tackles, the Pittsburgh Steelers released a veteran at the position, Montravius Adams. The transaction was reported by ESPN.
Adams has played eight NFL seasons, the past 3½ with the Steelers. The release was not surprising in the context of the Steelers having a crowded depth chart at defensive tackle and that Adams — a reserve last season — was due a salary of $2.25 million this season.
In addition to drafting Derrick Harmon in the first round and Yahya Black in Round 6 this past weekend, the Steelers last month signed veteran defensive linemen Esezi Otomewo and Daniel Ekuale in free agency and re-signed fifth-year defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk to a one-year deal.
Only nine players on the current roster had a longer non-interrupted stretch with the Steelers than Adams, who was signed off the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints in November 2021.
Though the Steelers were his fourth organization of that calendar year, Adams quickly proved a good fit in the middle of their defensive line. He started four of the final five games of that season that he played, then started half of the Steelers’ games over the next two seasons before losing his spot in the depth chart to then-rookie second-round pick Keeanu Benton in 2023.
Adams was limited to 11 games last season because of a knee injury.
Adams was arguably the Steelers’ most pure “nose tackle,” but Benton, Ekuale and Black have experience at the position.
Adams will still account for $875,000 of “dead money” on the Steelers’ 2025 salary cap.
