The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-signing DL Esezi Otomewo, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero through Otomewo’s agency.
Otomewo was a pending restricted free agent. Based on the wording of Pelissero’s tweet, Otomewo is signing a contract sans any tender implications, meaning no team can even try to sign him away. Contract details aren’t yet known but the deal is likely for the minimum or close to it. An original round/right of first refusal tender would’ve cost Pittsburgh $3.52 million.
The deal comes on his 27th birthday, a great gift to ring in his new age.
Inked to a one-year deal last offseason, Otomewo appeared in 12 games as a rotational and reserve defensive lineman. He recorded nine tackles and one sack. Per our charting, he tallied five pressures.
A plus athlete, Otomewo saw snaps in pass rushing situations and occasionally dropped into coverage. Overcoming a summer knee injury suffered during the first padded practice, he made the 53-man roster. Otomewo was inactive to begin the season, but replaced Logan Lee after the bye and worked his way into the rotation. He played a season-high 35 snaps in Pittsburgh’s Week 14 win against the Baltimore Ravens, recording two tackles in the victory.
A fifth round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, Otomewo has appeared in 21 career games with two starts, the latter coming in 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Otomewo will provide defensive line depth. Pittsburgh has three starters in Cam Heyward – assuming he returns and doesn’t retire – Derrick Harmon and Keeanu Benton. Yahya Black is a top backup but names behind are unclear. Isaiahh Loudermilk and Daniel Ekuale are pending free agents. Both are coming off 2025 injuries.
Otomewo is the third Steeler to reportedly re-sign with Pittsburgh. Earlier Monday, CB Asante Samuel Jr. and ILB Cole Holcomb agreed to return. Holcomb is signing a two-year deal while Samuel’s contract is for one year.
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