New DL Sebastian Joseph-Day will be a great resource for the Steelers’ defensive line in several ways, Cam Heyward believes. Discussing the recent free agent signing on his Not Just Football podcast, he seemed pretty pumped about his new teammate. Another older veteran player who can still play, even he wants to pick his brain.
“He’s a guy who has played for multiple teams but had a lot of success everywhere he’s gone”, Heyward said of Joseph-Day. “Plays with good hands, is able to shed blocks, get off blocks, tackle well. He’s got a good motor, too. Adding him to the group, I think, is huge”.
The Steelers signed Sebastian Joseph-Day to a two-year, $11 million contract. It’s the third-largest contract they’ve given out in free agency, behind CB Jamel Dean and Rico Dowdle. A 2019 sixth-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams, he has also played for the Chargers, 49ers, and Titans. Along the way, he has played with some of the best in the game. And Heyward wants to hear those stories as much as he wants him to pass his wisdom on to the younger players.
“It’s an extra set of eyes of what we’re all doing. It’s not just me saying it”, Heyward said of Sebastian-Day. “Dude has experienced a lot. He’s played with guys like Aaron Donald; he’s played with guys like Ndamukong Suh. He’s played with Jeffery Simmons. All really good players, but with that, he’s probably stolen some stuff along the way, and it made him better”.
Joseph-Day’s experience has been very different from Cam Heyward. A first-round pick in 2011, he has only ever played for the Steelers, going into Year 16. But he’s still playing at a high level, earning a second-team All-Pro nod last season.
For his part, Sebastian Joseph-Day also talked about the leadership he can bring through his varied experiences. “It’s just about being authentic, being yourself, not pushing it upon anyone”, he said. “If they come to me and I could pour some knowledge that was poured into me my rookie year by Aaron [Donald] and [Ndamukong] Suh and Michael Brockers, then so be it”.
With the addition of Joseph-Day, the Steelers are building a strong defensive line. They have Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Derrick Harmon starting, and Yahya Black and Joseph-Day rotating in. The final roster spot or two is up for grabs, but Esezi Otomewo and Logan Lee are two contenders.
Sebastian Joseph-Day has 90 career starts in 105 games, logging 3,510 snaps. He has 314 career tackles, including 30 for loss, with 15.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. Last season, he recorded 2 sacks and 6 tackles for loss across 484 snaps for the Titans.
How do the Steelers evaluate their current defensive line room, though? With 12 draft picks, they probably feel comfortable adding at least one more player to the mix. While they have occasionally carried seven into the season, six is the norm. Joseph-Day will certainly be among the backups, and Black is a safe bet. But there will be one other, likely a younger one, and Joseph-Day will be there to teach him up. And maybe even teach Heyward a thing or two.
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