PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Pittsburgh Steelers still have a hole on their defensive line, but the team might hold one player in much higher regard than the public. That would be defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale, who was signed to a one-year deal.
Head coach Mike Tomlin praised Ekuale for being a game-changer on the defensive line, especially as a run defender at the point of attack.
"This is a guy that really plays blocks and recognizes run schemes extremely well. I expect him to be an anchor point for us in that regard to control the line of scrimmage particularly in run down circumstances. I think his resume really reflects that," Tomlin said.
General manager Omar Khan also expressed confidence in Ekuale as an answer for what he could bring to the table.
"I like the group we have. We did sign [Daniel] Ekuale,“ Khan said. ”He’s done some really good things."
Ekuale is a seven-year veteran and has played with the Patriots since 2021. He started 16 games for the team a year ago after they were ravaged by injuries.
Ekuale has played anywhere from nose tackle to five-technique but should play between five-technique and three-technique for the team.
Ekuale, 31, had 52 tackles and just one sack. He had 16 pressures while adding 26 run stops. Both of those numbers are equal to or better than Larry Ogunjobi’s numbers.
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