Steelers sign 5 defenders to reserve/futures contracts

Pittsburgh has expanded their offseason roster with the addition of three defensive backs and two linebackers, according to an announcement by the Steelers. The team has signed defensive backs Thomas Graham Jr., Kalon Barnes, and Josiah Scott, along with linebackers David Perales and Tyler Murray.

All five players have prior connections with the Steelers. Thomas Graham Jr., a cornerback from the University of Oregon, previously had a tryout with Pittsburgh ahead of Week 18. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and has played in 11 games over two seasons, recording 19 total tackles and four passes defensed.

Kalon Barnes, a cornerback drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2022, spent time on the Steelers’ practice squad earlier in the season. Known for his impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.23 seconds, Barnes has moved around the league, spending time with the Dolphins and Vikings since being drafted.

Josiah Scott, another cornerback, returned to the Steelers after a stint on the team’s practice squad/injured list. He played in four games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, recording two total tackles. Scott was a fourth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020.

On the linebacker front, David Perales, a pass-rusher with previous stints on the Steelers’ practice squad, played college football at Fresno State, recording 47 total tackles and 11.5 sacks in his senior year.

Tyler Murray, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Memphis, also spent time on the Steelers’ practice squad in 2023. Before receiving the call from his agent, Murray was working for Amazon. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent, starting all 13 games for the Tigers in his senior season and recording 67 tackles and six tackles for a loss.

After a recent focus on offensive positions in their signings, the Steelers have shifted their attention to bolstering their defensive depth as they kick off the offseason.