The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that they have signed rookie defensive tackle Yahya Black to his rookie contract. The team has now signed all of its rookies except for Derrick Harmon.
Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said between the picks of Harmon, Black, and edge rusher Jack Sawyer, the team noticed they had to get dominant up front.
“We felt we needed to get dominant up front.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74044298/usa_today_25531046.0.jpg)
Black and Harmon, especially, will help bring the team’s run defense up a level. That comes after the Baltimore Ravens ran for 299 yards on the ground against the Steelers, torching them in their Wild Card playoff game.
Black is a nose tackle type the team saw down at the Senior Bowl. A strong player, he can play anywhere from 0-technique to 4i and is a perfect fit for the Steelers’ defense. He will join Logan Lee on the defense and is now the third Hawkeye to join the Steelers after the team picked running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round.
The Steelers’ focus in the trenches is clear, as they have selected three players who will see snaps on the defensive front. Black is another pre-draft visitor who was at the Senior Bowl.
