Larry Ogunjobi is now one team short of the AFC North cycle. The former Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle met with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, and the visit produced an agreement.
The sixth-year veteran agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. This addition comes not long after longtime Steelers defensive line starter Stephon Tuitt announced his retirement.
For Ogunjobi, this represents an end to his lengthy free agency stay. The veteran starter reached an agreement to join the Chicago Bears earlier this offseason, but an issue with his physical nixed the deal. Ogunjobi, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in the Bengals’ playoff win over the Las Vegas Raiders, then spent the next three months looking for another gig.
The New York Jets also hosted Ogunjobi, but the Steelers will make him part of their post-Tuitt equation. Pittsburgh used Chris Wormley extensively in place of Tuitt last season. The Steelers struggled to stop the run, ranking last in that department in 2021. They have now added Ogunjobi and third-round defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal this offseason, though Tuitt walking away before his 30th birthday could still sting.
This Pittsburgh agreement almost certainly is far off the pact Ogunjobi had in place with Chicago (three years, $40.5M). On that end, this offseason represents a major blow for the 28-year-old defender. The former Browns third-round pick entered free agency for the first time when the salary cap plummeted due to the pandemic and saw a lingering injury harpoon a lucrative contract a year later. That will make Ogunjobi’s work with the Steelers pivotal for his future earning potential.
More must-reads: