Steelers to Host Standout XFL Defensive Lineman for Tryout

The Steelers will host former Atlanta Falcons and Orlando Guardians defensive end Stansly Maponga for a tryout workout, according to a report by XFL Analyst.

Maponga played in 10 games and started nine for them over the 2023 season. During those 10 games, he racked up 2.5 sacks on 22 tackles. In addition, he posted 19 pressures over those games. According to the report, multiple teams are interested in Maponga with the Steelers being the team that will host him for a tryout first. He will workout for the Detroit Lions as well.

Maponga, 32, has been around the NFL before. He came into the league in 2013 with the Falcons after being selected in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. A Zimbabwean-born player, Maponga came out of TCU, where he played for the Horned Frogs for four seasons from 2009 to 2013.

After leaving the Falcons in 2015, he joined the New York Giants, where he would remain with the team through the 2017 season. In 2018, he would bounce from there to the Denver Broncos but never ended up playing a game for the Broncos. After that, he would head to the XFL in 2020 to join the Seattle Dragons. In 2021, he joined the CFL and the Ottawa Redblacks. Maponga took the 2022 season off before joining the XFL and the Guardians.

As it stands in his NFL career, he has plenty of experience, but only one sack in 2014 with the Falcons. He has played in 26 NFL games overall and at 32 is now trying to get back into the NFL.

The Steelers have a roster spot open. They have brought in a few players this last week, including Alfonzo Graham and Mason Rudolph re-signing with the team. Maponga could be a candidate to become the last player on the roster ahead of OTAs, which start on Tuesday. It seems likely the team will fill that spot before OTAs kick off that morning.