PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers agree with a second offensive lineman from outside the organization, and another that plays inside. James Daniels leaves the Bears to sign for three-years, $26.5 million with the Steelers on Wednesday.
Daniels is the fourth highest rated free agent guard according to Pro Football Focus who graded him 19th best among all guards in 2021. He started all 17 games for the Bears coming back from missing two-thirds of the 2020 season due to a torn pectoral muscle.
A former Iowa star, Daniels is just 24-years-old and has started 48 of the 54 NFL games he’s played, all with Chicago. Known for his run blocking, he’s 6’4”, 327-pounds and has the versatility to play center. Daniels grew up about and hour-and-a-half from Pittsburgh in Warren, Ohio and he had a brother that played running back at Iowa.
Daniels will be reunited with his three-year starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
The Steelers re-signed offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor for nearly 30 million over three years. Center/guard Mason Cole for three years, $15.75 million and now Daniels for three years, $26.5 million. The numbers all courtesy of spotrac.com. They are also all young, Okorafor is also 24 and Cole is 25.
Like Cole, Daniels will have to wait until 4p on Wednesday to sign.