PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – While waiting for the news of a new quarterback, the Steelers did make a move we hadn't heard of to this point. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, corner Brandin Echols signs with the Steelers with contract details not yet known.
A sixth-round pick out of Kentucky in 2021, Echols has spent his whole career with the Jets. His best year was his rookie season, when he started 14 games with career-highs in tackles (63), solo tackles (50), interceptions (2) and passes defensed (9). Last season, he played 38% of the defense snaps almost exclusively at outside corner. He played 46% of the snaps on special teams playing in 16 games (four starts) with a pair of picks, three passes defensed, 40 tackles (29 solo).
Echols is 5'10", 175 pounds and was ranked the 94th best defensive back in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus where they hammered his tackling ability, rating him as one of the worst in the league. He was ranked ahead of Beanie Bishop-95, Joey Porter, Junior-99 and Donte Jackson-110.
The highest rated Steelers corner, by a mile according to PFF, is 34-year-old, newly signed Darius Slay who got a one-year, $10 million contract as the 23rd best corner in the NFL.
