New Massive Steelers Defensive Lineman Could Play Key Role in 2025: ‘I Expect Him to Be an Anchor Point for Us’
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin touched on the signing of free agent defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale during his media availability at the NFL owner’s meetings earlier this week. He thinks the 6-foot-3, 310-pound veteran could carve out a key role on the defensive line.
“This is a guy that really plays blocks and recognizes run schemes extremely well. I expect him to be an anchor point for us in that regard to control the line of scrimmage particularly in run down circumstances, and I think his resume really reflects that,” Tomlin said.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan also thinks the sky’s the limit for Ekuale.
“I like the group we have. We did sign [Daniel] Ekuale,“ Khan said. ”He’s done some really good things.”
Ekuale, 31, comes to the Steelers after spending the last four seasons with the New England Patriots. He was a full-time starter for the first time in his NFL career in 2024, starting 16 games for the Pats.
Ekuale finished the 2024 season with 52 tackles, two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and one sack — by far the most productive season of his NFL career.
With the Patriots, he split his reps between three-technique and five-technique, which fits the traditional role of defesnive ends in the Steelers defense, and Ekuale could been seen as a replacement for recently released starter Larry Ogunjobi in the Steelers’ defensive rotation. The Steelers are also expected to be active in adding defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Ekuale got his NFL start with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Washington State. He spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad, before making the 53-man roster for the first time in 2019. He appeared in seven games for the Browns that season.
Ekuale was cut by the Browns in 2020, and joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he made his first career sack while playing in nine games.
In 2021, the Jaguars released him and the Patriots signed him to their practice squad. He spent his entire first season in New England on the practice squad, but was elevated to the 53-man roster eight times. After serving a two-game suspension to start the 2022 season, he played the remaining 15 games with the Patriots as a regular part of their defensive line rotation.
A torn biceps limited him to three games in 2023. Last season, Ekuale beat out Jeremiah Pharms for a starting role, and emphasized his pass-rush skillset in the dispersement of his playing time. But the new Pats staff re-signed the younger Pharms to a contract extension this offseason, letting Ekuale hit the open market.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Palm Beach, Fla.