NY Giants Release former Steelers Draft Pick, OLB Quincy Roche

The New York Giants are set to release former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Quincy Roche, according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Roche was the Steelers’ sixth-round draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but was released this time last year and claimed on waivers by the Giants.

With New York, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound edge rusher played in 14 games and made three starts. He finished his rookie year with 38 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hits and a forced fumble.

The Steelers have struggled with edge rusher depth ever since losing Roche on waivers, as Jamir Jones was also claimed and then Melvin Ingram requested a trade. The Steelers brought in Genard Avery for that spot this year, but he was released in the team’s second round of cuts last Tuesday.

Right now, Derrek Tuszka, Delontae Scott and Hamilcar Rashed Jr. are competing for what is likely two backup spots behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, and the depth at the position is critical, as Highsmith missed the preseason with a rib injury and Watt suffered what appears to be a minor knee injury on Sunday.

The Steelers must cut down to 53 players this afternoon by 4 p.m. Players released today will be processed through waivers tomorrow at noon. 

Roche came to the Steelers after playing one season at Miami in 2020 as a redshirt senior. He started 10 games for the Hurricanes and finished with 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks while earning third-team All-ACC honors. He also forced two fumbles and recovered three.

Before Miami, he played three seasons at Temple and had 26 sacks, 39.5 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

Roche is still under his rookie contract, which runs through 2024. He will count for $825,000 against the 2022 salary cap to a claiming team.