All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2021 offseason roster.
61 • Aviante Collins, fourth-year offensive lineman
6-foot-4, 292 pounds
Acquired: The Steelers signed Collins to a reserve/future contract for the 2021 season on Feb. 2.
Last season: Was elevated to the active roster one time for the Minnesota Vikings, but did not play. Spent the rest of the season on Minnesota’s practice squad.
Career: Signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and played in three games with Minnesota in 2017 and two more in 2019. He missed all of the 2018 season with an elbow injury suffered in practice in early September. Collins is listed as both a guard and tackle.
College: Played in 49 games over five seasons with TCU. Was also a member of the school’s track and field team as a shot-putter.
Camp outlook: Starters Zach Banner and Chukwuma Okorafor and top backups Joe Haeg and Dan Moore Jr. seem relatively set at tackle, but the Steelers will likely keep two more players around on the practice squad, and the competition for those spots appears wide open, even though 2020 incumbents Anthony Coyle and Jarron Jones remain on the team.
Collins’ ability to move inside and play guard is also an asset, as the Steelers have significantly less depth signed on the interior.
Future: Collins will be a restricted free agent after the 2021 season.
The rest of the 90:
