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Steelers Make Metcalf Trade, Four FA Signings Official
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made their trade for wide receiver DK Metcalf and four free agent signings official.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made their trade for wide receiver DK Metcalf and four free agent signings official, it was announced on Thursday.
The Steelers addressed their wide receiver situation before free agency even began on Sunday night when they sent a 2025 second-round pick (No. 52 overall) and 2025 seventh-round pick draft pick (No. 223 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Metcalf and a 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 185 overall). Pittsburgh then agreed to sign its new star wide receiver to a 5-year, $150 million deal.
Metcalf, a second-round pick (No. 64 overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft, has surpassed 900 receiving yards during each of his six professional seasons. In 2024, he had 66 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns.
The Steelers also announced the signing of Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay, who was not officially released until Wednesday. That created a small amount of uncertainty that he would sign with Pittsburgh, but those concerns have now been put to bed.
According to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Slay is joining the Steelers on a one-year, $10 million fully guaranteed contract.
The 34-year-old has said he wants to play at least one more season and that will be pairing up with Joey Porter Jr. in Pittsburgh’s secondary.
In 14 games last season, Slay recorded 49 tackles, three tackles for loss, 13 passes defended and one forced fumble.
The Steelers announced the signing of former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Malik Harrison, who agreed to a two-year deal worth $10 million on Monday, as well.
Harrison, 27, was a third-round pick (No. 98 overall) by the Ravens out of Ohio State in 2020 and has spent all five of his NFL seasons in Baltimore.
He has played in 76 games and made 34 starts for the Ravens. In 2024, he played in 15 games and made seven starts, recording two sacks and 54 tackles, which was seventh on the Ravens last season and third among inside linebackers behind Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson.
Pittsburgh then announced the signing of former Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell, who joins the team on a one-year deal.
Gainwell, 25, spent the last four seasons with the Eagles, winning a Super Bowl ring this past February. He originally joined the Eagles as a fifth-round pick out of Memphis in 2021.
In his career, he has rushed for 1,185 yards and 12 touchdowns, maintaining a 4.2 yards per carry average. He’s also caught 102 targets for 721 yards and another score.
This past season, Gainwell played in all 17 games, rushing for 290 yards and one touchdown and catching 16 targets for 116 yards.
The Steelers announced the signing of former New York Jets cornerback Brandin Echols, who agreed to a two-year deal on Wednesday, too.
Echols, 27, was a sixth-round draft pick by the Jets in 2021. He has played in 57 games and started 19 during his time in New York.
The 5-foot-10, 179-pound cornerback has displayed versatility throughout his career, playing on the outside and in the slot as well as on special teams.
In his four-year NFL career, Echols has recorded 121 tackles (91 solo), one fumble recovery, five interceptions, 16 passes defensed and two touchdowns. Last season, he had 40 tackles, two interceptions and three passes defensed in 16 games.
