The Pittsburgh Steelers fourth-round pick Calvin Austin III have reached an agreement to sign his four-year rookie contract, the Steelers announced on Monday.
Austin, a former Memphis wide receiver and track star was selected No. 138 overall in the fourth round as the Steelers only awarded compensatory pick. Pittsburgh lost Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton, and Matt Feiler in free agency entering the 2021 season and only signed Joe Haeg and traded for Ahkello Witherspoon.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. OverTheCap projects $705,000 as the estimated financial allocations allotted to the base salary and a $593,728 signing bonus.
Austin, 23, is a 5-foot-9 speedster who ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine. The Memphis, Tennessee native was the fifth-fastest of all players and third fastest wide receiver. Austin was also the best receiver in the three-cone drill, recording a time of 6.65 seconds.
He was a first-team All-AAC selection in both 2021 and 2022 and dynamic on special teams returning punts. Austin returned 29 total punts and averaged 11.1 yards-per-return, scoring two touchdowns in his career.
Austin is second all time in Memphis program history in receiving touchdowns (22) and fourth in receiving yards (2,541). He caught 156 total passes for an average of 16.3 yards-per-reception from 2017 to 2021 during his time with the Tigers. Fellow Steelers Art Maulet and Anthony Miller also attend Memphis.
With the Tigers, Austin worked primarily outside but could be a potential option for the Steelers in the slot with George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, and Chase Claypool in the fold. The versatile receiver could be leaned on heavily in Matt Canada’s second season leading the offensive as the season rolls along.
The Steelers have signed all of their 2022 draft picks other than first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett. Second-round pick George Pickens, third rounder Demarvin Leal, sixth-round tight end/fullback Connor Heyward, along with seventh rounders linebacker Mark Robinson and quarterback Chris Oladokun have all signed four-year contracts with the organization.