Steelers Sign Free Agent CB Breon Borders

The Steelers have signed free agent cornerback Breon Borders, one of four signings announced by the team on Thursday.

Borders, 24, will be on his sixth NFL team, having previously spent time with the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins since leaving Duke after the 2016 season.

The 6-foot, 190-pound corner started the 2019 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and played in 11 games, making one start and recorded seven tackles. He was waived on Dec. 3 and placed on the Jaguars’ practice squad until being picked up by the Redskins on Dec. 24 for one final game. He was released by Washington on March 23.

In 2018, he was cut from Buffalo Bills training camp, went to the Houston Texans practice squad and then to the Jaguars practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster and made his first NFL appearance on Dec. 23.

Borders originally signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent, but was waived and signed to the practice squad at the outset of his first NFL training camp in 2017. He was signed from the Raiders’ practice squad by the Bills on Dec. 16, but did not play.

In four seasons at Duke, Borders played in 49 games and made 35 starts and was an All-ACC selection at cornerback as a senior in 2016. He finished with 148 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, 12 interceptions, 34 passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

With the loss of cornerback Artie Burns to free agency from the 2019 team, the Steelers will have at least one cornerback position open this year. After starters Joe Haden and Steven Nelson, slot corners Mike Hilton and Cameron Sutton and reserve Justin Layne, only practice squad alum Alexander Myres returns for the sixth cornerback spot.