Steelers Sign Texas Safety P.J. Locke III

The Steelers signed undrafted free agent safety P.J. Locke III on Monday, making 11 UDFA players to sign with the team since the close of the 2019 NFL Draft over the weekend.

Locke, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound safety from the University of Texas, played in 47 games and made 31 starts for the Longhorns over the last four seasons.

“God is good,” Locke said in a video on his Twitter account. “It’s been the longest three days of my life. I just want to thank the Steelers for welcoming me into this organization and believing in me.”

The Beaumont, Texas native finished his senior season third on the team with 77 tackles and had 5.5 tackles for loss, one-half sack, two forced fumbles, three passes defended and an interception in Texas’ Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia. Locke was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection after his senior year.

OH GOODNESS P.J. LOCKE III IS STEALING LUNCH MONEY pic.twitter.com/Bq0ggOHZR0

— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) September 9, 2018

The Steelers did not select a safety in the draft and picked just one defensive back: Michigan State cornerback Justin Layne in the third round.

Aliquippa and West Virginia alum Dravon Askew-Henry was also signed as an undrafted safety. They’ll join Marcus Allen, Marcellis Branch, Jordan Dangerfield, Sean Davis, Terrell Edmunds and Jack Tocho on the Steelers’ roster in 2019.

Davis and Edmunds are the returning starters while Dangerfield played in all 16 games and made one start. Allen played in two games after a hamstring injury limited him throughout the offseason.

Branch and Tocho are new to the team. Branch was signed to a reserve/futures contract in January and is a Robert Morris alum. He spent training camp in 2018 with Atlanta. Tocho was signed from the roster of the Birmingham Iron after the AAF folded.

This story has been updated.