Steelers Sign XFL, Michigan Star Corneback

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed cornerback Lavert Hill from the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL, the team announced on Monday, as part of a greater effort to reshape their cornerback depth.

Hill, 24, played for the BattleHawks this spring after a three-year NFL career split between five teams.

The 5-foot-190, 190-pound Michigan product first joined the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He spent three months on the Kansas City practice squad, and also with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020-21, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers in 2021 and Cleveland Browns in 2022.

Hill was waived with an injury designation during Cleveland training camp, ending his season. Through three years on NFL rosters with five different teams, Hill has never played in a regular season game.

He appeared in two preseason games with the Eagles in 2021, including one game against the Steelers, and totaled four tackles, and three with the Browns in 2022, collecting 10 tackles and a hurry.

Joining the XFL this spring, Hill played in 10 games for St. Louis and started four. He recorded two interceptions and 25 tackles and was named an All-XFL cornerback.

The Steelers suffered an injury to slot cornerback Duke Dawson in their preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that appears to be serious. Dawson was waived with an injury designation to make room for Hill on the 90-man offseason roster.

Dawson’s injury leaves the Steelers with just two players at slot cornerback: Chandon Sullivan and Elijah Riley. Hill has played both outside and slot cornerback in his time in the NFL. He played almost exclusively in the slot for St. Louis per PFF.

In addition to adding Hill and waiving Dawson, the Steelers also put cornerback Isaiah Dunn on waivers and reportedly signed former USFL and Minnesota Vikings cornerback  Nevelle Clarke.