Steelers Work Out Two Edge Rushers
The Pittsburgh Steelers worked out guard Nourdein Nouili, edge rusher Kenneth Odumegwu, edge rusher Adetokunbo Ogundeji and safety Ayo Oyelola on Thursday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
Nouili started 11 games in his final season at Nebraska in 2023, missing one start (Purdue) due to injury. He started 10 games at right guard before starting at left guard against Iowa. Nouili went undrafted in 2024 and signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent.
Nouili, who’s a German native, walked on at Nebraska after spending the 2019 season at Colorado State. Nouili played in eight games with seven starts at offensive guard as a true freshman for the Rams.
Odumegwu and Oyelola are both International Player Pathway Program players. Odumegwu is Nigerian native, while Oyelola was born in the United Kingdom.
Odumegwu was allocated to the Green Bay Packers through the IPPP in May of 2023. He appeared in the team’s preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals, playing 14 combined snaps (12 defense, two special teams) in his first organized football game. Odumegwu spent the entire 2023 season on the Packers practice squad and was signed to a reserve/future contract in January. He was released on Aug. 21.
Oyelola was allocated to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, and spent the entire 2023 season on the club’s practice squad. Prior to joining the Jaguars, Oyelola played with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL
Ogundeji was a fifth-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He has 27 starts in 35 career games under his belt. In 2022, he recorded 42 total tackles (19 solos), two sacks, and three tackles for loss. Ogundeji played under Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Atlanta.
Ogundeji spent the entire 2023 season on injured reserve. He was released by the Falcons on May 16.
The Steelers have three outside linebackers on the initial 53-man roster in T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, so they could be looking for a fourth edge rusher.