Today, the Pittsburgh Steelers gave Larry Ogunjobi a one-year contract to strengthen their defensive line for the 2022 season.
The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals is one of the best in NFL history. When these two AFC North teams meet on the field, they always seem to deliver, resulting in some of the league’s best moments.
Even though there is no football being played right now, the rivalry is still alive and well. Pittsburgh dealt their AFC North rivals a blow this afternoon when they snagged Larry Ogunjobi in free agency.
Ogunjobi signed a one-year contract to join the “Steel Curtain,” and he is expected to start on the Steelers’ defensive line.
With the addition of Larry Ogunjobi, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense appears to be quite dangerous
Ogunjobi has quietly developed into a solid interior lineman who excels at rushing the passer over the first five years of his career.
Ogunjobi signed with the Bengals after spending his first four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, and he ended up having the best season of his career for them. He had 49 tackles and seven sacks on the season, demonstrating his ability to defend both the run and the pass.
Ogunjobi was set to sign with the Chicago Bears earlier this offseason, but that deal fell through due to a failed physical. Pittsburgh will have to keep an eye on that, but assuming Ogunjobi is in good health, this deal makes a lot of sense.
Cameron Heyward is still one of the best defensive linemen in the game, but he didn’t have much help in 2022.
Chris Wormley was a defensive tackle last season, but he’ll likely move to defensive end to make room for Ogunjobi. Ogunjobi’s versatility on the offensive line will be a huge asset for the Steelers, and his addition fills one of the team’s final defensive holes.
Pittsburgh’s linebacker corps, which includes T.J. Watt, Devin Bush, and Myles Jack, is one of the best in the league and should help the defensive line regardless of the situation.
Pittsburgh could use some help at cornerback, but their starting safety tandem of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds should keep things under control in the secondary.
Losing Ogunjobi to a division rival is unfortunate, but the Bengals are still in a good position without him.
After being injured in Cincinnati’s wild-card game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Ogunjobi missed the majority of the postseason, but B.J. Hill did a good job filling in. Cincinnati decided to move on without Ogunjobi because D.J. Reader filled the other defensive tackle spot.
Following that, did Trevor Lawrence really lose $15 million in the cryptocurrency crash?
The Steelers were in desperate need of a versatile d-lineman, and Ogunjobi fits the bill. The Bengals may have won the Super Bowl last year, but the Steelers are determined to show that they can still compete with their divisional rival.
While it may not be the biggest move in history, the rivalry between these two teams is still alive and well, and it should lead to some exciting football this season.
