After a good audition during the team’s rookie minicamp over the weekend, veteran cornerback Anthony Averett is joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a number of sources, including one from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
After being chosen out of Alabama in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Averett started his career with the Ravens. After three-time Pro Bowler Marcus Peters suffered a ruptured ACL before the season began, he rose from being a key special teams player to winning the coaching staff’s faith to be a full-time starter in 2021. During his time with the team, he contributed great depth.
Averett took full advantage of the opportunity, setting career highs in just 14 games before sustaining an injury that kept him out of the last two games of the campaign. In the end, he recorded 54 total tackles, 11 pass breakups, and a team-high three interceptions. He started every game.
After his breakout season, he was surprisingly not signed to a big contract. Since leaving Baltimore, he has been all over the league, playing for the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Las Vegas Raiders. He struggled with injuries both during and after his time with the Ravens, as evidenced by the fact that he has only played in seven games with six starts in the last two years, all of which came against the Raiders in the first half of the 2022 regular season.
Along with inside linebacker Patrick Queen and strong safety DeShon Elliott from the Ravens, as well as free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was his college roommate, the 29-year-old joins the Steelers defence. The team’s depth at cornerback is limited behind projected starters Joey Porter Jr., who is starting his second season, and veteran Donte Jackson, who was acquired this offseason. If Averett stays healthy and keeps proving himself, he has a good chance of making the final roster in Pittsburgh.
