Breaking: Steelers Host Former Bengals Defensive Lineman Larry Ogunjobi

Story by Anthony DiCerbo. Follow him on Twitter @snarfvenom

The Steelers have a visitor today in free agent defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi. The Steelers, who currently have an open spot on the 90-man roster, might be interested in signing the veteran to help secure some depth following the retirement of Stephon Tuitt.

This offseason hasn’t gone exactly to plan for Ogunjobi. The defensive lineman played for the Bengals last season, but suffered a foot injury in their playoff win over the Raiders. He would then miss the rest of the postseason, and later had surgery on the injured foot.

Once free agency opened Ogunjobi seemingly parlayed his career-high 7 sack season last year into a 3-year $40.5 million dollar contract with the Chicago Bears, but the deal fell through due to a failed physical, likely due to the foot injury.

Since then it’s been a waiting game for Ogunjobi. He has previously visited with the New York Jets, but left there without a deal, and now he finds himself on a visit to the Steel City, and potentially his third AFC North team.

Ogunjobi was originally drafted in the third round by the Browns. He spent the first four seasons of his career in Cleveland. He signed a one-year deal for $6.2 million with the Bengals, with the goal of landing a big contract after that one season in Cincinnati.

If Omar Khan and the Steelers were to strike a deal with Ogunjobi it would have a similar feel as the team signing Trai Turner last fall. That being said, Ogunjobi and Turner are very different players, but the signings would come after players that many were hoping to return either retired or were forced away from the game.

A key difference would be that Ogunjobi would not be an every-down player like Turner was last season. The Steelers rotate their defensive line fairly frequently, and the Steelers are clearly very comfortable with Chris Wormley starting alongside Cam Heyward.

Ogunjobi would be able to provide the Steelers with some additional pass rush and run defense, and it would allow the team to take their time with players like DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk

Ogunjobi also comes with a lot of starting experience, which outside of Cam Heyward, Chris Wormley, and Tyson Alualu the Steelers don’t have a lot of on the defensive line.

Assuming that his health checks out Ogunjobi would be a solid signing this late into the offseason. The Steelers have the cap space and a roster spot available to get a deal done, but nothing is done yet.