Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed defense tackle Jahvaree Ritzie to a reserve/future contract for the 2026 season, the team announced on Thursday.
Ritzie, 22, was an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina last spring, signing with the New England Patriots. He spent some time on the New England practice squad this year before being released.
A 6-foot-4, 294-pound defensive tackle, Ritzie spent four seasons at North Carolina and was a three-year starter.
He broke out statistically as a senior in 2024, posting 40 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and he returned an interception for a touchdown.
🚨 BIG MAN TOUCHDOWN 🚨
JAHVAREE RITZIE WITH THE 84-YARD PICK-6!!! pic.twitter.com/2sJJbIwOyc
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) October 26, 2024
Ritzie is a bit undersized for a defensive tackle, checking in at 294 pounds in pre-draft testing. Unsurprisingly, he showed outstanding athleticism, posting a 5-second 40-yard-dash, a 35.5-inch vertical and 9-foot-6 broad jump for an overall 9.49 Relative Athletic Score out of 10.
His most comparable physical player, according to RAS, is Los Angeles Rams star Braden Fiske.
Obviously, Ritzie has yet to turn that athleticism into production at the NFL level, but he remains a high-upside swing for the Steelers on a futures contract.
The Steelers hosted Ritzie for a tryout in late December, along with three other defensive linemen. He’s the only one the four to earn a contract so far.
The Steelers’ 90-man offseason roster currently stands at 86 players.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Sign Freakishly Athletic Defensive Tackle
