Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed outside linebacker Vic So’oto and running back Tauren Poole to Reserve/Future contracts earlier this afternoon according to the team’s official website.
The Steelers need as much depth as possible at outside linebacker at the moment, so bringing someone like So’oto to compete for a roster spot makes sense. Both Jason Worilds and Jamaal Westerman will be free agents this spring, and Chris Carter will reach that status in March of 2015.
The former B.Y.U. Cougar (6’3″ 263 lbs.) has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals, and I will be interested to see how much heat the 27-year-old outside linebacker can put on guys like Carter during the coming months.
Poole (5’10” 209 lbs.) could also be a solid pickup for a team who might be in need of running back depth as well. Jonathan Dywer, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Felix Jones will all be free agents in just under two months. Thus, the Steelers could need some more players to compete with Alvester Alexander and Miguel Maysonet during the spring and summer at the running back position.
Poole spent most of his rookie campaign on Reserve/Injured list (ribs) with the Carolina Panthers back in 2012, and he spent most of the 2013 campaign on the practice squads of the Panthers and Indianapolis Colts. If the depth is thin at running back and the team elects to not fill the need during the upcoming draft, Poole could be in line to compete for a roster spot this summer.
Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com, Spotrac and Pro Football Reference
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