Anthony Averett is back in the AFC North.
According to multiple reports including NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, veteran cornerback Anthony Averett is joining the Pittsburgh Steelers following a successful tryout at the team’s rookie minicamp over the weekend.
After a minicamp tryout, the #Steelers have signed veteran DB Anthony Averett, most recently of the #Lions and #49ers.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 12, 2024
Averett began his career with the Ravens after being selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He provided quality depth during his tenure with the team, working his way up from a core special teams contributor to earning the trust of the coaching staff to be a full-time starter in 2021 after three-time Pro Bowler Marcus Peters suffered a torn ACL prior to the start of the season.
In just 14 games, Averett made the most of the opportunity by putting up career-best numbers before suffering an injury that caused him to miss the final two games of the year. He started every game and finished with 54 total tackles, 11 pass breakups and a team-leading three interceptions.
.@antaverettjr_ INT❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️
Tune in on CBS! pic.twitter.com/To1C6z3SfQ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 12, 2021
Surprisingly, he didn’t get signed a sizable deal after his breakout season and since leaving Baltimore, he has bounced around the league a bit having spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. Injuries hampered him at times during his time with the Ravens and continued to do so after he departed as he has only appeared in seven games over the past two years with just six starts, all of which came with the Raiders in the first half of the 2022 regular season.
The 29-year-old joins a Steelers defense where he will be reunited with former Ravens teammates, strong safety DeShon Elliott and inside linebacker Patrick Queen, as well as his former college teammate, free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Averett’s chances of making the final roster in Pittsburgh are pretty high if he stays healthy and continues to prove himself as the team’s depth at cornerback is shallow behind projected starters Joey Porter Jr. who is entering his second season and veteran Donte Jackson who was traded for this offseason.