The Pittsburgh Steelers made a second free agent signing on Wednesday and this time it was one of their own as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News is reporting via Twitter that wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery has signed a two-year deal to return to Pittsburgh.
WR Jerricho Cotchery has agreed to a two-year deal with the Steelers, per source. #nyj
— Manish Mehta(@TheJetsStream) April 11, 2012
Cotchery had expressed his desire to return in 2012 following the 2011 season, but was hoping for a longer term deal. He made free agent visits to the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Rams since the free agent signing period started, but obviously did not receive an offer, or an offer that was to his liking.
Cotchery joined the Steelers in 2011 just after the start of training camp after signing a one-year deal for the minimum. He missed time early on in the season after suffering a hamstring injury during his first preseason game. He finished the 2011 season with 16 catches for 237 yards to go along with 2 touchdowns.
The signing of Cotchery fills a key spot on the Steelers 2012 depth chart after veteran Hines Ward was released prior to the start of free agency. The Steelers look more and more likely to retain restricted free agent Mike Wallace as there are now just 9 days left in which he can be signed to an offer sheet. Third year receivers Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders round out what is arguably one of the deepest and most talented receiving units in the league now that Cotchery will return.
I hope to have the specific contract details in a few days, but this is a pretty big signing to celebrate today.
