Cornerback Antwon Blake is now a former member of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the former undrafted player has signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.
Last season, Blake started all 16 regular season games for the Steelers and he recorded 76 total tackles in addition to 2 interceptions.
While Blake was regarded as an above average special teams player during his three seasons in Pittsburgh, his play at cornerback wasn’t good at all. Last season, Blake gave up more than his fair share of receptions along with missing several tackles. While he did play through a thumb injury last season, Blake was a liability whenever he was on the field. According to Pro Football Focus, Blake broke PFF records for yards allowed in coverage (1,074) and missed tackles (28) in 2015.
Blake is now the second Steelers unrestricted free agent to sign with the Titans this offseason as linebacker Sean Spence agreed to a one-year contract with them on Wednesday. Blake and Spence will now be reunited with defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in Tennessee as both played for him in Pittsburgh when he held that same position on the Steelers coaching staff.
With Blake now gone, the Steelers are left with William Gay, Cortez Allen and Ross Cockrell when it comes to experienced cornerbacks. The Steelers, however, did draft Senquez Golson and Doran Grant last year. Golson missed his entire rookie season with a shoulder injury while Grant only played one defensive snap during his first year in the league after starting the season on the team’s practice squad.
Blake originally entered the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent with Jacksonville Jaguars. After one season as a special teams player in Jacksonville, Blake was waived by the Jaguars prior to the start of the 2013 season and the Steelers quickly scooped him up.
In total, the Steelers have now lost five of their unrestricted free agents to other teams so far this offseason as in addition to Spence and Blake, tackle Kelvin Beachum, nose tackle Steve McLendon and linebacker Terence Garvin have all signed contracts with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Washington Redskins respectively.
