The Pittsburgh Steelers now have both of their seventh-round draft picks under contract as linebacker Tyler Matakevich also signed his four-year deal on Thursday.
Matakevich, who recorded 493 total tackles during his college career at Temple, is the final member of the Steelers 2016 draft class after being selected 246th overall this past weekend.
As previously reported, Matakevich’s four-year rookie contract is expected to total out at just over $2.403 million and include a signing bonus of around $63,000. Earlier in the day, the Steelers first of two seventh-round draft picks, former Houston wide receiver Demarcus Ayers, also signed his rookie contract ahead of the team’s rookie mini-camp that will get underway this coming weekend in Pittsburgh.
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said immediately after the draft that Matakevich was the highest-rated player remaining on the team’s board come time for their late selection in the seventh-round.
Matakevich, who won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award for his play last season, will likely have to make the Steelers final 53-man roster this year by standing out on special teams during training camp and the preseason.
At this rate, there’s a good chance the Steelers will have a good number of their 2016 draft class under contract by the time the rookie mini-camp has concluded.
