The Pittsburgh Steelers are releasing nose tackle Montravius Adams. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted the news Monday morning.
The news comes after the Steelers drafted a pair of defensive linemen during the 2025 NFL Draft, adding Oregon DE Derrick Harmon in the first round and Iowa DL Yahya Black in the fifth round. Though the Steelers framed both players as more defensive end than nose tackle, Adams still loses out on his roster spot. Last year, he served as the backup nose tackle to Keeanu Benton.
Signed midway through 2021 when injuries piled up along the Steelers’ defensive line, Adams appeared in 46 games for Pittsburgh and made 21 starts. He recorded 72 tackles (six for a loss) with one sack. An athletic nose tackle with good burst off the ball, Adams struggled to translate that into pass-rush success.
Adams signed a two-year, $5 million with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2024 season. His release will save $2.25 million in cap space prior to roster displacement and create an $875,000 dead-money charge.
Montravius Adams started nine games in 2022 and eight in 2023. After an injury in the latter season, he ceded the role to Benton and served as the Steelers’ backup nose tackle in 2024. Last year, he appeared in 11 games and recorded 14 tackles with one sack.
Pittsburgh has spent the offseason re-tooling its defensive line. The team signed free agents Daniel Ekuale and Esezi Otomewo while making more significant additions in the draft. While DL coach Karl Dunbar considers Yahya Black more of a four-technique than nose tackle, perhaps Adams’ release is a sign Black will serve as the top backup to Benton in the middle of the Steelers’ front. That is, assuming Black makes the roster, something that is no guarantee as a fifth-round selection.
A third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2017, Adams has appeared in 96 NFL games with 25 starts. Turning 30 in July, he’s spent time with the Packers, Steelers, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints.
