The Pittsburgh Steelers gave a $30,000 signing bonus to undrafted free agent South Alabama TE DJ Thomas Jones, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. It’s the largest for a non-quarterback in franchise history after giving QB John Rhys-Plumlee a franchise-record $35,000 signing bonus last season.
It’s a larger bonus than Tanner Morgan, an undrafted free agent quarterback the Steelers signed in 2023, received, as Morgan got a $25,000 bonus. The Steelers have never been a team that’s very active in undrafted free agency, but Omar Khan could be getting more aggressive.
The Steelers signed an impact undrafted free agent last year in CB Beanie Bishop Jr., and they’re hoping that Thomas-Jones can make a similar impact on the other side of the ball. He had 22 receptions for 191 yards and three touchdowns last season, and for his career he has 73 receptions for 653 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He doesn’t possess great size, as he’s 6016 and 256 pounds, so he could be signed as a fullback option. Arthur Smith’s offense have traditionally used a fullback, although the Steelers didn’t have one on the roster last season. Thomas-Jones could compete for a roster spot there, and with the signing bonus the team gave out, it seems as if they feel there’s a chance he could be an impact player.
Thomas-Jones will turn 23 in July. He was originally a three-star prospect out of high school and committed to Ole Miss, but later transferred to South Alabama. His best game last season came when he caught five passes for 59 yards against Texas State in 2024.
Thomas-Jones never took a carry in college, but it’s not often fullbacks are carrying the ball in the NFL. If he can succeed as a blocker and do his job catching out of the backfield and Smith wants to employ a fullback this season, then Thomas-Jones could vie for a spot on Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster.
The Steelers have currently signed DJ Thomas-Jones along with Memphis WR Roc Taylor and Iowa S Sebastian Castro, with more UDFAs likely to come as the team continues to fill out their roster after concluding the 2025 NFL Draft.
