Justin K. Aller/Getty Images.
Artie Burns chases Lamar Jackson during the 2018 Steel Ravens game.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Artie Burns hasn’t played in an NFL game since the 2019 season, but the once-promising cornerback will get another chance to rebuild his career with the Chicago Bears in 2021. According to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, Burns has a one-year contract.
And in a non-swap move today, the Raiders have contracted former Raven Willie Snead for one year with @DrewJRosenhaus.
And the Bears are giving free agent CB Artie Burns a one-year contract, according to @DrewJRosenhaus.
– Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) 26. March 2021
Financial details were not disclosed, but presumably the deal is for a veteran with some degree of experience or close to a minimum.
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Artie Burns’ road to the NFL
Burns had hoped to resume his playing career last summer, but he tore his ACL in the second practice of Bears training camp and spent the 2020 season on the injury list.
His career got off to a promising start after Pittsburgh selected him 25th overall out of the University of Miami in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. In his first two seasons in the league, he proved himself as a starting cornerback, but his play deteriorated significantly and the Steelers refused to sign a five-year option, ending his career in Pittsburgh after four seasons.
He signed a one-year contract with the Bears in March 2020, literally leaving his Cadillac Escalade at Pittsburgh International Airport to head to Chicago.
Pittsburgh has aformer Bears CB on the roster.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has another intriguing former Bears quarterback in the form of the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Stephen Denmark, who is comparable in size to Steelers Hall of Famer Mel Blount. Denmark was selected No. 238 out of Division II Valdosta State in 2019 and spent his rookie season on the Chicago practice squad, where he was coached by former Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend. The converted wide receiver was on the Bears’ practice squad for the first five weeks of the 2020 season before being suspended and picked up by Cleveland, which added him to the practice squad for three weeks before releasing him in Week 1. December suspended.
Pittsburgh’s interest in Denmark predates the 2019 draft. He was one of more than 30 players the Steelers invited to an official visit to the draft this year. The Steelers had a chance to draft him in the seventh round, but chose Maryland offensive lineman Derwin Gray instead.
Derwin Gray stays with the Jaguars
Gray’s name was in the news Friday when he signed an exclusive contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars claimed Gray in December after he was released by Pittsburgh to add linebacker Tegray Scale to the active roster.
For the second game in a row, the Steelers lost a promising offensive lineman. The team waived undrafted free agent Fred Johnson in mid-October 2019 and the Cincinnati Bengals claimed him. Johnson started at left tackle for the Bengals as Cincinnati’s 21st ranked rusher. December Pittsburgh hit.
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Also read :
– Former Steelers tight end Nick Vannett signs with the Saints.
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