Mar 21, 2017 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – In need of a backup defensive lineman, the Steelers didn’t go shopping in the bargain bin as they had done the past few years.

The Steelers signed former Jacksonville Jaguars’ No. 1 pick from 2010 Tyson Alualu to a two-year contract Tuesday, giving them a player who is capable of playing defensive end and nose tackle.

Alualu had been a starter in six of his seven seasons in Jacksonville, missing just two games in his career.

The 29-year-old Alualu will give the Steelers their best backup option on the defensive line in several years after the team had gotten by with the likes of Cam Thomas and Ricardo Mathews in recent seasons.

Alualu will back up defensive ends Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt and can play nose tackle, where he could serve as competition or as a backup to second-year pro Javon Hargrave.

“This is a great group to come in and be able to compete with,” Alualu said. “(I have) the versatility to play inside or outside. Wherever they want me to play, I’m all for it.”

Alualu, a native of Hawaii, played collegiately at California. In seven seasons in Jacksonville, he had 258 tackles, 17.5 sacks and six pass defenses.

What he didn’t have was a winning season, something that made signing with the Steelers attractive.

“As soon as you walk in the building, you get a sense from talking to the people, it’s just a place that loves to win. I’d love to be a part of that. I’m just excited about this opportunity,” Alualu said. “The toughest thing was not winning games. Out of my seven seasons there, my best season was my rookie year and we went 8-8. It’s a little different.”

The Steelers made the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, but have spent time playing without Heyward and Tuitt in each of the past two years.

Heyward missed the final nine regular season games last season with a torn pectoral muscle, forcing the Steelers into a rotation at defensive end that included Mathews, L.T. Walton and rookie Johnny Maxey.

Mathews is a free agent and likely will not be re-signed, but Walton and Maxey remain on the roster.

The signing of Alualu was the third by the Steelers in the past two days. On Monday, they signed cornerback Coty Sensabaugh and running back Knile Davis.

Alualu had meetings scheduled with some other teams, but felt the fit was right in Pittsburgh.

“I don’t think I could have left without signing a deal here, just wanting to be part of something special,” he said. “They’re so close to always being in the Super Bowl. I just want to be part of that.”