The Pittsburgh Steelers filled out their practice squad with three more names, and while most of the group had already been through camp with the team, one newcomer stands out right away.
That player is linebacker Bradyn Swinson, the most intriguing addition among the Steelers’ latest moves. Pittsburgh also brought in defensive back Car'Lin Vigers and wide receiver Brandon Johnson, a familiar face. But Swinson is the one with the most upside attached to his name.
The New England Patriots originally grabbed Swinson in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after his college run at LSU and Oregon. His final season in college put him on the league’s radar in a big way. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors after piling up 59 total tackles and 8.5 sacks.
New England kept him around as a rookie last season, though most of that year was spent on the practice squad. He was elevated for three games during the 2025 campaign and was also on the roster for the AFC Championship contest against the Denver Broncos. In all, he finished with one tackle.
What makes Swinson worth watching in Pittsburgh is the package he brings. At 6'4" and nearly 260 pounds, he looks the part of a Steelers outside linebacker, and his preseason work showed why there’s interest here.
Across three appearances, he logged 6.0 total tackles, but the raw numbers don’t tell the whole story. The speed, the bend, the agility - all of it flashed.
The comparison that jumps out is a young Alex Highsmith. Highsmith also came into the league as a big, highly athletic edge rusher, listed at 6'4" and roughly 250 pounds.
That kind of frame, paired with burst off the line, has made him a disruptive force for Pittsburgh. Swinson isn’t being handed that label yet, but the resemblance is easy to see.
Now the challenge is turning the traits into production. Swinson has the size and physical tools to become more than a practice-squad name, and the Steelers will hope defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and the rest of the defensive staff can help unlock that next step. For now, he’s the one to keep an eye on as he settles in with Pittsburgh.
In Other News...
Steelers Cut Just Drew Immediate Interest From Another Team
D'Shawn Jamison did not stay on the market long after the Steelers moved on from him during final roster cuts. The cornerback, who has also spent time with the Panthers and 49ers, drew a workout from the Arizona Cardinals and quickly landed a practice-squad spot as teams continue sorting out depth in the secondary.
Arizonas interest makes sense with Will Johnson sidelined by a lower-body injury and five cornerbacks already on the active roster. For Pittsburgh, Jamisons quick landing is another reminder of how fluid the back end of the roster can be once cutdown day passes and teams start looking for experienced cover help. [Read more 🡒]
Tomlin Finally Revealed What Really Pushed Steelers To Trade Pickens
The Steelers did not move on from George Pickens just because they had a chance to reshuffle the wide receiver room. Mike Tomlin laid out the thinking behind the decision, saying Pittsburgh no longer saw Pickens as a fit for its long-term plans, especially when it came to the leadership expectations that come with a second contract. In that same explanation, Tomlin pointed to DK Metcalf as the kind of player the organization felt more comfortable building around after giving him a major extension.
Pickens time in Pittsburgh had plenty of talent but also enough friction to make the choice easier to understand in hindsight. The fines and on-field incidents that followed him through his Steelers tenure were part of the backdrop, and Tomlins comments made clear those issues mattered when the team weighed what it wanted next at the position. The larger question now is how far Pittsburgh was willing to go to draw that line, and what it says about the standard the front office wants to keep enforcing. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Are Still Debating McCarthys Strangest Preseason Choices
Mike McCarthys preseason handling of the Steelers kept plenty of people talking long after the exhibition games ended. Resting receiver Roman Wilson in the finale, leaning heavily on linebacker Jack Sawyer, limiting rookie running back Eli Heidenreichs carries and not starting quarterback Drew Allar all became part of the conversation, especially because each move seemed to point in a different direction as the team tried to sort out roles and get through August.
For fans and analysts, the issue is less about any one decision than the way they fit together heading into the regular season. Some see a coach protecting players and managing workloads, while others wonder whether those choices left too many evaluation questions unanswered at positions where Pittsburgh could use clarity, and that uncertainty is still hanging over the roster as the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]