The Steelers added another name to their tight end mix on Friday, claiming former Wisconsin standout Lance Mason off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston.
Seattle had just moved on from Mason on Thursday after signing him in April as an undrafted free agent in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh wasted little time making the move.
Mason’s path has been a winding one. He began at Missouri State in 2022 and stayed there through 2024 before transferring to Wisconsin, where he turned enough heads to earn Second-Team All-Big 10 honors. For the Badgers, he put together a season with 30 catches for 398 yards and four touchdowns, production that clearly put him on the NFL radar.
At 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, Mason also brought some measurable upside to the table. He clocked a 4.71 40-yard dash and posted a 32.5-inch vertical.
To make room, the Steelers released tight end J.J. Galbreath. Galbreath had joined Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent a year ago after playing at South Dakota, and he had worked to add bulk this year in hopes of becoming a better blocker.
Mason now steps into a tight end group that already has a crowded battle going on, with veteran Robert Tonyan trying to make his own case for a roster spot. Even so, Mason has a path to stick around if he puts together a strong training camp, and a practice squad role is there for the taking.
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