Steelers Sign 22-Year-Old Defensive Lineman to a Reserve/Future Contract
The Steelers are continuing to build up their roster. Defensive end Jahvaree Ritzie inked a reserve/future contract with the team on Thursday. The 22-year-old is the third defensive end the Steelers recently signed to reserve/future contracts since being eliminated in the NFL Playoffs by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round. K.J. Henry and Anthony Goodlow inked their deals on January 14th.
Reserve/future contracts don’t go into effect until the next league year, which begins in March. These contracts usually pay the league minimum salary and don’t offer signing bonuses. Reserve/Future contracts don’t count towards the 53-man active roster. However, they count towards the 90-man training camp limit.
Teams can sign players to reserve/future deals after their previous regular season ends. All players who weren’t on active rosters at the end of the regular season are eligible for reserve/future contracts. Teams use these contracts to claim the rights to promising players they think will be able to make contributions to the team in their upcoming season. Practice squad members can be signed to another team’s active roster. However, players with reserve/future deals can’t be signed by other teams.
Ritzie is six-foot-four and weighs 294 pounds. The New England Patriots signed him in May of 2025 as an undrafted free agent. He was released from their practice squad in early September. Ritzie played collegiate football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. In the Tar Heels’ 2024 season opener, he recorded three sacks against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week. Throughout his college football career, he played in 51 games. He amassed 138 tackles, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles. He also had an 84-yard pick-six.
Ritzie adds depth to the Steelers’ defense. The young defensive end is a consistent high-energy player. He’s a versatile player who gained experience lining up in various techniques along the defensive front in both odd and even fronts during his college football years. He’s able to get off blocks easily and set the edge. The former Tar Heel is easily able to gain leverage on the offensive linemen. Ritzie keeps his legs moving, creating havoc for the offensive linemen. He improved his pass rush planning during his senior year.
