Pittsburgh Steelers Sign Alameda Ta'amu to Rookie Contract

The days of players waiting until training camp starts to sign their rookie contracts are in the past, as the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms with their fourth-round pick, Alameda Ta'amu.

Ta'amu had been a player of interest for the Steelers leading up to the draft, in many mocks as high as the second round. The Steelers were fortunate enough to land Ta'amu in the fourth round, after trading their sixth-round pick to move up and draft him.

With starter Casey Hampton recovering from a torn ACL, the Steelers were thin at one of the most important positions in the 3-4 defense, NT. Ta'amu would have pushed a healthy Hampton for playing time in 2012 and if Hampton is not able to recover from his surgery, Ta'amu will get ample camp time to prove he is ready to step onto the field for the Steelers.

It is being reported by Steelers.com that the contract is for four years, but the financial details have not yet been published.

Ta'amu joins former first-round picks Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward as the youth movement along the Steelers defensive line seems complete. Brett Keisel will still be the starter on the right side, but with Heyward rotating in, this group could possibly make up the best Steelers defensive line in years.