Phil Taylor: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Free-Agent DT

Free-agent defensive tackle Phil Taylor is generating considerable interest on the open market after the Cleveland Browns terminated his contract on Tuesday.

Continue for updates.

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Pittsburgh Steelers Not Interested in Taylor

Wednesday, Sept. 2

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette passed along the news, citing a knee injury that would take too long to heal.

CBS Sports insider Jason La Canfora previously reported Taylor had visited Pittsburgh on Wednesday. 

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'Upwards of 8 Teams' Reportedly Interested in Taylor

Wednesday, Sept. 2

La Canfora indicated Taylor has no shortage of suitors. There are at least seven other teams who are mulling over Taylor as a possibility.

Browns head coach Mike Pettine explained the reason for cutting Taylor loose, which cost the team $5.477 million in dead money, per Spotrac.

"Just given the depth that we had in that room, we knew we were going to have to make some difficult choices," said Pettine, per Kevin Jones for the Browns' official website. "We just felt it was the right decision for all involved."

Rookie first-round draft pick Danny Shelton figures to start at nose tackle in Week 1 now that the Browns have phased Taylor and Ishmaa'ily Kitchen off the roster. Also contributing to why Cleveland let Taylor go is the standout preaseason Jamie Meder has had, per the News-Herald's Jeff Schudel:

Taylor never did live up to his billing as the No. 21 overall pick in the 2011 draft, as he was plagued by injuries and played a combined 13 games in the 2012 and 2014 seasons. He was also the last player remaining from the Browns' blockbuster trade with Atlanta that gifted the Falcons elite receiver Julio Jones.

The Browns traded a third-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in order to select Taylor in the first round. With that selection, Kansas City brought Justin Houston aboard. Houston led the NFL in sacks this past season with 22.

Taylor's departure from Cleveland reminded Browns fans of the anguish they have endured through years of misfires in the draft. It did make sense from a personnel perspective, though.

But if Taylor suddenly finds a second wind with another team and unproven players like Shelton and Meder don't perform to expectations, Cleveland's front office will again be under terse criticism.

Fans will be paying attention to what happens to the Browns defense and whether Taylor pans out elsewhere. Cleveland did rank dead last in run defense mostly without Taylor in 2014, so the pressure is on for Shelton to play like a first-round pick quickly.