Welcome to the Steelers — officially — Justin Layne.
Thursday, Layne signed a four-year deal with the team, making him the last of the Steelers' class of 2019 to put ink to paper. At Michigan State, Layne appeared in 31 games across three seasons, snagging three interceptions and defending 24 passes in the process. In his senior season, he defended a career-best 15 passes while adding 72 total tackles (44 solo) a pick and one-half sack.
Layne, who has appeared with the Steelers throughout rookie minicamp and OTAs, is currently using his time to learn from established veterans such as Joe Haden, and he was telling me at the Rooney Complex last week there's been plenty to take away from the early lessons.
"Most of the time, I ask them questions, but they always, if I do something wrong or my eyes are in the wrong spot, they always come pull me aside and say, ‘Hey, you need to do that better, do that better,'” Layne told me at the Rooney Complex. “They’re always giving their little two cents but I just ask a lot of questions for the most part, and everybody is open.”
The results have shown in spurts. Layne has tallied a few interceptions, both in live-action gameplay and in drills, and he's beginning to reveal some of the hype that caused many draft experts to rank him above his eventual third-round position.
“I feel like I’m getting there,” Layne said. “It’s like as soon as I started getting something down pat, we’re adding something else. But that’s just part of the game. I still got a long way to go, but I think I’m doing pretty good so far.”
Layne likely will have time to continue his growth and development. Primarily an outside cornerback, he current sits behind both Haden and newly signed free agent Steven Nelson in the pecking order.
Hear more from Layne at the Rooney Complex here: