After not selecting a defensive back in the 2021 NFL Draft until the seventh round in Tre Norwood, the Steelers were bound to get active with signing remaining free agents to address their secondary.
The first step of that started Friday, when the Steelers signed slot safety Arthur Maulet, per his agency:
Bringing the heat to The 412! Congrats Arthur Maulet on signing with the @steelers People will soon see👀👿 pic.twitter.com/D4tWR2Q05Z
— Goal Line Football (@GoalineFootball) May 7, 2021
Maulet, who will be 28 by the start of the season, is a defensive back entering his fifth NFL season after going undrafted in 2017, and bouncing between the Saints, Colts and the Jets. He became a backup defensive back for the Jets in 2019, getting eleven starts among his 23 games played. Over the past two years he's recorded two interceptions and seven pass breakups and a sack.
After coming out of Memphis, Maulet made his way into the NFL playing primarily on special teams and working as a reserve cornerback. But the Jets found different ways to use him over the past two seasons, as he lined up in various positions around the field.
Last season, Maulet lined up for 247 snaps in the slot and 109 at free safety, showing his versatility.
After playing 404 defensive snaps in 2020, 36 percent of the Jets' defensive plays, Maulet has the most defensive experience of his career. The Steelers have needs at safety depth behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds, as well as slot cornerback after Mike Hilton signed with the Bengals.
Adding Maulet makes sense, as he can bring help with special teams snaps and could fight to be part of various defensive packages as a depth player in the secondary during training camp.