Steelers A to Z: Another big CB, Kyler McMichael seeks niche in secondary
Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
CB KYLER MCMICHAEL
Experience/age: No NFL regular-season games, 25
Contract status: $840,000 cap hit if he makes the team in 2025, after which would be an exclusive rights free agent
The past: A highly-touted recruit from Atlanta in the incoming class of 2018, McMichael spent one year at Clemson. The Tigers won the national championship that year with McMichael on the roster, but he transferred to North Carolina that summer. He started 17 of 21 games played for the Tar Heels over the ensuing two seasons, finishing his college career with one interception before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Listed now at 6-foot, 210 pounds, McMichael had nice size but did not test well with speed and ended up not getting drafted. Signed as an undrafted rookie by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, McMicheal did not make their roster and landed on the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad. Buffalo waived him the following May, and the Arizona Cardinals claimed McMichael. A late-camp injury ended his 2023 season.
2025 outlook: The Steelers signed McMichael a week into training camp last year. Playing on defense during the preseason for the first time last Aug. 17, McMichael made the tackle on four consecutive running plays soon after entering the game. He added a tackle and a pass defense in the 2024 preseason finale and was part of final roster cuts days later.
The Steelers brought him back via a reserve/future deal in January. McMichael has the physical profile and tackling ability the Steelers covet in their defensive backs. His coverage abilities, though, are unproven. McMichael’s best shot is to show his tackling and physicality can translate well to special teams and/or make him a valuable practice player worthy of keeping on the practice squad.
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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