Steelers A to Z: Brandin Echols brings experience, playmaking to 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 BRANDIN ECHOLS
Experience/age: 5th season, 27
Contract status: $2.085 million cap hit in 2025, signed through 2026
The past: Echols became an immediate starter as a rookie sixth-round pick of the New York Jets in 2021 but was more of a subpackage player the ensuing three seasons. He made five starts between 2022-2024. The 5-foot-11, 179-pound Echols has experience in both the nickel/slot and as an outside cornerback. A starter on the outside in 2021, he did not play an extensive amount on defense during his second and third NFL seasons but when he did was more likely to line up on the inside of the defense. Last season with the Jets, Echols generally served as the top backup on the outside – though that meant he played significantly (351 snaps as an outside CB; 407 defensive snaps overall). Through it all, Echols was a core special teamer.
Echols joined the Steelers via a two-year, $6 million contract in March.
Newly-signed CB Brandoin Echols came to the Steelers to compete to start pic.twitter.com/sUcaQ6QIvz
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) March 13, 2025
2025 outlook: Echols during organized team activities and minicamp was spotted getting reps on the outside. He could push incumbent Beanie Bishop for the nickel role and/or provide insurance behind Joey Porter Jr. and 34-year-old Darius Slay at outside corner. Cory Trice is angling to retain the job as the top backup at that position, though. Echols, at very least, should contribute significantly on special teams and in some sort of subpackage role in the secondary.
A teammate of Aaron Rodgers’ over the past two seasons, Echols has a good relationship with the new Steelers quarterback. Perhaps making some plays on Rodgers passes on the fields of Saint Vincent College at training camp can help solidify Echols’ 2025 role.
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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