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.

DT DANIEL EKUALE

Experience/age: Seven seasons, 31

Contract status: $2.8 million cap hit in 2025, after which scheduled for unrestricted free agency

The past: Listed at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, Ekuale entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018 but did not become a regular starter until last season. In 2024 during his fourth season with the New England Patriots, Ekuale had 52 tackles (24 solo, 2 for loss) a sack and three QB hits.

Before joining New England in September 2021, Ekuale had 23 regular-season games (five starts) of NFL experience with the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars. A native of American Samoa who played in college at Washington State, over the course of Ekuale’s pro career, he has lined up all along a defensive front, including occasionally at nose tackle.

— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) December 28, 2024

2025 outlook: The Steelers revamped their defensive line corps over the offseason, releasing veterans Larry Ogunjobi and Montravius Adams while adding three projected members of the 2025 rotation in draft picks Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black as well as Ekuale. Returning are starters Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton as well as veteran reserves Isaiahh Loudermilk and Dean Lowry. Logan Lee is a sixth-round pick from last season who has yet to make his NFL debut because of injury.

It’s a crowded group, but rest assured that Ekuale will open the season with some role among it. How quickly Harmon develops could affect how much Ekuale plays.

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