The Pittsburgh Steelers have let a lot of former players go in free agency. Only a few of those guys have actually been cut, however, as a large chunk of their squad had their contracts expire. Some left due to mutual interest, some chased money, and a couple others just cost too much. Pittsburgh is expected to get quite a few compensatory picks from this offseason. Even though they don't get any picks from cutting players, it looks like one cut was definitely the right move.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
NFL Insider Ari Meirov announced that a pair of Buffalo Bills free agent acquisitions got suspended for using performance enhancing drugs, including former Steeler Larry Ogunjobi.
BREAKING: #Bills DE Michael Hoecht and DT Larry Ogunjobi—both signed this week—have been suspended six games for violating the NFL’s PED policy, per GM Brandon Beane.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 14, 2025
Bills General Manager Brandon Beane announced the suspensions, as both Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht were just recently signed to help shore up their defensive line. Now, the Bills will have to figure out how they want to deploy that unit for the first six games of the season.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Larry Ogunjobi participates in OTA drills on Thursday, May 25 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Ogunjobi was cut by the Steelers four days before this announcement. The Bills signed him relatively quick in free agency, so there may be questions as to if he took the performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to try and keep his role with the Steelers and/or find a new home quickly. Either way, it backfired on him and Hoecht.
Ogunjobi Can't Catch A Break As A Free Agent
Beane also announced that he had no idea that that Ogunjobi took the PEDs and would be suspended. He reportedly regrets signing the former Steeler, even though he did know that Hoecht would be flagged for the same thing and would miss the first six games.
The #Bills knew about Hoecht’s suspension but not Ogunjobi’s. Brandon Beane admits they wouldn’t have signed both if they had known but they will adjust and move forward. https://t.co/wMhVgEFlfu
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 14, 2025
This is not the first time Ogunjobi had a troublesome signing. In 2022, he had agreed to a deal with the Chicago Bears to a multi-year deal to help anchor their defensive line. However, he failed his physical, so his contract became null and void. He later signed a one-year deal with the Steelers for less money to prove that he can still play and that he was actually healthy. Instead of failing a physical, he failed a drug test this time.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi struggled with injuries in 2022 but still managed to start 16 games.
What do you think about Ogunjobi getting caught right after leaving Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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