Steelers Sign CB Ross Cockrell To A One-Year Extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Friday that they’ve signed CB Ross Cockrell to a one-year extension.

“As soon as I got here I just felt welcomed,” said Cockrell. “Playing on the field, winning games, it’s special here. It was a great experience overall.

“Playing for the Steelers means you are somebody who is striving for greatness. You want your team, your city, this organization to be more. That is what you get from everybody. You feel like you represent more than just yourself.”

The Steelers also signed QB Dustin Vaughan to a reserve/future contract.

Cockrell, 24, is a former fourth round pick of the Bills back in 2014. He lasted just over a year in Buffalo before he was waived at the start of the 2015 season. The Steelers signed him to a contract just a week later.

He was in line to be an exclusive rights free agent in the coming months.

In 2015, Cockrell appeared in 15 games for the Steelers and recorded 44 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a recovery and 11 pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 23 cornerback out of 118 qualifying players.

Vaughan, 24, originally signed on with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of West Texas A&M in May of last year. He wound up making the 53-man roster coming out of the preseason, but was unfortunately among Dallas’ final roster cuts from a few weeks back.

The Bills signed him to their practice squad a few weeks into the season before cutting him loose a month later.

During his college career, Vaughan completed 593 of 949 passing (62.5) for 8,124 yards to go along with 70 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.