Former Washington Husky defensive lineman Alameda Ta'amu became the first member of the Pittsburgh Steelers' draft class to sign a contract, the team announced.. The fourth-round pick signed on what was the final day of the club's rookie minicamp.
More on Ta'amu and the contract details after the jump.
The 4-year deal was announced by the organization via twitter, though further terms of the deal were not released:
The first of our draft picks has signed, Fourth Round pick Alameda Ta'amu has agreed to a 4yr contract.
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 6, 2012
Ta'amu's quick signing allows him to focus on possibly competing for the starting job, as incumbent NT Casey Hampton will be returning from ACL surgery that ended his season in 2011.\
The 6'3" 350-pound Ta'amu was considered by some to be the best nose tackle available in the draft, according to this post by Pro Football Talk.
A pre-draft scouting report Ta'amu by CBSSports said the following:
A massive man, Ta'Amu is tough to move and can surprise his opponents with his athleticism. He remains raw as a pass rusher and doesn't have the foot speed to chase down ballcarriers. His ability to clog running lanes, however, is a talent highly coveted in the NFL.
Having the contract stuff out of the way will allow Ta'amu to devote his time and effort to living up to those lofty expectations.
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For more on the Washington Huskies visit UW Dawg Pound. For more on the Pittsburgh Steelers visit Behind The Steel Curtain.