Ravens LB Justin Houston says he was ‘so close’ to signing with the Steelers

Justin Houston says he passed on more money with the Steelers.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers were active late in free agency looking to fill their void at outside linebacker. In the end, Pittsburgh settled on veteran Melvin Ingram but according to new Baltimore Ravens linebacker Justin Houston, he was in the mix but opted for the Ravens instead.

Houston said the Steelers actually offered Houston more money than the Ravens but Houston chose Baltimore, noting, “it worked out better.”

In the end it might have come down to playing time for Houston. Coming to the Steelers would have meant backing up T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith but he should have a better chance for reps with the Ravens. This was a caveat Ingram didn’t seem opposed to when he chose the Steelers.

Like it or not, the seasons of Ingram and Houston are going to be linked due to circumstances. Baltimore needs a big year out of Houston but expectations for Ingram with the Steelers are very different.

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