Amidst the New England Patriots making changes throughout the roster this offseason, a former defensive tackle saw a better fit in a longtime rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Daniel Ekuale inked a one-year, $2.8 million deal with the Steelers in March, and he recently told Steelers Takeaways why he made the move. In the process, he described Steelers stars Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt as future Hall of Fame players.

“I don’t think it was even a question when my agent called and told me the Steelers called him and wanted to sign me. Watching film on them when I was with the Patriots – I really like the scheme they use.

It fits with how I played with the Patriots,” Ekuale told Steelers Takeaways.

“Striking hands – using those to get off blocks – that’s my style. A lot of teams don’t like their defensive linemen use their hands – they want them to just try and penetrate as fast as they can,” Ekuale added. “And, I’m really looking forward to playing next to Hall of Fame players like Cam and TJ.”

Ekuale spent the past four seasons with the Patriots, where he tallied five sacks, 74 tackles, and a forced fumble in that span.

He noted the intensity of the Patriots-Steelers rivalry but added he didn’t get to play in the 2023 meeting due to a torn bicep. “In New England and in Cleveland we didn’t take the Steelers lightly. In New England Bill Belichick stressed a lot of the details,” Ekuale said. ”

We had pictures of Cam and TJ posted on the board and he told us not to let those two guys beat us.

It was always a highly anticipated matchup.” Ekuale could get to play against the Patriots this season when the Steelers visit this fall.