The Steelers have signed defensive end Nick Eason, an unrestricted free agent from the Cleveland Browns, to a one-year contract, the team announced today.

The team also today welcomed visits by two potential first-round draft choices, plus a possible sleeper.

Eason was a backup the past two seasons with the Browns and played in 28 games. He had a career-high 23 tackles last season.

The Denver Broncos drafted Eason, 6-3, 305, on the fourth round in 2003 from Clemson. He spent that season on injured reserve and was waived by the Broncos in 2004. He spent part of 2005 on the practice squads of Denver and Cleveland before the Browns signed him to their roster for the final five games of the season.

Eason will compete to replace veteran backup defensive end Rodney Bailey, who signed last week as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals.

Meanwhile, Adam Carriker, a 6-6, 296-pound defensive end from Nebraska, and 19-year-old Amobi Okoye, a 6-2, 302-pound defensive tackle from Louisville, paid the Steelers a visit.

Both are considered mid-first round draft choices. The Steelers pick 15th in the first round of the April 28-29 draft.

Wide receiver Jacoby Jones (6-2 ??, 210) of Lane College in Tennessee, also visited the Steelers at their UPMC facility on the South Side today.

NFL teams have until Friday to entertain up to 30 college prospects.