The Steelers signed one free-agent defensive end yesterday and entertained two others as college draft prospects.

Nick Eason, an unrestricted free agent from the Cleveland Browns, signed a one-year contract.

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 feet 3, 305 pounds) in 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.

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

In the meantime, the Steelers took a closer look at two potential first-round draft choices at the same position, plus a possible sleeper at wide receiver.

Adam Carriker, a 6-6, 296-pound defensive end from Nebraska, and 19-year-old senior 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 1/2, 210) of Lane College in Tennessee also visited the Steelers at their UPMC facility.

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