Artie Burns bids farewell to Steelers, as former first-round pick plans to leave in free agency

Artie Burns packed his belongings into a garbage bag at his locker stall on Monday afternoon, knowing full well that it was his last day inside the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room.

The 24-year-old cornerback, the No. 25 overall pick by the Steelers in the 2016 NFL Draft, wasn’t shy about saying that he is ready to find a new home in free agency after four seasons.

“Yes,” Burns said. “It’s what I want to do.”

Asked if he was walking out for the final time, Burns was blunt about being labeled a first-round bust for the Steelers.

“It doesn’t really matter,” Burns said. “All that matters is the future, what I’m going to do for the next team that takes me.”

After starting 30 of the first 38 games of his career, including 27 consecutive at one point, the 6-foot, 197-pounder from Miami had three interceptions as a rookie and started all 16 games in 2017. But Burns was benched midseason in 2018 in favor of Coty Sensabaugh and played sparingly for the Steelers this season after they signed Steve Nelson in free agency.

Burns played only 62 defensive snaps this season, all but four of them coming in his only start at the Los Angeles Chargers. He played mostly on special teams but was inactive for the final five games of the season.

“I’m learning how to deal with this business, take it on the shoulder and keep on going,” Burns said. “If I wasn’t here today, that wouldn’t show true testimony, right? …

“I’m ready to compete and grind and win. That’s all.”

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