Not since 2019 has a draft class featured so many high-level prospects at defensive tackle.
For a Steelers fanbase demanding change following a disappointing end to the 2024 season, the general consensus is to focus on the offense, specifically at the quarterback and wide receiver positions.
Yet, if there was one noticeable aspect of their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, it was how they were physically overwhelmed on their defensive front. The Ravens gashed the Steelers’ defense on the ground, amassing 299 total rushing yards, 186 of which came from running back Derrick Henry. For a defensive unit that finished 6th in rushing yards allowed, this performance puts into perspective the true state of their defensive line.
The heart and soul of the defensive line, Cameron Heyward, had an incredible year coming off an injury-plagued 2023 season. So impressive, in fact, that at the age of 35, he was awarded First-team All-Pro status. Next to him is the always-promising Keeanu Benton, who posted a career-best three sacks and a pass rush grade of 76.5 in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. Behind these two are players whose future with the team remains uncertain.
For instance, Larry Ogunjobi recorded a modest 1.5 sacks and 41 tackles (7 tackles for loss) while missing just two games late in the season. However, his performance this season may not justify having the eighth-highest cap hit on the team. Veteran Dean Lowry has some value in certain situations, but he carried one of the worst run defense grades in the league. Once upon a time, Montravius Adams held the highest run-stop win rate for a nose tackle in the NFL. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his ability to capitalize on that success, as he played little this season
Currently, the team has only two viable interior defensive linemen on their roster. If we consider Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl’s propensity for drafting in the trenches, it is almost inevitable that they will attempt to emulate their strategy from the 2024 Draft class and acquire multiple linemen on one side of the ball.
One name frequently associated with the Steelers is Tyleik Williams from the National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams achieved a run defense grade of 88.6, which included 22 defensive stops and eight tackles for loss. Another player who could be on the Steelers’ radar this offseason is Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen, who finished the season with the highest run-stop win rate in the SEC at 12.3% and was ranked as the fifth-best run stopper in the nation. Both players specialize in stopping the run and are exactly the type of talent the Steelers sorely need on their defensive line.
It has been years since the Steelers had a consistently dominant defensive interior. With the renaissance of power running offenses in full effect, it is paramount that the team adjusts to this change and assembles a defensive front capable of stopping the run with greater consistency. In a year such as this one, where the potential level of talent at the position is as high as it has ever been, it makes sense for the team to take full advantage of this opportunity before it passes them by.
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