The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the offseason with several needs, including offensive line, defensive line, and cornerback. They even managed to create some new needs, such as a starting quarterback and wide receiver. General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin seem to be systematically restructuring what the team has in place.
That does not mean they forgot about the defense. They signed free agent Patrick Queen and traded Diontae Johnson for cornerback Donte Jackson. They also acquired safety DeShon Elliott and defensive lineman Dean Lowry.
Lowry is entering his ninth season in the league and is recovering from a pectoral injury he sustained last year while playing for the Minnesota Vikings. He provides excellent depth and veteran support to the line, but according to longtime Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he is not what the team needs.
Dulac has been promoting the team's need to strengthen its defensive line in his popular chat column for a couple of years now. We have become so comfortable with superstar Cameron Heyward that fans have been lulled into a false sense of security. That security was shattered during Week 1 of 2023 when Heyward suffered a groin injury that kept him out for several weeks.
"You know my feelings about addressing the DL. I've been saying it for two years," Dulac reminds us in his chat.
That wake-up call is why Dulac is once again mentioning the need to build behind Heyward on the line. Unlike some fans, Dulac is not a proponent of forcing Heyward to revamp his contract or pack his bags, or perhaps it is that he knows the team will not do that. He said in a recent chat that he believes they will leave his contract exactly how it is. He added that he believes Heyward will "rightfully" finish out his career in Pittsburgh.
Dulac said he understands why fans worry that the team puts nostalgia ahead of practicality. But he is quick to defend Heyward's stats from 2023, noting that it is not fair to say he only played 40% of snaps, that occurred because of lack of availability due to injury, not lack of ability. When a fan asks if he thinks the team will go defensive line in the first round, he is doubtful.
"There aren't a lot of prospects who fit that DE/DT mold. There is one they like, but probably not at No. 20 and probably not likely to be around in round 2," wrote Dulac.
The Steelers saw just how critical that depth was last season while Heyward was out. During his absence, they relied heavily on Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Armon Watts, and Montravius Adams.
This replacement by committee is often the only option when a player of Heyward's talent goes down. Regardless of how many players they rotated in and out, the Steelers still seemed to get manhandled at the line of scrimmage.
Steelers Face A Very Thin Defensive Group In The Draft
The draft is billed as very offensively or very defensively heavy each year. This year's draft class tends to favor the offense. There are many quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive linemen. This can be good for Pittsburgh since the team needs a center, a wide receiver, and an offensive tackle, but it can also be bad because of needs along the defensive line.
A few defensive tackles are tabbed as solid fits with the Steelers and may be available in the second or third round. That includes Braden Fiske from Florida State. After a dominant performance at the 2024 NFL Combine, he is projected to go in the second round. He had the best 40-yard dash time at 4.78 and the best broad jump of 9-9 of anyone in his group. He is fast off the line of scrimmage and has a lot of power.
Another tackle gaining momentum is Ruke Orhorhoro out of Clemson. Many analysts feel that he is still developing and has a lot of potential if he lands with the right team. What could be better than learning from Heyward? He is currently projected as an early day two pick, but is strong, quick, and has good hand skills.
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