The Pittsburgh Steelers have some interesting position battles that will play themselves out over organized team activities (OTAs), training camp and the preseason. Fans who follow the team closely know that the offensive line itself has several battles that need conclusions. The secondary’s final version will be fascinating to watch develop over the next few months. Young veterans like Kevin Dotson, Kendrick Green and James Pierre will find themselves fighting for their lives in black and gold.
Another player who finds himself as a potential odd man out is Isaiahh Loudermilk. He is entering his third year as a defensive lineman in Pittsburgh. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft and has played in 26 games over the last two seasons. Loudermilk has had his moments, but entering his third season with the team, his skill set has not advanced beyond being a depth piece.
Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo joined the PM Team/w Poni & Mueller to discuss the Steelers OTAs and after discussing the secondary and the role Calvin Austin III might play this season, Andrew Fillipponi asked him about the defensive line, but Fittipaldo took it as an opportunity to criticize the former Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman.
“What you were talking about before about the mid-round picks,” Fittipaldo chimed in. “The reason they had to pay beyond what they wanted to for Larry O (Ogunjobi) is Isaiaah Loudermilk didn’t work out. I feel better about Leal than a guy like Loudermilk who has struggled to make an impact.”
The top of the defensive line rotation with Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi is set and DeMarvin Leal and Keeanu Benton should also play a big part in 2023 but then it gets a little murky. Breiden Fehoko was brought in during free agency and Montravius Adams will be fighting with Loudermilk to remain on the roster at the bottom of the rotation and Loudermilk could find himself the odd man out.
“I convinced myself with no real evidence,” Chris Mueller observed. “Loudermilk would end up making them look smart. That is a guy they traded up to get. Granted it’s a day three pick, but I recall people around the league didn’t even know if he was a draftable player and they traded up to get him.”
If the Steelers drafted as well as we think they did last season, the arrival of Benton in round two, should signal his rise to the top nose tackle on the roster. That will leave the Steelers with tough choices if they only carry six defensive linemen. Fehoko is a quality depth piece at nose tackle and Adams instantly improved a porous run defense upon his arrival in 2021 and should have the inside track for the final roster spot. Another free agent, Armon Watts, also figures in as a dark horse to beat out the third-year veteran.
“What Kevin Colbert said at the time was you just don’t find football players with that size,” Fittipaldo replied. “He is a big guy that fits their profile for that five-technique position but for whatever reason he hasn’t progressed to this point. I think it’s a make-or-break summer for a guy like Loudermilk. It’s put up or shut up time for Loudermilk. He is going to be in a battle to get back on this 53-man roster.”
Fittipaldo and Mueller both confirmed that a trade-up to get Loudermilk by Kevin Colbert has not worked out and if he is cut, it will go down as another draft miss and poor draft day trade. A fifth-round draft pick that is out of the league in three years is not a catastrophe but it becomes one when the vaunted 2021 draft class with Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth is quickly becoming just those two players. Tre Norwood and Pressley Harvin III are facing their own battles to stay on the roster.
Steelers Mike Tomlin Taking The Heat For Poor Draft Day Decisions From Kevin Colbert
Colbert’s legacy has come under serious fire with a pattern of consistent misses over his last few draft classes. Assuming that Dan Moore Jr sticks as a swing tackle in 2023, Green probably will not and that could mean as many as half the draft class from two seasons ago could be off the team by the time the Steelers host the 49ers.
However, Colbert did deliver Kenny Pickett and George Pickens in 2022. If that duo becomes a top-of-the-NFL passing combination, the consistently poor drafts of the last few seasons will fade into obscurity. Omar Khan, Andy Weidl and Mike Tomlin are remaking this version of the Steelers as a huge physical group led by their franchise quarterback Pickett and defensive player of the year candidate TJ Watt.
A few wins in the AFC playoffs with those two players leading the way will turn the lens of history into rose-colored glasses for Colbert. Based on his last few years at the helm, he may need that worse than the organization does at this point.
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