The Steelers are hosting top defensive lineman, Bryan Bresee out of Clemson, for a pre-draft visit on Monday, according to multiple reports.
Bresee is the next in line of multiple defensive linemen who have visited. That list includes Gervon Dexter, Keeanu Benton, Karl Brooks, and Siaki Ika as guys that Pittsburgh has brought into the facility. In addition, they’ve shown significant interest in Lukas Van Ness and Mazi Smith as players that the team could potentially land at the spot.
Bresee’s visit comes with the Steelers at the same time as Broderick Jones, who are both at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Monday. Like Jones, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan were present at his pro day in Clemson.
The 6-foot-5 Bresee ran a 4.86 40-yard dash and primarily profiles as a guy who can be a 5-technique and as an NFL player. In his college career, Bresee only played in 25 games over three seasons due to injuries, and that is something that each team will have to vet as they go throughout the process.
Meanwhile, while on the field Bresee registered 9 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He set his career high in his freshman season after being hampered by some ailments in his junior season and suffering a season-ending ACL tear in his sophomore season. Still, with a need at the defensive line, the Steelers could look to address that by drafting Bresee.
At the NFL Combine, Bresee mentioned that he had a prior relationship with Tomlin because he comes down to pro day every year. So, throughout the process, he hoped to rekindle that relationship and respect. They will have an opportunity to meet now in Pittsburgh.
“I’ve known Coach Tomlin since my freshman year at Clemson,” Bresee said. “He’s there all the time. So, it was just like catching up with an old friend with him. He’s a great guy, super easy to talk to and just you know a phenomenal coach.”
Pittsburgh has used up all of their top 30 visits if the reported players are correct. In fact, it seems that there is some overflow, so it is likely that some of the reported visits for the Steelers did not actually end up manifesting.
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