Key Steelers Defender Could Have New Position in 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan hinted at the NFL Combine that the team could move nose tackle Keeanu Benton’to defensive end this upcoming season.
Larry Ogunjobi most likely will be a cap causality, so the Steelers seem to be weighing their options.
“KB [Keeanu Benton] has the flexibility to play anywhere on the defensive line,” Khan said.
If the Steelers move Benton outside, the Steelers could make a splash with drafting mammoth Michigan nose tackle Kenneth Grant at 21st overall. Grant is a very realistic option for the Steelers in the first round. Pittsburgh already had a formal interview with the Michigan product, which only further supports the idea of the team selecting him with its first-round pick.
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NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks the Steelers should be running to the podium if Grant is available at 21st overall.
“I think Kenneth Grant, he’s got the ability and the tools to do some unique stuff, and he has not come close to scratching the surface of his potential. So, I would have no problem whatsoever if the Steelers made that pick, and I’d be pretty pumped up about it if I were a Steeler fan,” Jeremiah said during his pre-Combine press conference.
Luckily for the Steelers, this year’s draft class is loaded at the defensive tackle position.
“Last year at this time, I had potential starter grades on 12 DT’s. This year I have 24 of them. Ridiculous amount of depth at the position in this draft class,” Jeremiah wrote on X.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin spent most of his time at the Senior Bowl practices hawking the defensive linemen, so it appears the Steelers will be targeting that position in the draft.
Steelers president Art Rooney II also hinted at it during an interview with Bob Pompeani of KDKA that defensive line will be a top priority for the club.
“On the defensive line, we probably need to get younger there,” Rooney said. “We’re fortunate to have (Cam Heyward) but we may need to look to have some young blood there this year.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Indianapolis.