Six Defensive Line Draft Options for Steelers (+)

With just a few weeks until draft weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers have several needs, some more obvious than others, that need to be addressed. The holes are center and wide receiver have been well-documented but there’s another that isn’t getting quite enough attention: interior defensive line. Sure, Pittsburgh has added some fine depth pieces in free agency and they return all three of their starters.

However, the future of the position the trenches are a bit murky at the moment.

Long-time stalwart Cam Heyward turns 35-years old in May and is entering the final year of his contract. Opposite of him, Larry Ogunjobi has had a pair of inconsistent seasons in the Burgh, but has the fifth-highest cap hit on the team. Second-year pro Keeanu Benton should see increased playing time in the fall after a rock-solid rookie campaign where he flashed beyond the box score statistics. In a vacuum, it’s understandable for the organization to run it back again with this same group. However, there’s a realistic scenario where only one of those three players are still here in 2025.

The Steelers defense has always been founded on winning up front, particularly when it comes to the pass rush. If you haven’t noticed, the NFL is placing more of an emphasis on interior rushers, with the market for such players booming over the past couple seasons. Luckily for Pittsburgh, this class has plenty of different options at various points in the draft that offer both immediate impact and subsequent dividends down the line.