Steelers Continue to Focus on Defensive Line with Pre-Draft Visitors
The Pittsburgh Steelers continued their focus on defensive line with their pre-draft visitors, hosting two more defensive players to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Tuesday. The Steelers hosted SMU defensive tackle Elijah Roberts and Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos to their facility on Tuesday. Both visits had been previously reported.
The two visitors on Tuesday make 17 of the team’s maximum of 30 visits completed. The identity of four more visitors has been reported, giving us 21 names out of 30 to work with, and the team’s focus on defense has been clear. Of those 21 players, six play along the defensive line, tied for the most of any position group, and the Steelers have yet to host the most obvious draft candidates at that position.
Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen and Oregon’s Derrick Harmon are premiere fits for the Steelers at defesnive tackle in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and have yet to come to Pittsburgh for a visit. If they do, that could make nearly a third of the team’s pre-draft visitors defensive linemen.
Roberts, who stands at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds with 33 3/8-inch arms, posted a 4.78 40-time at the NFL Combine. He told reporters at his pro day that NFL teams can see him anywhere from outside linebacker to 3-tech.
Roberts appeared and started in 13 games for the Mustangs last season, and was a team captain. He recorded a 91.2 grade by Pro Football Focus, which ranked tied for second highest of all edge defenders in the FBS. He had 35 tackles (17 solo), 7.5 sacks, tied for most on the team and fifth in the ACC.
In 2023, Roberts started in all 14 games, recorded 37 tackles (21 solo) and led the team in sacks with 10, which was good for second in the ACC and 17th in the NCAA. Roberts played his first three seasons of college football at Miami before transferring to SMU. He is currently the No. 144 player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board.
Amos, 23, will likely be a late-first or early second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after registering a career-high 50 tackles (39 solo), one forced fumble, three interceptions and 13 passes defensed in 2024.
The Steelers previously met with Amos at the 2025 Senior Bowl, and also sent assistant general manager Andy Weidl and defensive back scouting specialist Ike Taylor to his pro day.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound defensive back also tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine, recording a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, 32.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-6 broad jump. Amos is currently the No. 40 player on the consensus big board.
STEELERS 2025 NFL DRAFT VISITOR TRACKER
Louisville QB Tyler Shough (March 6)
Ole Miss DT J.J. Pegues (March 6)
West Virginia OL Wyatt Milum (March 6) (exempt)
Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson (March 14)
TCU WR/RB Savion Williams (March 14)
Iowa DT Yahya Black (March 14)
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins (March 17)
Pitt K Ben Sauls (March 18) (exempt)
Texas WR Matthew Golden (April 3)
Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson (April 3)
Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas (April 3)
Pitt TE Gavin Bartholomew (April 3) (exempt)
Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart (April 4)
South Carolina SS Nick Emmanwori (April 4)
Oregon NT Jamaree Caldwell (April 4)
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel (April 4)
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten (April 7)
Florida State DT Joshua Farmer (April 7)
SMU DL Elijah Roberts (April 8)
Ole Miss CB Trey Amos (April 8)
Kansas State RB DJ Giddens (reported)
Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon (reported)
Texas RB Jaydon Blue (per player)
Texas A&M OLB Shemar Stewart (reported)
Visits completed: 17/30
Visits reported: 21/30
Chris Ward contributed.