Steelers Trade Up to Draft Wisconsin DE Isaiahh Loudermilk in Fifth Round of 2021 NFL Draft

The Steelers traded up in the fifth round to draft Wisconsin defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk. Loudermilk stands 6-foot-6 and 274 pounds and recorded 11.5 tackles for loss with 7.5 sacks in his college career.

Loudermilk stands at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds. He played defensive end in Wisconsin’s 3-4 defense that is similar yo the Steelers’ system, where he would project to slot in behind starters Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, though the Steelers generally prefer their down linemen to be closer to 300 pounds. He could also continue to slim down, having already dropped 10 pounds or so from his playing weight in 2020.

In a four-year career at Wisconsin, he recored eight quarterback sacks, 12 tackles for loss and was noted for his ability in batting down passes.

He fits the profile of a 3-4 defensive end in the Steelers system, but playing time will be limited behind Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt.

The Steelers didn’t have a fifth round pick originally, after trading theirs to Baltimore in the Chris Wormley deal, so they traded their fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft to move up with the Dolphins.