The Pittsburgh Steelers are most of the way through the first part of the offseasonleading up to the draft. Before we get there, we’re going totake stock of how the roster has evolved over the past several weeks. Position by position, we’ll break down who’s coming and going and what’s next for those rookies and those already here.
Position: Defensive Tackle
Total Positional Figure: 4
Offseason Additions: 1
Offseason Deletions: 1
Players Retained:
Keeanu Benton: Settling in at defensive tackle, the former second-round pick is in a contract year. Benton is coming off his best season, at least statistically, but has he shown enough? They may extend him, but do they think he is the Steelers’ long-term defensive tackle option?
Yahya Black: After taking a starting defensive end in the first round, the Steelers added a defensive tackle last year in Yahya Black. At least, I anticipate he will play more inside this year. Citing risk of disrupting his development, the coaches mostly played him outside as a rookie. Of course, in a 3-4 that plays primarily in nickel, they’re all defensive tackles.
Kyler Baugh: Spending time on the Steelers’ practice squad last year, Kyler Baugh can play defensive end and tackle. For our purposes, I’m listing him here. A former college free agent, he has yet to make his NFL debut. He flashed a little in training camp and the preseason last year as an August signing, though.
Players Added:
Sebastian Joseph-Day: The Steelers’ new veteran in the room, Joseph-Day prides himself in his versatility, so he should see time at both defensive end and tackle. Depending on how Yahya Black develops, he could be the next man up at all positions. Signed to a two-year, $11 million contract, he was a significant investment before the draft.
Players Deleted:
Daniel Ekuale: Ekuale suffered a season-ending injury for the Steelers midseason last year, a blow to their defensive tackle depth. He played sparingly but began the season logging double-digit snaps. Once the rookies were healthy and up to speed, he started to take a back seat.
Notes And Draft Outlook:
With the signing of Sebastian Joseph-Day, the Steelers made a pretty big investment in their defensive line before the draft, especially with a player who can play both defensive end and tackle. Benton and Black are big pieces in the middle, but there is, perhaps, one thing missing.
Unless they plan to utilize Black in that role, the Steelers don’t have a truly big, space-eating defensive tackle. Last year’s coaches seemed to prefer to keep him leaner, and they played him outside. If Mike McCarthy and Patrick Graham, along with new DL coach Domata Peko, see a more concentrated role for him, he could be that answer.
Still, the Steelers could certainly address defensive tackle in the draft. Especially with Keeanu Benton on an expiring contract, it’s not clear where they see the future going. And with 12 draft picks they can afford to invest in depth that may pay off at a later date.
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