Steelers defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk in free agency.
Just after the Juan Thornhill signing was announced, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers have also re-signed former fifth-round pick and veteran defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk.
“Free-agent defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk is returning to the Steelers on a one-year deal, per source,” Fowler relayed. “Loudermilk, drafted by the team in 2021, had 17 tackles as a rotational piece last year.”
And that’s exactly where Loudermilk will slot in again in 2025, back into head coach Mike Tomlin’s “rotation” of interior defensive linemen.
Standing at 6-foot-7, Loudermilk has an imposing frame that hasn’t quite translated onto the stat sheet early in his career. Through his first four years, the former Wisconsin product only has 1.0 sack and 1 tackle for a loss despite suiting up for 61 NFL outings (including playoffs).
One area Loudermilk has produced — at least to some degree — has been baiting passes down at the line of scrimmage. The 27-year-old has been credited with 6 pass defenses over his first four seasons, which is a decent amount for an interior defensive lineman who doesn’t get a ton of snaps.
Steelers Still Expected to Draft Defensive Line Help in 2025
The Loudermilk reunion provides some more depth on the defensive line, and that’s never a bad thing, but it’s also fair to assume that Pittsburgh won’t be banking on a breakout campaign with this re-signing.
They must bring in more impact players on the D-line, and the belief is that the Steelers will do so in the draft.
Coach Tomlin was seen scouting defensive line prospects as early as the Senior Bowl, and it’s expected to be a strong draft class in this area. All that adds up to Pittsburgh attacking the position with a rookie or two.
They might even spend their first-round pick on one of the top defensive tackles in the draft, if the right player falls to them at No. 21 overall.