While one giant move has held their offseason up, the Pittsburgh Steelers have quietly filled out their roster through free agency. DK Metcalf was a major move, but besides him and Darius Slay, the Steelers have focused on smaller, depth signings throughout their roster more than anything else. One position in which they especially need depth is on the defensive line. That’s a spot where PFF’s Trevor Sikkema thinks the Steelers are willing to make a splash once the draft rolls around in April.
“I think if the right player falls to them [Steelers] at No. 21, and they’re not taking a quarterback with that spot, I think they could take like a Walter Nolen or a Kenneth Grant,” Sikkema said on the NFL Stock Exchange Podcast on Thursday. “I think they’d be willing to make a splash at interior defensive line. I don’t think they would draft just any defensive lineman. But if they could make a splash there, I think that they would.”
For the Steelers, there is talent on the defensive line. Despite his age, Cam Heyward is still playing at a high level. There’s also Keeanu Benton, who the Steelers are hoping can continue to put it all together.
However, the Steelers need more depth, especially with Heyward’s age. He isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, but he will be 36 next year. Father time is going to come knocking at some point. Even with Heyward on the field, the Steelers defensive line was getting gashed toward the end of the 2024 season.
Sikkema mentions Walter Nolen and Kenneth Grant as two players who could be in the conversation for the Steelers. Both players could go anywhere in the first round but have a decent chance at being available towards the middle-end of the first round when the Steelers go on the clock.
Nolen, out of Ole Miss, is an exciting prospect. He’s an active, disruptive player. Nolen is already stout against the run and could also develop into a great pass-rusher. His run defense would be much appreciated, considering how the Steelers struggled to stop the run late in the year.
Grant has already met with the Steelers. He described that meeting as being ‘very serious’. Grant is another player the Steelers likely covet because of his run defense. He’ll enter the NFL and immediately improve the run defense of whichever team he joins. Like Nolen, he also has the tools to develop into a great pass-rusher.
It’s no secret that the Steelers need some youth and potential on their defensive line through the draft. Expect to hear about these two studs as the draft approaches.
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