Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Arthur Moats said on his podcast, The Arthur Moats Experience, that one of the team's biggest off-season needs is a top nose tackle.
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Steelers defensive lineman, Montravius Adams warms up on the field at Acrisure Stadium before a 2022 regular season matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Moats apparently agrees with many of the fans and analysts saying, "no sexy draft picks!" He feels the Steelers need to be looking at shoring up the defensive trenches. One of the positions that the Steelers need is a nose tackle.
(Go ahead and sigh about Casey Hampton, just get it out of your system now so we can move on.)
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Pittsburgh Steelers' Casey Hampton.
Steelers Have A Dwindling Defensive Line
The Steelers are facing the possibility of losing defensive linemen this off-season. The group currently consists of Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Chris Wormley, Montravius Adams, Tyson Alualu, DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk, and Jonathan Marshall.
Heyward seems a lock to stay, but Ogunjobi, Wormley, and Alualu are headed toward free agency. Alualu will finally be able to officially retire. Heyward played the most defensive snaps in 2022 out of this group, with Ogunjobi next.
Moats points out that what the Steelers decide to do here will really depend on what Ogunjobi decides. Does he want to be a Steeler, or does he want to continue as a journeyman? Moats' co-host, Deke also points out that even if Ogunjobi decides to stay a Steeler and they workout a suitable contract, there is still a need for D-line. Heyward is aging and we need strong depth.
This opens the door to discussing the possible options here...
Door #1
The Steelers re-sign Ogunjobi and some of the other free agents, maybe pick up a late draft pick or two and keep a similar D-line as the one they had in 2022. It is not the worst choice out there, at least you know what you are getting.
But... the team has some amazing talent in TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Minkah Fitzpatrick, and while the run defense got better last year, what it was lacking was that young run-stuffer.
After getting caught with their proverbial pants down in 2021, where we went through everyone but the custodial staff on the D-line, they don't want to be in that position again with an aging line.
Door #2
Moats brings up a second option, which is to take one of the potentially powerful young draft prospects. There are several strong nose tackles coming in the 2023 draft. Moats feels strongly that the Steelers could find a possible future new "Big Snack" in this draft.
These young NT's may lack finesse, but they have raw talent in spades. They possess the ability to be the next amazing defender. Moats says he is taking one of the young guys with pick 32:
"I'm bringing back Larry O. and I am just having me some beefy, monster, interior person. Because, for a fact, he is just going to solidify the run defense and base."
Deke mentions that the run defense was good last year. Moats agrees, but thinks this is a way to continue to improve:
"I think this is an upgrade, this makes it even better. We need a guy you're not going to be able to move."
Door #3
A possible third option that exists, even though Moats didn't discuss it specifically, is to go get a proven lineman from another team. This would mean the Steelers would likely need to let both Heyward and Ogunjobi go. While Heyward is an outstanding player, who had a Pro Bowl season in 2022, he is aging.
With the money, they save they could pursue someone like Daron Payne from the Washington Commanders. While Payne is negotiating with the Commanders, there is rumbling that he wants to go to a team where he can have a bigger impact and possibly make the postseason.
Payne just finished a ridiculously good fifth season, playing for a terribly mediocre team. He had 11.5 sacks and a whopping 18 tackles for a loss.
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Daron Payne Washington Commanders
The Steelers currently pay Heyward almost $16.5 million a year and paid Ogunjobi $8 million. That roughly $24 million is more than enough to satisfy the $18-20 million that Payne should command and still allow enough for a rookie contract for a draft pick.
The thought of letting Heyward go makes my heart hurt. The thought of Payne lined up alongside Watt, Highsmith, and Fitzpatrick makes my heart race.
What do you think the Steelers should do with the defensive line, specifically the nose tackle? Should they keep any of the free agents? Would you keep Heyward or use that same money to get someone younger? Do any of the defensive linemen coming up in the draft intrigue you? Click to comment.
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