Steelers Will Have Tempting Opportunity To Fix Critical Key Need In 2023, But Should They Take It?

Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft starting on April 27th, we will be releasing draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up…

Steelers' Draft Prospect: Siaki Ika (Nose Tackle), Baylor, Redshirt Junior

OVERVIEW: The Steelers’ run defense was atrocious in 2021. The defensive unit struggled at almost every level and became a doormat for every running back they faced. So much so, they were ranked dead last in the league and allowed 2,483 yards on the ground for the season. This led to the front office addressing the defensive front in the off-season by adding AFC North-journeyman Larry Ogunjobi to the mix. 

With the bolstered defensive front consisting of Cameron Heyward, Ojunjobi, Chris Wormley, Tyson Alualu, and Montravius Adams, the group got back to their run-stuffing ways in 2022. But with Alualu, Wormley, and Ogunjobi set to hit the free agency market in 2023, the Steelers need fresh, young talent on the inside of the defensive line. Enter, Siaki "Apu" Ika.

PROS: Measuring at 6’4” and clocking in a roughly 358 pounds, Ika is a monster of a presence inside. He brings a unique skill set that is a blend of power, athleticism, and strength that coaches like to see for baseline development. He’s able to sidestep offensive linemen and redirect them off the line and bust his way through to the next level. 

With his size, Ika attracts double teams, which is exactly what T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Heyward all dream of in a defensive game plan. Ika is that prototypical space-eater inside to get defenders free shots to the backfield. Being the first point of attack was typical for Ika in college. Opening gaping holes in the line for stunting linemen or middle linebackers get home on pass rushes was something we saw a lot of during his time at Baylor.

The tape on Ika speaks for itself. Some critics may argue his athleticism is a bit average, but when considering his size, I find it impressive. He has quick footwork at the snap and is able to throw off the center or guards off their assignments and blow up the play. Ika plays well at pad level and is good at getting his hands inside of the chest of offensive linemen and using his strength in pushing them back. Take a look at a couple of reps from last season:

CONS: To begin his collegiate career, Ika started at LSU. But after seeing more of a rotational role as a part of their 2019 National Championship-winning season, he transferred to Baylor to try for a more consistent starting spot. He earned that role and was one of the best defensive players in the Big 12 Conference in 2021. However, Ika saw more rotational work in 2022, which fell short of a lot of scouts’ expectations. Ika had trouble being a steady, three-down lineman and typically only saw action on first and second downs. For some scouts, this lack of consistent playing time could be a red flag.

In addition, Ika’s rush stopping technique is in need of development. While it isn’t awful, Ika’s tackling is fairly suspect. He’s able to force his way through the offensive line and into the backfield, but often needs help in getting the ball carrier to the ground. Coaches usually like to see defensive linemen wrap up ball carriers instead of pushing the offensive guard or center into them to stop them. 

Although he is able to force double teams, Ika has trouble breaking free of them. He doesn’t possess much length, which could lead to him getting drowned out of plays and not being able to get his hands into the throwing lanes of the quarterback. He’ll need to get coached up on his technique and how to use his hands effectively on double teams to break down the blocks.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Middle to Late 2nd Round

In this year’s draft, the pool of talent at interior defensive linemen is relatively shallow. We see University of Georgia’s Jalen Carter unanimously at the top of different big boards, but after him, there isn’t a lot of true first round talent. Not to mention, the nose tackle position doesn’t carry a lot of priority for most teams within the first couple of rounds in the draft. Ika has a lot of potential and possibility of being one of the top defensive prospects available, but it’ll be hard to expect him to be called on the opening night. Ika is a solid middle-second round pick.

VERDICT: Ika draws a lot of comparison to Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Vita Vea, and for good reason. But for the sake of the Steelers, when I think of a giant nose tackle out of the Big 12, I think back to the 2001 draft with Casey Hampton. Hampton played an integral role along the Pittsburgh defensive front for 12 straight seasons and was critical in the historic 2005 and 2008 defenses. Ironically enough, Hampton's and Ika's skill sets are fairly close to each other. 

While I don’t see the Steelers using their 17th or 32nd overall selections on Ika, if he is available by their 49th overall pick, that would be the value you'd like to see. He’d be a great piece inside to compete with Adams for the starting nose tackle spot and could be what the Steelers miss in Javon Hargrave. With elite-level bookends on defense, the Steelers are in high need to beefing up the interior of the line. If Ika tests well at the NFL Combine and Pro Day, don’t be surprised if he sneaks into the top 40 conversation, thus forcing a serious consideration come the Steelers' 32nd overall pick.

Where do you see Ika going in April? Would you want to see him in the black and gold? Let us know in the comments!

#SteelerNation