The Steelers' Top 30 Meeting Slate Indicates They Aren't Done Reloading The Defensive Line And This Day 2 Target Is Rising Fast

Welcome to the pre-draft season, Pittsburgh Steelers fans! Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft on April 27th, we will be releasing draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves suiting up for the Steelers.

Steelers’ Draft Prospect: Keeanu Benton (Defensive Tackle), Wisconsin, Senior

OVERVIEW: It is no secret that the Steelers’ rush defense has taken a step back in recent seasons. In the 2021 season, the defensive unit struggled at almost every level. So much so, they were ranked dead last in the league in almost every rushing category and allowed 2,483 yards on the ground for the season. Fast forward to 2022, this led to the front office reloading the defensive front in the offseason by adding Larry Ogunjobi and then drafting DeMarvin Leal. 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.

Heading into 2023, the Steelers are seemingly maintaining that re-bolstering approach to the defensive line. With Wormley's and Alualu's futures still uncertain, the Steelers and Ogunjobi agreed upon his return to Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. Next, we saw the welcomed acquisition of big-man Breiden Fehoko which was a solid start at reinforcing the interior of the line. 

In addition to Fehoko, Armon Watts signed a one-year deal earlier this week to help round out the veteran presence in the defensive line room. But even with those, the Steelers have shown they are still very much interested in drafting young talent to replenish the defensive front for the future. So far, they’ve hosted four defensive tackle prospects leading up to the draft. One of those four is from a talent pool with which the Steelers are very familiar. Let’s get to know Keeanu Benton from The University of Wisconsin.

PROS: Just looking at him, Benton’s measurables are incredible. He’s a mountain of a man, clocking in at 6’4” and weighing 309 pounds. He plays mostly inside due to his size and is able to eat blocks to open up gaps for other defenders to get home. Benton plays with metaphorical clubs for hands and can beat centers and offensive guards off the ball to get into his gap quickly. He plays with a sense of voracity and persistence and doesn’t let himself get knocked out of the play. 

Combined with his size, Benton possesses great length to maintain space off blocks and break free into the backfield. He tested well at the combine and finished in the top half of the defensive tackle group. Benton proved he can carry his elite run-stuffing abilities to the next level and even showed significant upside to his pass-rush capabilities. Benton is entering the draft as a prospect who would typically be lined up in the A gap along the line, so it will depend on the team in determining how far they'll read into his average pass-rushing ability versus his elite run-stopping capabilities.

CONS: With Benton’s size comes some limitations. First, his athleticism is relatively average. Although he’s a force that gets into the backfield, once there he has trouble chasing down the ball carrier and making the stop. There were times in college when he’d break through the line, only to get out ran by the ball carrier or the quarterback was able to break contain and roll outside the pocket. Next is his quickness off the snap. Benton tends to be slow in reading the blocks off the snap. This sometimes leads to him getting pushed off the line with ease and him losing pad leverage against offensive linemen.

Benton’s play speed is most likely the biggest concern for NFL scouts. He lacks the top-level pass-rushing ability, thus limiting his utilization within NFL defenses. This indicates he’d only be used in specific defensive packages, which may hurt his draft stock for some teams. Not to mention, in a league that is starting to favor more mobile quarterbacks, his inability to chase down quicker play-callers may also impair his opportunities to be considered as a day-one starter. Benton will need to be coached up in those areas to hit his ceiling at the next level.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Late Second Round

In a defensive tackle class consisting of names such as Jalen Carter, Calijah Kancey, Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee, Benton may find himself drifting to the later day two boards. In addition, with teams focusing on other priorities in the first few rounds of the draft, interior defensive tackles tend to find themselves still available heading into the back half of the draft. We should also note that only six defensive tackles were selected in the first four rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. But given the talent pool and consistent desire for depth along the defensive front, we may see teams select defensive linemen earlier than last year. That is why I see Benton as a late second-round pick.

VERDICT: Head coach Mike Tomlin, defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and the Steelers seem to have liked what they saw out of Benton at the combine. After working out in front of some of the Steelers’ brass in Indianapolis and at his Pro Day, Benton traveled to Pittsburgh earlier this month for a Top 30 visit. History tells us that these types of visits result in the prospect’s name getting called later in April. 

Benton is a selfless contributor on defense and is a great role player. He may not make the big play, but he’s shown he can blow up the line and open up rush lanes for other defenders to get home. With his ability to eat blocks to open up gaps for other defenders, it is hard to not dream about what he’d do with TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and Heyward. 

Benton was a steady starter during his time at Wisconsin and the Steelers have a special love affair for those blue-collar, gritty players from the north. Even with the addition of Fehoko and Watts, the Steelers’ meeting suggests they are still looking for added bulk along the interior of the line. Although he may be a bit of a reach at the 32nd overall spot, I love Benton with the Steelers’ 49th pick.

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

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