Steelers Need Keeanu Benton; "Just Can't Count On" Unreliable Larry Ogunjobi

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't drafted a defensive lineman in the first-round of the NFL Draft since Cameron Heyward in 2011, and it shows. Heyward, 35, is still performing at a relatively high level, but suffered some injuries during the 2023 season that have fans worried about the line's future. 

The Steelers have added to the d-line over the past few years. They signed Larry Ogunjobi after he failed a physical in 2022. He joins some later-round picks like Isaiahh Loudermilk, Logan Lee, and DeMarvin Leal. The young player garnering the most attention however, is Keeanu Benton. 

Benton was a 2023 second-round pick, and his performance when Heyward was injured, as well as what he has shown during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamps, has excited many. That includes former General Manager Doug Whaley, who recently joined Donny Football on 93.7 The Fan's Morning Show. They listed Benton as their top breakout player for 2024. 

"They need him to," said Whaley. "There's really no one behind him. The people that are there -- Heyward's getting older, long in the tooth, and the way he plays, he needs to be spelled some if you want him to be around for two or three more years. If you look at Ogunjobi, you just can't count on the guy. You cannot. Think about it, they parse out his practice reps, he's only practicing so many times a week, if at all, and then when he gets in the game, he's not been that difference-maker, that tone setter, that they thought he was going to be. Can he be the [John] Stallworth on the defensive line?"

John Stallworth was a wide receiver drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round of the iconic 1974 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season backing up two wide receivers that he would ultimately far surpass in his career. Stallworth went on to help the Steelers win four Super Bowls. 

Benton is backing up Heyward and hoping to be the next player to make his mark. This is particularly interesting because Heyward is negotiating a contract extension with the Steelers front office. He has said that he feels he has two to three more seasons in him, and he wants to stay in Pittsburgh.

Steelers' Keeanu Benton Reminds Doug Whaley of Javon Hargrave

Donny Football asked Whaley if the Steelers see Benton as a modern version of Javon Hargrave. This isn't the first time this comparison has come up. Heyward, who, along with the other veterans, has been mentoring Benton, recently told a fan on X that he believes the young player has unlimited potential, saying that he could be just as good as Hargrave if he works hard.

Whaley said he was initially concerned that Benton would only have the run-stopping ability, but he has also shown that he can be effective in pass rushing. It is part of why he thinks other teams overlooked him and why fans were not as excited about the selection of Benton in 2023 as some of the other flashier picks.  

It is unclear what will happen with Heyward's contract, but Benton has many opportunities to continue showing the team what he can do. He certainly seems as though he is giving it all he's got. Recently, former Steelers cornerback and current scout, Ike Taylor said that Benton has that "dawg" in him and believes that tenacity will carry him far.

#SteelerNation