With the NFL Combine inching closer, the Pittsburgh Steelers are having to get their priorities straight. With many holes on their current roster, they must choose a direction when it comes to the NFL Draft. While many fans point to the obvious concerns within Pittsburgh's wide receiver core, there are also the concerns with the run and pass defense. The Steelers were carved apart in their Wild Card matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, giving up almost 300 yards on the ground to Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. With Cam Heyward getting up there in age and Larry Ogunjobi a possible cap causality, there isn't much help outside of Keeanu Benton. The Steelers could be addressing that problem early on in the draft and possibly in free agency to shore up the trenches.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers DT Keeanu Benton sacks quarterback Joe Burrow in Week 18 of the 2024-25 regular season.
In insider Ray Fittipaldo's recent Steelers Chat, he was asked about the disappointing second year for Benton and if there is a possibility that he could be shifted along the defensive line. Fittipaldo pointed out that Benton is undersized for the nose tackle position and he wouldn't mind to see Benton getting bumped to a three technique if the Steelers decide to draft one of these monstrous defensive tackles in April.
"The Steelers defensive coaches are meeting tomorrow before the combine and I think of the things Mike Tomlin, Teryl Austin, and Karl Dunbar have to figure out is how they want to use Keeanu Benton," said Fittipaldo. "They invested a second round pick in him and he didn't take a big step forward this season. On top of that, their run defense was trash late in the season. I'm not saying Benton was the reason, but he's your starting nose tackle. He's on the small side for a NT. Will they go get one of these monstrous DTs in the draft in a few months and bump Benton out to 3-technique? I might lean that way. Or do they simply draft the best DT available and make it work with a rotation. Many of the DTs in this draft are versatile and the Steelers would have to find the best ways to use them early in their careers."
The defensive struggles the Steelers faced late in the season was troublesome to watch. A team that has invested a lot of their cap into their defense, being the most expensive in the league, and to fall flat on their face wasn't to be expected. The Steelers could take the same approach as the Philadelphia Eagles did in the draft, building a fearsome trench defensively.
Eric Hartline / USA Today
Steelers running back Najee Harris gets tackled by two Eagles defenders as the two franchises compete in a regular season football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
With Benton, he showed a lot of promise in his rookie campaign. Many had hoped that he would be a game wrecker going into his second year in the league, but he just couldn't take that next big step. The Steelers could get more out of him if they were to move him down the line and let a more monstrous lineman take up the middle.
If the Steelers want to get back to dominating defensively, they need to turn their attention early to their line. For them to get back in the conversation for Super Bowl contenders, they must be able to bring constant pressure to quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Burrow while containing the running abilities of Henry and Jackson. With aging pieces on the line and not much depth behind them, the Steelers' defensive line should be getting quite the investment this offseason.
Steelers Must Build The Trenches Up If They Want Late-Season Struggles To Change
The Steelers' fan base is tired of the poor play in January. Things must turn around if playoff football is to come back in full force in Pittsburgh. Getting back to their identity of controlling the line of scrimmage defensively must be on top of the Steelers' list going into the 2025 season. While Benton is still young with a high ceiling, moving him out of the nose tackle position and adding a true monster to clog up the middle could be a step in the right direction.
AP
Steelers' Keeanu Benton celebrates a win after a game.
With the NFL Combine just days away, fans could see the Steelers' scouts and Head Coach Mike Tomlin really zeroing in on the defensive linemen throughout the event.
Should the Steelers invest a first round pick on the defensive line? Do you agree that Benton should be moved from the nose tackle position? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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