Steelers Get Bad News About Potential First-Round Defensive Lineman

The Pittsburgh Steelers need a legitimate starting quarterback and no one is going to deny that. Another big area of need, however, is the defensive line. Cameron Heyward is not going to play forever and the unit, as a whole, looks like one of the team's weakest links as the 2025 NFL Draft approaches. Many are expecting for the organization to select a big man that can stop the run in round one, but it's also possible that the organization looks at a running back. Overall, though, without a second-round pick, it appears likely that General Manager Omar Khan will target a defensive lineman.

Mock drafts are essentially everywhere this time of year, but several of them have been in agreement that the Steelers will land either Kenneth Grant, Derrick Harmon or Walter Nolen with the 21st overall selection. The clear-cut number one overall defensive lineman in the draft, Mason Graham, is expected to be picked in the Top 10.

Respected analyst Todd McShay gave a breakdown of the upcoming class on The McShay Show when it comes to the trenches, and had a few concerning things to say about Grant, a large 6'3", 340-pound prospect. While he is huge, he isn't always giving full effort on a play-by-play basis.

"He's the fourth defensive lineman for me," McShay stated. "He's got all the traits and let's put it his way, okay? He picks his spots when he is truly going to turn it loose; and when he does in those moments, it's pretty awesome to watch, okay? When his pads are low enough - mobility - there's some things, but keeping him fresh and improving his hand-to-hand combat skills is gonna be a part of it."

McShay continued speaking about Grant and acknowledged that sometimes, it seems as if he is just going through the motions. This is a bad characteristic that will need to be straightened out at the professional level.

"He's massive," McSay added. "So, he inevitably, just due to his size, is going to eat up a lot of space. He has a lot of impact snaps, but there are also a whole lot of snaps where it feels like he's just kind of going through the motions to get his."

The Steelers need a high-motor lineman that is going to be able to play two or three downs consistently. Grant may not have a lot of time to get acclimated either if the Steelers take him, as the defense really needs some help at the position.

There is no doubt that Grant could be a stud at the next level, but one thing that will have to be driven into his brain is that there is no excuse for lack of effort on any play. It's exactly why playing with someone like Heyward could be good for Grant. The veteran is constantly hustling and sometimes chasing down much faster running backs down the field.

The Steelers are not shy about interest when it comes to the draft, and the team has already had or set up a few Top 30 meetings with lineman on the defensive side. Pittsburgh has not drafted the position in the first-round since Heyward was selected back in 2011, so it just makes sense for his new mentee to be taken with the 21st overall pick.

Steelers' Defense Needs To Be Much Better Against The Run In 2025

Pittsburgh went through some inconsistency on offense in 2024, and everyone is aware of that. It sometimes gets lost that the defense wasn't perfect throughout the campaign, either. The team has some holes to fill on both sides of the ball, but the defensive line is one of the more pressing concerns. There isn't a doubt that the University of Michigan product in Grant could be in the black and gold, but he better bring an extremely high motor, and take no plays off.

Do you like the Steelers to take Grant in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments below!

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