The Pittsburgh Steelers have attempted to improve their quarterback room this offseason. Will they end up drafting a young signal-caller with the 21st overall pick, or do they address their other needs such as the defensive line first? As the quarterback dilemma has continued, it has taken on new urgency as of late. Until a starting signal-caller is locked down, all other needs will likely remain secondary. The Steelers do not have a second-round pick in 2025, meaning if Pittsburgh takes a quarterback with the 21st overall pick, many of the top defensive talents could be gone by the time the team is on the clock again in the third round. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo revealed his pick for a hidden defensive gem in the draft class that the Steelers could land in later rounds.
Dr. Michael Huang / Kentucky Sports Radio
Deone Walker during a game at the University of Kentucky.
Fittipaldo named Deone Walker as a difference maker who could still be available in the later rounds of the draft. Walker is the biggest defensive tackle in the draft and would be a threatening addition to the Pittsburgh trenches.
"This is a guy that you can stick in the middle of your defense," said Fittipaldo. "He's going to clog up running lanes, and there is some potential there for him to be a better pass rusher in the NFL."
Another name that has been mentioned in the defensive linemen conversation is Derrick Harmon. The Steelers have been speculated to take Harmon in the first round. Although it may not be as likely due to the quarterback situation, if the Steelers choose to take the defensive lineman route in the first round, Harmon would be a solid choice.
Aside from rookies, the Steelers have also added veterans to fill the holes in their roster. During free agency, the team added Daniel Ekuale. Ekuale was likely added to help replace Larry Ogunjobi, who was released by the Steelers before being suspended for six games due to violating the NFL's PED policy.
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Former Steelers defensive lineman, Larry Ogunjobi.
Walker has lots of achievements to his name that would make him an attractive draft prospect to any team. He produces sacks and can be highly effective in stopping the run. This is something the Steelers mightily struggled with towards the end of the season with Ogunjobi in the starting role.
"This is a guy who had sack production as a sophomore, seven and a half sacks," said Fittipaldo of Walker. "He did see his production dip this past season down to one and a half."
Aside from sacks, Walker had 37 total tackles in the 2024 season. Fittipaldo compared Walker to Daniel McCullers, even arguing that Walker is a more athletic version of McCullers. The only difference is that Fittipaldo hopes the Steelers will get more out of Walker than they did McCullers.
The Steelers' plans for the defensive line will arguably be put on ice until the evolving quarterback dilemma can be solved. Although Walker is a promising defensive prospect, his fate with the Steelers could be decided by a position he has nothing to do with.
Steelers Likely To Go DL Or QB In Round 1
If the Steelers take a quarterback such as Shedeur Sanders or Jaxon Dart at 21st overall, then Walker could have a good chance of being picked by Pittsburgh later on. However, if a defensive lineman like Harmon is chosen in the first round, then a potential backup quarterback like Jalen Milroe or Tyler Shough could be taken in the third instead of another defensive lineman. In the latter scenario, Walker will still have to be on the board by round four to have a chance of being drafted by the Steelers.
Bleacher Report
The Steelers make a draft selection during the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.
Should other teams see the same potential in Walker as Fittipaldo does, he could be taken before the Steelers get the chance.
Do you want to see the Steelers draft Walker? Do you think he could be a steal that Pittsburgh lands in the third or fourth round of the draft? Let us know in the comments.
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