INDIANAPOLIS – NFL teams face a challenge when drafting defensive tackles: finding players who excel at stopping the run while also contributing as pass rushers. The Steelers, for instance, have experienced this with former nose tackle Casey Hampton, whose playing time was sometimes limited by opponents’ strategies.
The Steelers found success with Javon Hargrove, drafted in 2016, and see potential in Keeanu Benton, their 2023 second-round pick. They are considering adding another player to allow Benton to shift positions if needed. The upcoming 2025 NFL Draft offers several promising candidates.
“This is a really good draft for the defensive line,” said Steelers general manager Omar Khan.
Among the prospects is Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, a 6-foot-3, 342-pound lineman known for his versatility. Grant had 6.5 sacks over two seasons and describes himself as “a 3-down player.”
Grant will showcase his skills at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday. The Steelers may need to use their first-round pick (21st overall) to secure him.
“I met with the Steelers,” Grant shared about his interview experience. “Very serious. They want competitors.”
Oregon’s Derrick Harmon is another prospect attracting interest from the Steelers. Harmon recorded 45 tackles and five sacks last season after transferring from Michigan State.
“That’s a great guy,” Harmon said of head coach Mike Tomlin after their meeting.
Other first-round prospects include Walter Nolen of Mississippi and Mason Graham from Michigan. According to NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah, there are 24 defensive linemen graded as potential starters this year.
With veteran Cam Heyward now 35 years old and recent struggles against the run, bolstering the defensive line is crucial for the Steelers.
“It starts with stopping the run, and we didn’t do that down the stretch,” team president Art Rooney II stated at a press conference. “We need to figure out how we get stronger.”
