An annual rite of passage… Our Training Camp Previews for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The concept here is pretty straightforward; we’ll take a look at each position. Who is vying for a place on the 53-man roster and how will that happen? Obviously there are some spots much each easier to break down than others but we’ll do our best to cover it all. Today we cover the Defensive Line.
Cameron Heyward, 15th Season
Little needs to be said here because Cameron Heyward is what he is. He’s an all-time Steelers’ great and likely a Hall of Famer. He’s coming off an All-Pro season and has yet to show signs of slowing down. As long as he stays healthy, he will be the overwhelming leader of this defense and the key cog along the D-Line.
Keeanu Benton, 3rd Season
If Keeanu Benton builds on the season he had last year then he could be on his way to a very long, successful career in Pittsburgh. To be clear, no one is suggesting he’s on his way to a Hall of Fame career, but he could be a dependable and productive defensive lineman. He has the ability to play down inside or outside. With the additions of Yahya Black and Daniel Ekuale to play over the center when the Steelers are in their base defense, Benton can focus more on the areas mentioned previously.
Logan Lee, 2nd Season
Logan Lee is essentially entering his rookie season after missing his entire first year. At Iowa, he started 41 of 43 games played and was a major part of the Hawkeyes’ success on defense. He has a lot of the attributes you like as a 3-4 defensive end but he needs to bulk up and improve his overall footwork. He’s very much in play to make the roster but it’s going to be a battle for him to get there.
Dean Lowry, 10th Season
With 85 starts in 132 games, Dean Lowry is filled with experience. I believe his best days are behind him but he is still a serviceable player. He’s no guarantee to make the roster. The Steelers would love to get younger and stay younger across the front. But Lowry – when healthy – is a guy that will know his assignment and do his job when called upon.
Isaiahh Loudermilk, 5th Season
I’m kind of at a loss when it comes to Isaiahh Loudermilk. There were some flashes early in his career but things just never seemed to come together the way the Steelers had anticipated. He has the size you want but the effort and urgency just never seems to remain consistent. There are times when he looks solid against the run and then boom! He gets blown off the line as if he were on skates. Now entering his fifth season, this really is his ‘make or break’ year. A roster spot is not guaranteed.
Jacob Slade, 1st Season
Slade is built like a fire hydrant and plays like it. He’s aggressive at the point of attack and is difficult to move off his spot due to his build and solid leverage. He’s not a threat as a pass rusher and would primarily be a run stopper. His lack of length creates problems for him with athletic, long-armed offensive linemen. I think he’s a prime candidate for the Practice Squad.
Derrick Harmon, Rookie
It is unusual for the Steelers to declare any young player a starter but D-Line Coach Karl Dunbar didn’t hesitate. He proclaimed Derrick Harmon a starter early in OTAs and Harmon has given him no reason to regret those words. Is there a lot of expected of the young man? There sure is but he seems to be up to the challenge. Harmon is excellent at the point of attack and will provide push in the pocket too. I’m hoping he’s around for a decade at minimum.
Yahya Black, Rookie
If you’re thinking this is the second coming of Casey Hampton the you’re out of luck. Yahya (WHY-yah) Black is not that. He’s massive and has a seven-foot wing-span. At 340lbs he’s also going to be difficult to move for anyone. Black struggles to get off the ball quickly which gets him into trouble as offensive linemen can get leverage on him. His ability to anchor is also so-so but there’s enough potential here that drafting him made sense. I tend to think Dunbar can coach this young man up enough to where he’s a constant threat in run defense.
DeMarvin Leal, 4th Season
If you asked me for a name of a player that could be traded prior to the start of the season I would likely answer DeMarvin Leal. The former Aggie from Texas A&M has been one of those classic “tweeners.” He’s not quite good enough to be a full-time EDGE and he’s also a bit limited as a defensive linemen. I really think if he were a system that were more conducive to his skills he might thrive but it just doesn’t feel like it’s going to be here. That said, he still has a decent shot at being on the roster.
Esezi Otomewo, 3rd Season
Otomewo has two starts in nine in career games. He has a bit of position flexibility as he can play inside or outside depending on the alignment. Either way, his path to a roster spot is going to be difficult.
Domenique Davis, 1st Season
Davis has been in the league quite awhile but has just two career games played. Those were in 2022 while he was in Cincinnati. At 29 years old, this is likely the last opportunity for him.
Daniel Ekuale, 7th Season
With 21 starts in 52 career games, Daniel Ekuale has some solid experience. Keep in mind however that 16 of those starts occurred just last season in New England. Ekuale is pretty limited in terms of position flexibility as he’s primarily a nose tackle. His chances of being on the roster are decent as Black gets more experience over center.
How It Shakes Out
Of all of the position groups, I’m least confident with my choices here. Let’s start with the obvious. Heyward, Harmon and Benton are shoo-ins. From there, I think you go with Ekuale, Leal and Lee. Black could very well start on the PS as Tomlin goes with Ekuale’s experience to start. This could change obviously if Black excels during Camp.
