Under the leadership of Omar Khan and Andy Weidl, the Pittsburgh Steelers have channeled considerable resources into bolstering their offensive line. They’ve consistently chosen high draft picks to strengthen this area, raising curiosity about how this group will mature in the coming years. Now, their focus must pivot, as Bob Labriola suggests, toward equally reinforcing the defensive line.
When responding to a fan’s inquiry, Labriola joined a chorus of voices urging Pittsburgh to tackle their defensive line needs with the same enthusiasm.
“I believe the Steelers must approach their defensive line with the same urgency they applied to their offensive line in recent offseasons,” Labriola noted in his popular “Asked and Answered” piece. “This approach involves using premium draft picks to build up that unit.”
Khan’s initial drafts signaled a significant push on the offensive front. For the first time in the team’s history, they devoted first-round picks to offensive tackles in consecutive years. In 2024, three of the team’s initial five draft picks were used to strengthen the offensive line, welcoming Troy Fautanu in the first round, Zach Frazier in the second, and Mason McCormick in the fourth. Frazier and McCormick saw significant action as rookies, while Fautanu was sidelined by a season-ending knee injury, preventing him from contributing.
The future success of this assembled group is still up in the air. Frazier shows promise as a key player, potentially anchoring the line in the coming years. However, Broderick Jones saw a dip in performance during his sophomore year and is facing a pivotal third season as he shifts back to the critical blindside position. Meanwhile, Fautanu remains somewhat untested, and McCormick needs to sharpen his pass-blocking skills.
However, the team has a plan. On the defensive side, things are just getting underway. While Cam Heyward continues to perform at an elite level, he is likely in the final two seasons of his career, with the team already strategically managing his playing time. Last year, he played 71 percent of snaps, his lowest in a non-injury year since 2012. Nose tackle Keeanu Benton didn’t make the strides anticipated in 2024, and following Larry Ogunjobi’s release, there’s an evident gap in the defensive lineup.
The upcoming draft this April is a prime opportunity to make necessary upgrades. A wealth of talent in the defensive line class this year offers Pittsburgh various options. However, lacking a second-round pick limits their flexibility, practically nudging them to address this need in the first round. Depending on how the initial selections unfold, they might even contemplate trading up if their desired players begin to disappear early on.
Since 2016, Pittsburgh has picked only one defensive lineman in the upper rounds: Benton in 2023. Before him, it was Stephon Tuitt back in 2014, who has since retired.
Emulating the Eagles’ strategy of dominating both sides of the trenches seems to be Pittsburgh’s game plan. After taking substantial steps on the offensive front, it’s now essential for the Steelers to strike with equal force defensively.
