In his first two mockups, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah had the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting an offensive playmaker with the No. 21 overall pick.
It was understandable considering the Steelers never exceeded 17 points during the five-game losing streak that ended their season. It also wasn’t surprising considering the Steelers ranked No. 23 in offense thanks to that late-season slide.
But after picking the Steelers to take Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden and then Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, on his second try, Jeremiah might be shifting his focus to the other side of the ball.
On a conference call with NFL media Thursday, Jeremiah faced multiple questions about the Steelers potentially using their first-round pick to address an aging defensive line. He didn’t dismiss the possibility, citing numbers at the position.
“It is as deep of a defensive tackle draft as I can remember,” said Jeremiah, a former scout with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles before joining the network in 2012.
Jeremiah gave starting grades to 12 defensive tackles in 2024. This year, he doubled that total. He came to that conclusion after the Senior Bowl, and he will get another chance to evaluate those prospects next week at the annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
“It’s a starters’ draft is how I would phrase it,” Jeremiah said. “Some positions maybe don’t have that superstar that we’ve had in past years, but we do have a boatload of starters, particularly on the defensive line. A lot of really, really good players there.”
The Steelers’ aging defensive line was exposed in a 28-14 loss to the Ravens in the wild-card round of the AFC playoffs. Led by workhorse runner Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Ravens rushed for 299 yards.
This came on the heels of a December regular-season meeting in which the Ravens rushed for 220 yards. The Steelers entered the offseason knowing they have to make improvements up front defensively if they expect to dethrone the Ravens atop the AFC North and earn a home playoff game.
The last time the Steelers used a first-round pick to address the defensive line was 2011 when they got Cameron Heyward following their most recent Super Bowl appearance. Heyward is coming off an All-Pro season, but he will turn 36 in May.
Elsewhere on the line, Larry Ogunjobi is 30, but his contract carries a $10.5 million cap hit, and the Steelers can save $7 million by releasing him. Dean Lowry, also 30, would provide a $2.5 million cap savings if he is released. The Steelers also have gotten little production from former draft picks DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk, who will be a free agent.
The last time the Steelers used a first-round pick on any defensive player was 2019 when they traded up 10 spots to get linebacker Devin Bush at No. 10 overall. The Steelers also made need to make a move this year if they wish to get one of the top defensive tackles.
The top prospect is Michigan’s Mason Graham, who is projected to be taken in the top five. His teammate, Kenneth Grant, might be available if the Steelers are willing to move up. Jeremiah ranks Grant as his No. 18 overall prospect, and he had Grant going No. 16 to Arizona in his second mock draft.
Grant is a 6-foot-3, 340-pound behemoth who declared for the draft in December following his junior year with the Wolverines. He started 12 games last season and set the school record for career pass breakups by a defensive lineman.
With the Steelers, Grant easily would be the biggest player on the defensive line.
“He’s not a polished rusher yet,” Jeremiah said of Grant, who had three sacks last season. “That’s all in front of him. In the meantime, he’s someone who is going to dominate against the run and eat blocks.”
Three years ago, the Steelers coveted former Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who also topped 340 pounds. The Philadelphia Eagles never gave them a chance, selecting Davis at No. 13. The Steelers ended up with Kenny Pickett instead.
“Grant has the ability and tools to do some unique stuff,” Jeremiah said. “He hasn’t come close to scratching the surface of his potential. I would have no problem whatsoever if the Steelers made that pick. I’d be pretty pumped about it if I were a Steelers fan.”
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Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, who is 6-5, 310 pounds, is the next highest-rated defensive tackle on Jeremiah’s draft board. He listed Harmon at No. 22 in his recent top-50 rankings.
“He just lives on this side of the line of scrimmage,” Jeremiah said. “He’s really instinctive, aware, and he knows where the blocks are coming from. He gets up the field. I want to see him use his power more. He shows flashes of it. It’s all in there, but I’d like to see more of it.”