Remember the most recent time the Pittsburgh Steelers took the field? If you’re a fan of the team, you probably don’t want to. But rest assured, team management does.
And what stood out most about the 28-14 beatdown to the rival Ravens during the Jan. 11 wild-card playoff game in Baltimore was the 299 rushing yards the home team effortlessly racked up.
It wasn’t an isolated incident, either. That effort capped a season-ending five-game losing streak in which the Steelers allowed 787 rushing yards — averages of 4.6 per attempt and 157.4 per game.
The lesson is clear: the run defense — long an organizational philosophical priority — needs to be better. It is at or near the top of the list of what needs accomplished in this draft.
So, take arguably the best pure run-stuffer available. Luckily, the consensus is that he will be when the Steelers are on the board at 21st overall.
Michigan’s Kenneth Grant is not a perfect prospect, by any means, for the modern NFL. His most-defined position just on Tuesday was marginalized by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin: “I think ‘the nose’ is a disappearing animal.”
Grant would have made a fantastic NFL nose tackle — 25 years ago. Around the league today, there is far less use for a 331-pound brick wall. But for the Steelers, they face the Ravens (at least) twice per season. Cleveland, another division rival, likewise has tended moreso than most to lean on the run offensively. That’s’ almost a quarter of the Steelers’ annual schedule right there, two-thirds of the prioritized AFC North games.
Related
• Joe Rutter's mock draft: Steelers will turn attention to defensive line, draft Derrick Harmon
• NFL Draft HQ 2025: Who Steelers might pick, position breakdowns, mock drafts
• Mark Madden: Forget the allure of a shiny new toy. Here's what Steelers should address in draft's 1st round
Plus, don’t merely assume that with Grant’s athleticism and skillset that he can’t be a third-down player. Make no mistake, he can line up in the nickel. And if he doesn’t provide much production in regards to the pass rush, so what? That’s what the Steelers have their edge rushers for.
Cameron Heyward can’t play forever. Grant teaming with Keeanu Benton could provide a scary front for opponents to deal with throughout the rest of the current decade.
Of course, taking a defensive tackle in the first round means no quarterback there. And with so many other needs and so precious little relative draft capital, at least one position might get left out in the proverbial game of musical chairs. In this exercise, it was wide receiver. But, put it this way: if the Steelers had never traded for receiver DK Metcalf and instead used that second-round pick on a rookie WR, wouldn’t that suffice?
One other caveat: the Steelers should — and will — strongly consider trading down. There’s a theoretical deal out there that could land the Steelers that missing second-rounder, and that would help solve the too-many-holes/too-few-picks problem.
But without the luxury of trades, here’s one shot in the dark in how the Steelers’ 2025 draft will play out:
First round (No. 21)
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The man’s body just screams defensive tackle prototype. Bet on the size/strength/skills toolbox to provide just enough in passing-down situations.
Third round (No. 83)
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
If Johnson has a weakness, it might be that he can’t play third downs — but the Steelers already have two backs who thrive in that role. A highly-productive workhorse in college, Johnson is the perfect complement to Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell.
Fourth round (No. 123)
Will Howard, QB, Ohio State
There are worse gambles to take than on a 6-foot-4, 236-pound quarterback with decent mobility who started games in five different seasons for power-conference programs — and, oh yeah, guided his team to the national title in January.
Fifth round (No. 156)
Elijah Roberts, DL, SMU
If Grant is oversized, in Roberts the Steelers take the opposite approach in their all-hands-on-deck approach to rebuilding their defensive line. His 17 ½ sacks last season came as an edge defender but the Steelers label him a d-lineman.
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Sixth round (No. 185)
Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota
The Steelers love defensive backs with proven ball production. Walley seems like the kind of feisty DB that Tomlin loves. Walley could be an option in the nickel, or at worst be a reliable special-teamer.
Seventh round (No. 229)
Donovan McMillon, S, Pitt
Though he surprisingly isn’t getting significant draft buzz, the Peters Township native has good size (6-2, 205) and college production (consecutive 100-tackle seasons at Pitt) and profiles as a nice depth player for any roster.