Deep defensive line class could be in Steelers' wheelhouse early in NFL Draft

Perhaps he was just being diplomatic in his first appearance at the NFL Combine as Pittsburgh Steelers general manager.

Or maybe he was playing coy and didn’t want to give away any insight.

Whatever the reason, Omar Khan was as neutral as Switzerland when asked about the positions of strength in the 2023 NFL Draft class.

“This is a really good draft,” Khan said Tuesday, a day before players invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis began the interview and workout portions that will carry through the weekend. “A lot of good football players at every position. We spent a lot of time going through it already, and I think there are starters, there is depth.

“Whatever you need, you can get in this draft. It’s really good.”

That stands as good news for the Steelers, who have three of the top 49 picks in the draft for the first time since 1989 and are trying to improve on a team that finished 9-8 last season after closing on a four-game winning streak.

The consensus among draft analysts and scouts, though, is this year’s class is loaded with pass rushers — be it 290-pound defensive ends or smaller edge rushers who would fit well in a 3-4 scheme such as the Steelers.

The Steelers are set at outside linebacker, of course, with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith manning those spots. It’s a bit more complicated on the defensive line, where Cameron Heyward will turn 34 before the season, and three others players, including starter Larry Ogunjobi, will become unrestricted free agents in a few weeks.

The strength of this year’s class of pass rushers is such that three prospects — Georgia’s Jalen Carter, Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. and Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson — could be among the top five players off the board in the first round.

Holding the No. 17 pick, the Steelers would have to take a player in the second tier of defensive linemen, wait until No. 32 to address the position or trade into the top 10. Khan isn’t averse to doing the latter.

“I’d say all options are on the table,” said Khan, who acquired what turned into the No. 32 pick by trading wide receiver Chase Claypool to Chicago last fall. “If there’s a good football player and we have the opportunity to go get him, if we can get him, we’re going to go get him.”

Clemson has two first-round defensive line prospects in 6-foot-5, 275-pound Myles Murphy and 6-5, 305-pound Bryan Bresee.

Bresee said Wednesday during interviews that he’s already spoken with coach Mike Tomlin, although he didn’t indicate whether it was a formal meeting.

“I’ve known coach Tomlin since my freshman year at Clemson,” Bresee said. “He’s there all the time. It was just like catching up with an old friend with him.”

Murphy said he was scheduled to meet with the Steelers on Wednesday.

“I love Mike Tomlin,” he said. “I’ve watched a podcast he was on. He’s come to all the Clemson pro days. He’s a players’ coach.”

Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness, who measured at 6-5, 275, said he’s scheduled to meet with the Steelers on Thursday. He is one of the draft’s polarizing prospects. While scouts like Van Ness’ potential — he had 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss — he left school after his redshirt sophomore year and never started a game in two years with the Hawkeyes.

Growing up, Van Ness patterned his game after the eldest of the Watt brothers.

“For me, I was more of a J.J. Watt player,” he said. “Obviously, he’s retired now, but that’s who I turned on, on Sundays and loved to watch.”

If the Steelers wait until the No. 32 pick to address the defensive line, their search could lead them to a player who spent the past four seasons training next door in their practice facility. Pitt’s Calijah Kancey is rated as the No. 2 defensive tackle in this class.

Kancey is a bit undersized at 6-foot, 280 pounds. Then again, so was Aaron Donald when he played at Pitt.

“I’ve definitely watched tape on him,” Kancey said. “I watch tape on a lot of guys who around my height and weight. I’ve watched a few guys of that caliber. He’s a great guy and a great mentor.”