It wouldn’t be fair to say the Pittsburgh Steelers ignored the defensive line in the past seven NFL drafts.

It also wouldn’t be truthful to say the Steelers made that position group a priority, either.

Since taking Stephon Tuitt out of Notre Dame in the second round of the 2014 draft, the Steelers have used just one pick higher than the fifth round on a defensive lineman. That was nose tackle Javon Hargrave, a third-round selection in 2016.

Consider the players selected in the other rounds over the past seven drafts:

Fifth round: Isaiahh Loudermilk (2021). The jury is out on Loudermilk, although he did play in 16 games as a rookie and logged at least 50% of the defensive snaps in two of the final three regular-season contests.

Sixth round: L.T. Walton (2015), Isaiah Buggs (2019). Neither became regulars in the defensive rotation, and the Steelers cut Buggs late last season.

Seventh round: Joshua Frazier (2018), Carlos Davis (2020). Frazier didn’t make the roster as a rookie, and Davis appeared in just four games last season.

Suffice it to say the defensive line is an area of concern this year especially because Cameron Heyward, the team’s first-round pick in 2011, turns 33 in May, Tuitt didn’t play a single snap last year and Tyson Alualu will be 35 and played just two games in 2021.

Oh, and consider that the Steelers — with that patchwork line — allowed an NFL-high 146.1 rushing yards per game last season.

“It didn’t come together as good as it could have,” general manager Kevin Colbert said. “There were some games when it was very good, and there were some games when it wasn’t. And that goes back to the consistency or lack thereof. … We’re not going to make excuses. I think we would have been better had we had Stephon and Tyson and a healthy (linebacker) Devin Bush.”

Expect the Steelers to address the defensive line on the first or second day of the draft. And it wouldn’t be surprising to see them select a player who earned a national championship ring in the final game of his college career.

Georgia teammates Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt are the two top defensive tackles in this year’s class and also could play defensive end in the Steelers’ 3-4 scheme. They likely wouldn’t risk the No. 20 overall pick on a player who strictly plays nose tackle, a position that sees the field about 25% of the snaps in their system.

Davis also tipped the scales at 340 pounds at the NFL Combine but ran the 40-yard dash in a smooth 4.78 seconds.

“Jordan Davis I would say is a pretty polarizing player from folks around the league,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “Obviously, he’s a giant. He’s enormous. He’s really got some knock-back to him as a pass rusher. He’s got some sneaky quickness to go along with that. He’s got range against the run.

“The big question on him was how much can you play him, and how big is his gas tank?”

Another is whether Davis will be around when the Steelers get to the podium. His 40-time at the combine likely increased his draft stock.

His teammate, though, is another first-round possibility. Wyatt is a bit leaner than Davis, carrying 315 pounds on a 6-foot-3 frame. He led Georgia defensive linemen with 39 tackles and totaled 27 quarterback pressures. He ran the 40 in an impressive 4.77 seconds.

“He could play the five technique. He can stack blocks if you want him to, but his value is going to come once you get him to the sub-packages,” Jeremiah said. “Put him in a one technique in the shade of a center or a three technique, edge of the guard, and just let this guy get up the field where he’s really, really explosive.”

If the Steelers believe Tuitt is committed to returning after his one-year absence following the death of his brother, that could lessen the desire to take a defensive lineman in the first round. Another factor is that Colbert, who is conducting his final draft before stepping down from his post, thinks this class is a “little thinner” at defensive tackle, along with guard and center.

“Those positions, traditionally, in recent years, that’s kind of what shows up,” Colbert said. “It’s really based a lot on what goes on in college football. With a bunch of wide receivers, you’ve got to have a bunch of corners that can cover them. With good offensive tackles, you’ve got to have good pass-rushing defensive end/linebacker types. It’s really conducive to what’s kind of going on in college football.”

Top 5 defensive linemen

1. Jordan Davis, Georgia, Sr., 6-6, 340

Davis was a monster in the middle of the Georgia defense and won the Bednarik Award and Outland Trophy. He had 51/2 tackles for loss and two sacks in the Bulldogs’ run to the national championship.

2. Devonte Wyatt, Georgia, Sr., 6-3, 307

A two-year starter for the Bulldogs, Wyatt was named first-team All-SEC and helped fuel a national championship run with seven tackles for loss, 21/2 sacks and two forced fumbles in 14 starts.

3. Travis Jones, UConn, Sr., 6-5, 333

He started all three seasons he was on the field for Connecticut (the school didn’t play in 2020 because of the pandemic). In 11 starts last year, he had 71/2 tackles for loss and 41/2 sacks.

4. DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M, Jr., 6-4, 290

He was a first-team All-American last season, and SEC coaches made him a first-team all-conference selection. He had 121/2 tackles for loss and 81/2 sacks in 12 starts.

5. Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma, Sr., 6-4, 292

He was a second-team selection in the Big 12 after recording 11 tackles for loss and 51/2 sacks for the Sooners.

Best fit for Steelers, first day

Jordan Davis, Georgia

He would help solve the defense’s run-stopping issues and could provide the versatility to play outside in the 3-4 defense and rush the passer. The question is whether he will last until the 20th pick.

Best fit for Steelers, second day

Phidarian Mathis, Alabama

A 6-4, 312-pound redshirt senior, he capped his career with the Crimson Tide by racking up a career-high 53 tackles. He had 12 for a loss, plus nine sacks and two pass breakups.

Best fit for Steelers, third day

Haskell Garrett, Ohio State

The Steelers like Ohio State players — as Heyward can attest — and Garrett could be a middle-round option. The 6-2, 300-pound senior was a second-team All-American last year and first-team all-conference pick. In his final season, he totaled seven tackles for loss and 51/2 sacks.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)