Steelers 2-a-days: Breiden Fehoko a veteran added to DL; Markus Golden an ideal No. 3 OLB

Editor’s note: From the end of minicamp through the day the team reports to training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2023 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 16 and July 26. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

DT BREIDEN FEHOKO

Experience: 19 regular-season games since entering the NFL in 2020

Contract status: $940,000 cap hit in 2023, would be a restricted free agent after the season

2023 outlook: Fehoko joined Armon Watts as mid-career veterans (each are 26) signed to bolster depth on the defensive line. In addition to the Day 2 draft picks of DeMarvin Leal and Keeanu Benton in consecutive seasons, the Steelers are attempting to get a little younger in that position room after Chris Wormley and Tyson Alualu were let go.

Fehoko (6-3, 300) has experience at technique positions up and down the defensive line, including nose tackle, over 19 regular-season games played for the Los Angeles Chargers the past two seasons. Fehoko spent time on the Chargers’ practice squad early last season but started three games down the stretch and was playing roughly half of the defensive snaps.

Fehoko joins Watts, Benton, Isaiahh Loudermilk and others as those competing with holdover Montravius Adams for jobs, a role and snaps behind a pair of solid veteran starters in Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi. Fehoko is likely a third option at nose tackle (when that position is necessitated) behind Adams and Benton.

Newest Steeler Markus Golden says he’s always been a Steelers fan pic.twitter.com/Jv1IRdh8vk

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 30, 2023

OLB MARKUS GOLDEN

Experience: 8^th NFL season

Contract status: $1.1 million cap hit in 2023 on a one-year deal

2023 outlook: A veteran of eight NFL seasons with 47 career sacks, Golden would seem to be an ideal fit for the Steelers’ No. 3 outside linebacker gig. At age 32, Golden’s days as a starter and full-time player were and are likely numbered, but in small spurts in a rotation with a strong starting duo of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, Golden should be able to provide reliability and production.

Of course, these are some of the same things being said two years ago about a then 32-year-old edge rusher with pedigree. That acquisition — Melvin Ingram — did not end well for the Steelers, who traded an unhappy Ingram in-season after he was unsatisfied with his playing time.

So far, Golden has been saying all the right things about his projected role. His coaches, too. And with questions surrounding the durability of Watt, who missed seven games last season and suffered four separate injuries that caused him to miss time the season before — the problem might take care of itself in that there could/should be plenty of snaps available for Golden. The question then might become if Golden is holding off rookie Nick Herbig as the OLB3.

Golden as recently as 2021 had an 11-sack season.

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